Informing the Design of Personal Informatics Technologies for Unpredictable Chronic Conditions

Abstract

Personal informatics technologies, such as consumer fitness tracking devices, have an enormous potential to transform the self-management of chronic conditions. However, it is unclear how people living with relapsing and progressive illnesses experience personal informatics tools in everyday life: what values and challenges are associated with their use? This research informs the design of future health tracking technologies through an ethnographic design study of the use and experience of personal informatics tools in multiple sclerosis (MS) self-management. Initial findings suggest that future health tracking technologies should acknowledge people’s emotional wellbeing and foster flexible and mindful self-tracking, rather than focusing only on tracking primary