2014 was dubbed ‘The Year of Wearable Tech’, so it was only fitting that we introduced a brand new Award category in keeping with this theme – the Digital Health Award. This Award seeks to highlight the organisations who are using tech to improve the health of people across the world.
It was Peek Vision that stole the show for their innovative, easy to use, affordable and portable product, PEEK. Developed by a team of ophthalmologists, engineers, software developers and researchers, PEEK is a smart-phone based portable kit for comprehensive eye examinations in even the remotest of settings.
This year we have four fantastic finalists in the running for the Digital Health Award. In no particular order, we have DontBottleItUp, London’s Air Ambulance, BuddyApp and StressHeads. Find out more about them here, including the hashtag you need to tweet to vote:
#T4GDontBottleItUp is a free online support service available 24/7 to anyone seeking advice, support, and information about their drinking. Using a quick, easy, and confidential online questionnaire people can find out how risky their drinking is in two minutes, access advice tailored for them, and make a personalised reduction plan. Users can also find information about their local support services, or book one-to-one Skype sessions with an experienced alcohol worker.
London’s Air Ambulance responds to, on average, 2,000 people every year, and time is a critical factor in helping save lives. Working with EE and Mubaloo, the Dispatch app was developed to save time and reduce the chance of human error, integrating with the current London Air Ambulance service system and London A-Z maps. The result is a saving of up to two minutes on its dispatch process, and when car-based the team has been able to be assigned in as little as 10 seconds. Tweet #T4GDispatch to vote.
#T4GBuddyApp is a health and wellbeing app that utilises SMS text technology to engage individuals in their care, by recording their mental, emotional and physical wellbeing in-between sessions. Users are sent a daily text, which prompts them to reflect on their thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and their responses are uploaded to a web portal which is shared with their health professional, encouraging active participation in their own recovery.
#T4GStressHeads is an innovative digital tool, accessible via mobile and desktop applications, which helps young people cope with, and understand, the causes of stress. Created by YouthNet, the brains behind TheSite, an online guide to life for 16-25 year-olds, StressHeads is free to download, and lets young people personify their stress, helping them to better understand how they can deal with it.
Visit the Finalists 2015 page to find out who made it to finals this year, and how you can vote for them to win the People’s Award. Don’t forget, any of our 27 finalists can win this Award, regardless of whether they win their category. You can tell us who you think should win by voting right here on the website, or by tweeting your chosen finalist’s unique hashtag. You can vote as many times as you like – and don’t forget to tell family, friends, colleagues and service users to vote, too. Voting is open throughout June.
