The Quantified Self: Nike Run Club
The Fall of Mazhar's Quantified Self
"Honestly, since the update, I'm not fan. I can't post my runs on Facebook anymore, the app doesn't show my trophies I have received or have gotten. But I do like how it shows me how far I have ran in a week and in a month.”
With new update, Mazhar was unable to share his runs to Facebook, which took away his motivation and use for the app
Nike Run Club App: Your Perfect Running Partner!
Features:
- Track your runs - every detail including pace, distance, routes and personal records
- Compete with friends/fellow runners from around the world through the app #justdoit
- Get coaching that "adapts to you"
- Linked with Spotify to pump you up
- Join a "Run Club" (if you live in the US)
Why did Mazhar give up on Nike Run Club?
Discussion Questions
“Nah. I like people seeing it on Facebook. It helps motivate me. People give me a like or two, and I feel like I have an audience pushing me to keep going. Without being able to show my runs, I don’t really care as much.”
Go Mazhar, Go!
1) Have you or are you currently using a fitness-tracking app of some sort? If so, which one and why did/do you enjoy using this specific app?
2) If you could create an app that tracks something you do in your life – aside from the ones that are currently available – what would it be? What purpose would this app serve your quantified self?
Larger Implications
Data - Crucial to understand the context in which data is being gathered and what it is being used for
“The data gathered about us by our devices becomes an artifact that is separate from us and can be viewed at a distance. At the same time, it represents us, or a part of our lives (p. 68)
Creates anxiety, guilt, sadness in some users
Can miss out on life's spontaneous moments if constantly glued to the data
Constant surveillance - nothing is private; who is using your data and for what?
The End
Video: How Much Can Data Improve Your Health?
Quantified Selves
Mazhar's Quantified Self
Main purpose: to track his own personal fitness and share with others for motivation
Quantified Self Movement: people who "...track and analyse aspects of their lives such as steps, travels, productivity, location, glucose, heart rate, coffee intake, sleep and more to understand and improve themselves" (p. 61) - Walker-Rettberg
- Nike Run Club
- Fitbit
- MyFitnessPal
- Sleep Cycle alarm clock
- Period Tracker
- Lose It!
- My Pregnancy & Baby Today
- MoodKit
- Alcohol Monitor Pro
- Drop - drink water reminder and tracker
- & so many more