In this edition of Mobile Monday, we’re taking a look at how mobile apps will help facilitate a million-person medical study, our shortening attention spans, and the prevalence of mobile moguls.
Apps for Medical Research
While apps are often used for entertainment, the National Institutes of Health has another idea in mind. Recently, the NIH announced funding for a new PMI Cohort program that will collect nuanced information from over one million individual using mobile apps. The project aims to “improve our ability to prevent and treat disease based on individual differences.” Initially, mobile apps for healthcare providers will be used to recruit participants. Once the study begins, both apps and traditional channels will be used to collect participant data.
Mobile Attention Span
While the NIH study will span months of not years, a recent VentureBeat article by Stewart Rogers challenges whether users can survive a few minutes — of reading on their mobile phones, that is. Named simply “Your mobile attention span is now so short you won’t finish this article“, Rogers cited a recent study that claims a 35% decline in session time in recent months.
Mobile Moguls
Later this month, Forbes will release an issue that features what they dub “the new mobile moguls“, celebrities who have cashed in on mobile apps. As Natalie Robehmed attests:
“As gaming has moved from consoles to desktops to smartphone apps, the ability to create a marketable game has spread from pro athletes to pretty much anyone with a following.”
Of course, the most successful endeavors occur when the app resonates with the public persona of the celebrity. Examples range from apps like Kim Kardashian: Hollywood to a shooter featuring Jason Statham and a light hearted Ellen DeGeneres trivia app. Modifying an old adage, if you’re known for something, there’s an app genre for that.
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Mobile Monday examines the latest news, trends, and developments in mobile apps, tech, and advertising. Do you have a story to share for the next Mobile Monday? Tweet it to @AdColony. For the latest AdColony mobile news and updates, follow @AdColony on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or connect on Linkedin.
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