What I learned from a year of tracking

This is the (for now) final part of the series on 'The other learning technology: tracking'. Over the past year I've experimented with various tracking devices, attended meetups of the Brussels Quantified Self group, presented on the this topic at Online Educa Berlin, etc. What did I learn?

Previously:

• Tracking: the other learning technology (overview article)
• Review of FitBit
• Review of myZeo
• Review of Lumosity brain games
• Review of 23andme.com personal genome service
• Review of Life Mash

I'm writing this article in the format of Quantified Self presentations: what did I do, why did I do it and what did I learn?

What did I do?

I immersed into the world of Quantified Self, with its slogan "knowledge through numbers". I tried the most popular tracking devices and services out there, like fitbit, zeo, lumosity, moodpanda, hearthmath, etc. I also bought a Neurosky Mindwave portable brain scanner and used it during presentations on Neuroscience and leadership.  And that's just the gadgets. I attended 4 meetings of the Brussels Quantified Self group and learned why and what people are tracking. The organizer and driving force of the Brussels group - Candide - actually own a venture Fluxtream that combines the different data streams in visually stunning reports. I think they are working on an open source version at the moment. I also watched tons of movies on the Quantied Self blog from one of the meetings allover the world. (If you are interested in all tools and apps available, check out the QS Guide.)

Why did I do it?

In the field of learning and development, we have been saying for years learning is getting personal and mobile. Well, it can't get more personal or mobile than personal tracking technology. We have also been saying that learning takes place with repeated attention and practice over time - and that classrooms don't necessarily cut that. Again, tracking technology is there with you over time in real life and work. 

I called it "the other learning technology", and I can see the promise it holds. That's why I did it: I think what we'll learn in terms of learning by personal tracking and Quantified Self will get very big in the years to come. At this point in time, it is mostly about mood and health solutions. But we are on our way to track emotion, stress, brain, social interactions, etc. I'm currently working in the field of leadership development. Arguable, that's all about behavior change. I'd just love to get my hand on the newer generation tracking devices and see what they can bring about for behavior change.  

What did I learn?

First of all, I learned that for "learning by tracking" to work, keep these points in mind:

1. Start tracking when you have a real motivation to change something. Apart from special souls that want to track for tracking's sake, Quantified Self development works best if you have a need. For example, I really wanted to sleep better - and I took the Zeo online coaching program very seriously. I did gain valuable insights what makes me sleep better or worse, and I do sleep better now. Then again, I never really was motivated to loose weight or live a more active life style - so the Fitbit counters are just for testing the technology as far as I'm concerned. Weight loss is all very well but it is a bit like world peace: great to have it, but how realistic is that and how much effort doesn't it take...
2. You'll need a mindset and personal process to develop yourself. Obviously, you are entirely accountable yourself for what you do or don't do with the data. Find out what works for you, in your own life and work. Try to be systematic about it: establish a baseline in data, then change one thing in your pattern, and check for the results. You do it your way. (And please share it with the rest of the world - other people might find what works for you and how you found out very helpful!) As a 'meta' skill, you'll need to be able to make sense of many sources of data.
3. It works better with some help from your friends. The point is: it might be your data and need, but changing yourself for the better works better with some support. Some tools and services have an automated form of that support, such as an automated coaching tool or reminders via email, or leaderboards, etc. Maybe one day the profession of a 'quant coach' will be a normal things. For now, find people to help you making sense of your data and keeping your motivation up.
4. Go for good tools. Yes, the gadgets matter too. From trying out a few the best tracking devices of course track what is relevant and do that right, but they also are affordable (around 100-200 US$ max), they provide open APIs so other platform and reporting tools can access your data if you want to, they make sure your data is yours and secured, they have an accompanying website or app that is user friendly and gives good visual reports.
5. Three months seems to be a good period. When you get a new 'toy', you'll probably use it for a few weeks just to experience what it does. But after, you'll need a motivation to do so. And it will wear out in time. Few people keep tracking for years. For developmental purposes, three months seems to be an ideal period to use the tracking technology for sustained behavior change. 

To conclude this series - I'd like to point out a few tracking devices that will become available in 2013 and I'm looking forward to test out.

Mybasis watch - has been eagerly awaited by the QS community and is finally ready in limited quantity. I've ordered mine and I hope it will ship soon. The MyBasis has pedometer functionality like the Fitbit, but also tracks heart rate, skin conductance, etc. That means it might to into stress/emotions. Very exiting indeed...

MyAutom - I pre-ordered this small coaching robot in April, and I'm hoping it will ship this year. This little cute robot coaches you to a healthier life style. I know from my work how beneficial coaching can be for one's development, but it is also a bloody expensive business. So I'm curious what automated and cheaper coaches can bring in terms of motivation and results. Plus, it looks so cute :-)

Muse brain head band - either I ordered a very expensive T-shirt, or I crowdfunded a stylish brain head band that I'll receive in July. 

The German BodyMonitor Smartband should also see the light of day this year for the general public.

Finally, there's a European Quantified Self conference in Amsterdam next year.

Happy tracking in 2013!

B