A generic conceptual model linking wellness, health lifestyles, and user assistance

The concept of the wellness mobile is one wherein wireless handheld devices such as cell phones are equipped with a set of biosensors, thereby enabling real-time, self-wellness monitoring by the cell phone user, and an incremental reduction in the healthcare costs. It is envisioned that this maturing technology will provide a safe and protective environment for an increasing cell phone user-population to help combat anti-wellness factors such as stress, fatigue, and illness. Because these factors manifest themselves in the form of detectable biometric fluctuations, they can be tracked using inexpensive biometric sensors embedded on smart phones. However, the monitoring solutions provided primarily cater to medical data collection from patients with specific diseases or health conditions and are unsuitable for day-to-day wellness monitoring. With this in mind, the purpose of this position paper is to motivate future research in this area, and to present a novel conceptual model for understanding (and implementation of) wellness assessment that links typical day-to-day user activities, wellness state recognition, and timely user assistance for a healthier lifestyle based on the multi-modality evidences.