Tracking Personal Progress: The Role of AI in the Quantified Self Movement

Summary

In this article, we explore the importance of tracking personal progress and how the quantified self movement is revolutionizing the way individuals understand their bodies. We discuss the use of a three-point scale to simplify the tracking process and the tension between active tracking and passive monitoring. We also examine the role of artificial intelligence in providing insights and alerts based on personal data. Lastly, we explore the concept of biometrics and how it represents a larger trend of people collecting and interpreting signals from their own bodies.

The Importance of Tracking Personal Progress
The Three-Point Scale: Simplifying Tracking
The Tension Between Active Tracking and Passive Monitoring
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Personal Tracking
Beyond Biometrics: New Dimensions of Sensing
Biometrics and Personal Interpretations
Conclusion

The Importance of Tracking Personal Progress

Tracking personal progress is essential for individuals who want to improve their health and well-being. However, the process can be overwhelming and time-consuming. The quantified self movement aims to simplify this process by providing tools and technologies that allow individuals to track their progress easily and efficiently.

The Three-Point Scale: Simplifying Tracking

One way to simplify tracking is by using a three-point scale. This scale consists of three categories: good, neutral, and bad. By assigning a score to each category, individuals can easily track their progress over time. This approach is particularly useful for tracking habits and behaviors that are difficult to quantify, such as mood, energy levels, and sleep quality.

The Tension Between Active Tracking and Passive Monitoring

While active tracking can provide valuable insights, it can also be a source of cognitive load and stress. Passive monitoring, on the other hand, can be less intrusive but may not provide the same level of detail. Finding a balance between active tracking and passive monitoring is essential for individuals who want to track their progress effectively.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Personal Tracking

Artificial intelligence (AI) can play a crucial role in personal tracking by analyzing data and providing insights and alerts based on patterns and trends. By paying attention to personal data, AI can help individuals make more informed decisions about their health and well-being. For example, AI could alert individuals when they are at risk of developing a particular condition based on their personal data.

Beyond Biometrics: New Dimensions of Sensing

The use of sensors to monitor bodily functions provides individuals with new ways to understand their bodies. While the quantification of data can cause anxiety, the long-term goal is to use sensors to equip individuals with new senses to hear and feel their bodies. For example, a hack in San Francisco allowed the wearer of a belt with a digital compass and vibrators to feel the direction of north. This shift represents a much greater magnitude in terms of the scale of human possibility or potential.

Biometrics and Personal Interpretations

Biometrics is a subset of the larger trend of people collecting and interpreting signals from their own bodies. The meaning of these signals goes beyond just medical diagnoses and encompasses personal interpretations and cultural changes. For example, individuals with diabetes may use their numbers as a signal that has personal meaning rather than solely focusing on optimizing the numbers.

Conclusion

The quantified self movement is revolutionizing the way individuals track their progress and understand their bodies. The use of a three-point scale, artificial intelligence, and sensors provides individuals with new ways to simplify tracking and gain insights into their health and well-being. As we continue to collect and interpret signals from our own bodies, we can expect to see a shift in the way we understand ourselves and our potential.