Swine flu? Yes, there's an app for that
Well, it was only a matter of time. Last month, we told you about an iPhone application called Outbreaks Near Me, designed by researchers from the Children's Hospital of Boston, promising to help you track every move of the H1N1 virus.
There's also an application called Swine Flu Tracker from IntuApps which maps suspected cases and even informs you of the "threat level" of the virus. OK, this is just too Sci-Fi for me.
Well, of course, there's a new application designed to inform health geeks, iPhone addicts and hypochondriacs alike about all things H1N1. This one, however, carries the cache of Harvard Medical School and aims to educate more than entertain.
For $1.99 -- you didn't think it was free, did you? -- you get tools to help diagnose yourself, news feed from Harvard Medical School on the latest H1N1 updates from the CDC and local public health officials, and advice from Harvard Business School experts on how employers can best prepare their workers for a pandemic and even business guides for traveling employees.
It also offers phone hotlines for more flu information and guides for preparing for a pandemic emergency.
It's part of Harvard's overall strategy to promote public health through technology with its new venture called HMSMobile, where you can also check out a trailer of the new iPhone app.
What do you think? Any takers?
photo: AFP/Getty
Comments
Hi Kelly, I'm testing out all 3 applications. Im not prepared to give a review here in the comments but I can say the Harvard app looks on the cover to be pretty good however alot of the info in it can be found in other apps for Free. i think they are leveraging their credibility to charge for the app!
Posted by: mario armstrong | October 30, 2009 2:50 PM
Mario, that's really interesting feedback. Do you intend to use the apps much?
Posted by: Kelly Brewington | October 30, 2009 5:29 PM
There's a web site called www.feelingflu.com - you can't get the information yet from your IPhone but it's the most comprehensive, easy to understand resource out there. And it has an assessment tool that you can take to find out what your symptoms mean.
Posted by: aimee | October 30, 2009 5:35 PM