The Trace app experiments with a fun way to get people active. It's a social app that lets people send a secret message in the form of a walking route. The recipient can only see the message if they head out for a walk. It's based around the phenomenon of industrious bikers and joggers carving out fun shapes on Google Maps.
By taking this action one step further, the Trace app is able to tap into another demographic -- one that is looking for a great excuse to get outside. Not to mention that it creates a different way to communicate between friends and family. A project headed by University of Washington's Daniela Rosner, the Trace app rethinks motivation. She says, "[What if] instead of transporting someone to a place, the application focused on the journey?" Rosner asks. "What if instead of attempting to motivate a walk through step counts and tracking, the application extended social relations through walking?"
Walk-Encouraging Apps
The Trace AppLet's People Send Secret Messages Decoded by Walking
Trend Themes
1. Social Fitness Apps - Creating apps that combine social interaction with physical activity to encourage people to get active in a fun and engaging way.
2. Gamified Health Apps - Developing apps that utilize gamification elements, like secret messages or challenges, to motivate users to engage in healthier behaviors.
3. Alternative Communication Methods - Exploring innovative ways to communicate with others, such as using physical activity as a means of decoding secret messages.
Industry Implications
1. Fitness and Wellness - The fitness industry can leverage social fitness apps to attract and engage a wider audience, promoting physical activity as a social and enjoyable experience.
2. Health Tech - The health tech industry can capitalize on gamified health apps to encourage behavior change and promote healthier lifestyles through interactive and entertaining experiences.
3. Communication and Messaging - The communication industry can explore alternative methods of communication, like the Trace app, to provide unique and exciting ways for people to connect with one another.