By Miriam Raisner and Jake Samuelson
Over the last five years, rapid innovations in mobile technology have resulted in the explosive adoption of smartphones and tablets (and applications built for them) that not only allow users to access an endless amount of information, but that can collect a wide variety of real-time user data, regardless of location. The implications of this within the health industry are vast. Mobile devices can now be used as diagnostic tools, preventive health coaches, and healthcare coordinators — all for minimal, if any, cost to the user. These advances, combined with rising disease rates and healthcare costs, position mobile health products and services to gain increasing adoption and importance in the foreseeable future.