Personal Informatics

Personal Informatics

Personal Informatics is a field of study and practice that focuses on the collection, analysis, and interpretation of personal data to gain insights into an individual's behaviors, habits, and patterns. It involves the use of various tools and technologies, such as wearable devices, mobile applications, and sensors, to capture and quantify aspects of a person's life, including physical activity, sleep, mood, productivity, and social interactions. The goal of personal informatics is to empower individuals with self-knowledge and enable them to make data-driven decisions to improve their well-being, performance, and overall quality of life. This field draws from disciplines such as human-computer interaction, data science, psychology, and behavioral science to develop user-centered approaches for collecting, visualizing, and deriving meaningful insights from personal data. Personal informatics systems often provide feedback loops and recommendations to help individuals set goals, track progress, and make positive changes in their lives. The field also explores the ethical implications of personal data collection and use, emphasizing the importance of privacy, security, and user control over their own data.

self-tracking, quantified self, lifelogging, data-driven self-improvement

— Robert Anderson