Actionable Measurement

What can we measure that’s actionable? That’s a very important question. I think it varies from individual to individual. For instance if I give you a chart of your insulin levels for the past 12 months with great resolution, you’re probably not going to know what to make of it unless you’re a doctor.

I think that measured data needs to eventually map to a game a person can play – so for instance if I’m measuring my cholesterol and I don’t get enough information from my measurements to see how the things I do effect the levels of cholesterol then I’m unlikely to change my behavior. However, if I play snood – a little game in which the goal is to connect different colored balls together, it’s intuitive and RESPONSIVE enough that I quickly change my behaviour.

So your meeting with your doctor once per year in which he hands you a chart which says, “Your cholesterol is out of control” == not useful.

A game in which your goals are to change your PSA level or your cholesterol level or control your insilin. That’s what we need.