Computers and mobile devices are reliably used to assess a number of ailments and conditions, from simple thermometers that detect temperature fluctuations to glucose monitors that tell wearers when they are moving outside of an acceptable blood sugar range. But how far has mobile technology come in assessing and treating mental health?
IBM Watson's cognitive computing and data analysis capabilities combined with frameworks like Apple's ResearchKit are providing a new platform on which developers can build applications that will assess behavioral health like never before.
Forbes reports applications like Eliza, Saker, Autism & Beyond and Quartet take innovative approaches to analyzing users' mental states that likely wouldn't have been feasible using earlier technology — including using smartphones to analyze gait, speech and screen for autism.
Organizations, such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which is seeking proposals for new ideas in behavior research, have also taken up the cause, according to Forbes. Startups focused on mental health have also begun to come into play, with tens of millions raised in early funding.