Question: So what are some of your ideas for trying to get people up and moving when they have just been on the phone/computers. (esspsially since theres endless content everywhere) and also would there be an app to help you.

Katie Pickering answered on 11 Nov 2014:

Hi Simon Cowell!

Good question! At the moment I am evaluating the Change 4 Life Couch to 5K running app to see how effective it is in encouraging adults to start running, and also if they succeed at completing the app do they keep up the running afterwards.
We can use technology to relay healthy messages and reminders to those who work on computers a lot via e mail and instant messaging, and develop more effective knowledge transfer websites to educate people. Research shows that the more educated we are about what is good for our health the more likely we are to put it into practice.
Some of the current apps on the market for encouraging exercise are ace at motivating people as you can link up with like minded friends and track each others progress and maybe compete against them, and also yourself. Apps can provide instant feedback about your progression and how fitter you are getting. Something that jus toging to the gym may not always be able to do. This again is really important.
So myself and other technology and exercise researchers are using a variety of techniques to get people up and moving a bit more. Its quite complex.