Enchanted Life Space: Adding Value to Smart Health by Integrating Human Desires

OBJECTIVES: Developments in advanced technology have unlocked an era of smart health, transforming healthcare practices inside and outside hospitals for both medical staff and patients. It is now possible for patients to collect detailed health data using smartphones and wearable devices, regardless of their physical location or time zone. The use of these patient-generated data holds great promise for future healthcare advancements in many ways; however, current strategies for smart-health technologies tend to focus on the smartness of the technology itself and on managing a particular disease or condition. Moreover, opportunities for people within the healthcare system to experience the benefits of these innovations are still limited. METHODS: An expert workshop was held to discuss the current limitations of smart health, where each expert gave a presentation on their particular expertise, followed by an exchange of ideas for the purpose of drawing conclusions. RESULTS: ‘Smartness’ should not be the ultimate value for patients using smart technologies; instead of focusing on individual smart devices, we should consider the space around people and their relation to each object so that the combination of space and objects brings an ‘enchanted’ experience to user. CONCLUSIONS: An ‘enchanted’ experience can only be possible when monitoring provides the user with a comfortable life and satisfies their needs and desires sufficiently. Only when the novelty of the device's smartness effectively connects people with the space around them and focuses on human desires can it be cost effective and value creating.