Obesity is a leading public health epidemic worldwide and its prevalence is increasing. While diet and exercise are the cornerstones in the prevention and treatment of obesity and its associated complications, patients often find it difficult to make lifestyle changes. Smartphones are increasingly becoming integrated into our society and can serve as a tool to improve health outcomes. Here, we illustrate the positive health impacts of an innovative smartphone gaming application, Pokémon GO (Niantic Incorporation, San Francisco, California), which is used by millions of users worldwide. The aim of this game is to catch fictional characters known as Pokémon, which users encounter when walking around as opposed to traditional stationary-seated games. Sedentary lifestyle has long been associated with increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Pokémon GO exemplifies a highly successful smartphone application promoting health specifically by rewarding the simplest effective exercise of walking. This application, while representing the next interactive level of gaming, is as an important example of how positive reinforcement can serve as a successful motivation technique.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pcd.2017.03.008 | DOI Listing |
Sensors (Basel)
January 2025
Global Big Data Technologies Centre (GBDTC), University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
This work investigates the impact of rainfall on cellular communication links, leveraging smartphone-collected measurements. While existing studies primarily focus on line-of-sight (LoS) microwave propagation environments, this work explores the impact of rainfall on typical signal metrics over cellular links when the LoS path is not guaranteed. We examine both small-scale and large-scale variations in signal measurements across dry and rainy days, considering diverse locations and time windows.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Clin Med
January 2025
Department of Optometry and Vision Science, Hadassah Academic College, Jerusalem 9101001, Israel.
Keratoconus is a progressive corneal disorder that can lead to irreversible visual impairment if not detected early. Despite its high prevalence, early diagnosis is often delayed, especially in low-to-middle-income countries due to limited awareness and restricted access to advanced diagnostic tools such as corneal topography, tomography, optical coherence tomography, and corneal biomechanical assessments. These technologies are essential for identifying early-stage keratoconus, yet their high cost limits accessibility in resource-limited settings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMJ Open
January 2025
Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Rationale And Objective: Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid introduction of virtual care delivery via telephone or videoconference. The rapid advancements in e-health technology facilitated options for virtual care, including asynchronous data transfer in virtual clinic models and patient-facing smartphone applications for communications and self-care. However, the clinical benefits of virtual consultation have not been consistently demonstrated in all facets of kidney care, and the adoption of this innovation alters workflows and health professionals' perceptions of care delivery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanomaterials (Basel)
January 2025
Department of Photonics, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan.
This paper demonstrates the use of organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) to drive active digital mini light-emitting diode (mini-LED) backlights, aiming to achieve exceptional display performance. Our findings reveal that OTFTs can effectively power mini-LED backlights, reaching brightness levels exceeding 100,000 nits. This approach not only enhances image quality but also improves energy efficiency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBrain Sci
January 2025
Department of Mental Health, ASL Salerno, 84125 Salerno, Italy.
Background: The integration of digital health technologies has transformed mental healthcare, particularly for young adults with First-Episode Psychosis (FEP). Digital interventions, such as telepsychiatry and mobile applications, address barriers like social stigma, restricted access to services, and the urgency of timely care.
Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed and APA PsycINFO.
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