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QS4D

Pascal Lola

Quantified Self for DevelopmentPersonal Data Tracking for the Developing Africa

Introduction to Quantified Self

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What is Quantified Self• QS Personal Data Personal

Informatics• A grass-roots movement of people

interested in self-knowledge through self-tracking

• 90,000 and growing• 90+ countries

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Who is tracking

Percent of Americans who keep track of at least one health indicator

Keep track of progress "in their heads"

Use pen and paper to keep track

Use technology to keep track

Source: Pew

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What are people tracking• Weight• Blood Glucose• GPS location• Texting & Calling• Income and Expenditures• Cups of coffee • And many more…

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Why track personal data• Increased self-awareness• Data literacy• Ownership of personal data

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Why track personal data

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Why track personal data

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Who is working on personal data• Help people capture value

in their own data

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How to approach personal data• Human Computer

Interaction– Research at the intersection

of technology and people– Enable human interaction

with technology an deliver positive experiences

– User research & design methods and processes

• In-situ field research

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When to approach personal data• Now

– The beginning of a new era – The forefront of defining the

future of personal data– Personal data exists, if we

see it or not– Personal data literacy is low

(now)

Personal Data Tracking in Developing Africa

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Personal Data Tracking in Developing Africa• The landscape is almost non-existent given the novelty

of this research• Opportunities to spearhead research in this area

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Personal Data Tracking in Developing Africa• Explore opportunities for personal data tracking in the

developing Africa– What are existing self-tracking activities?– What ways can self-tracking help solve bigger problems

present in these regions: HIV/AIDS, poverty, illiteracy, infant mortality, climate change, etc.

• Intel Foundation > She Will > Empowering Women in Technology• Target girls and women in these communities

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Target girls and women• For example, see this story

and this story on how climate change is affecting women in Malawi

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Target Girls and Women• Rural areas vs. suburban areas• Teens vs. young and adults vs. older adults• Single vs. married

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Approach

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Find an issue, cause, or topic• Health (i.e. HIV)• Exercise• Family planning• Time management• Abuse, mental health, stress• Economical issues (i.e. poverty)• Education • Entertainment

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Understand the issue• Primary research in community

– Focus groups– Interviews– Diary studies– Surveys• Secondary research

– Look at existing work surrounding this issue

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Introduce Self Tracking Activity • Personal data tracking as an approach to solving this

issue• Example

– Track time consumption day to day by tracking daily activities

– Track HIV related symptoms, treatment activities, etc.– Track exercise, walking, sitting, sleeping, etc.– Track mood, self-esteem, etc.– Track educational activities (i.e. reading, writing, etc.)

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Experimentation, Observations, and Data Collection• Create an experiment based on the activity• Observe activity inputs, throughputs, and outputs• Collect data for later analysis

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Analyze, Extract Insights, and Report Findings• What are the conclusions drawn from the

project/research activities?• What can we learn about self-tracking in the developing

Africa in regards to:– The greater personal data domain– The targeted issue– In improving women’s well-being, education, digital

literacy, self-confidence, personal health, community health, awareness of self

• Make case for more research and projects by referencing specific contributions, findings, knowledge.08.01.201325

List of possible project & research topics

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Possible topics• Wearables as tools for personal data tracking• Mobile phones as tools for personal data tracking• Personal data tracking as a tool to help solve the effects of climate

change• Survey of existing personal data tracking practices• Forming communities centered around personal data• Digital literacy & Personal data literacy• Ethnomathematics and personal data• Personal data tracking in treating and preventing HIV• A study of physical activity and sleep patterns between rural and

urban populations of XYZ country/region.• and many more.27

Project Proposal TBD

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Thank You