Weight Loss Through Biometrics

Biometrics Incentives

You know, I have been in the Biometrics Industry since 2003.  I have seen and written up just about every application there is with regards with to Biometrics, and it seems like that every few months, some new application comes out.  I would not say it is a completely new application, but rather a hybrid being born out of an existing application.  Probably the best one is that multimodal Biometric solutions, now called “Hybrid Multimodal Biometrics”.  This is a combination of using different Biometric Technologies, in one unit, to address multiple Security needs.  Oh, yea, and how can forget about the use of Biometrics in predicting consumer behavior, for targeted advertising???  The specific name for this is actually, Neuromarketing.  Well today, we come across a totally new application for Biometrics.  And it is not dealing with Security or marketing, but rather, helping to motivate people. 

The Vendor mentioned in the Press Release is known as “IncentOne”, and here are the details:  “IncentOne, the leading provider of incentive solutions to the healthcare industry, has launched the first outcomes-based biometric incentive program through its Health Power™ platform. With this solution, IncentOne will enable payers, health service companies, employers, governments and administrators to align incentives to outcomes and improvements in 20 different biometric measures. As part of the solution, these outcomes can also be combined with participation-based biometric activities and non-biometric activities for a turn-key engagement solution. 

Key features of the solution include the ability to:

*Combine outcomes and participation-based programs

*Set desired biometric outcomes for 20 measures including Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure, Waist Circumference, Waist to Hip Ratio, Total Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, HDLc Ratio, Triglycerides, Glucose, A1C, Cotinine, and LDL Cholesterol

*Set absolute, percentage or minimum improvements for each measure

*Require multiple biometric measures to be reached for incentive earning”

(SOURCE:  http://www.findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/9038/).

Final Thoughts On Today’s Posting

First, it should be noted that in this context, Biometrics does not specifically refer to Fingerprint Recognition, Iris Recognition, Facial Recognition, etc.  Rather, the reference is to out biological traits, as can is exemplified in the second bullet.  But hey, everybody has unique Biometrics in this regard as well, so in my view, it still falls under the definition of “Biometrics”, without the verification/identification component involved.  So yes, this is another new apps of Biometrics.  Whenever I have thought of Biometrics, I have always envisioned it as a Security mechanism.  But used as an incentive tool??? 

That is the furthest thing from my mind I have ever imagined.  So how are Biometrics being used as an incentive tool here???  Well, once again, the Biometrics as outlined in the second bullet are being used as a benchmark for which healthcare providers can use to create incentives for their clients to reach certain health and/or weight loss goals.  More specifically, this is known as an “outcomes-based engagement strategy.”  The hope is that coupling this methodology with various types and kinds of health management activities will motivate people to stay in their best shape possible.  This is deemed to be the next trend in healthcare management, and a hopeful benefit of this will be substantial cost savings, which of course will be great news to medical patients, given the ever increasing costs of healthcare. 

Overall, the Biometrics Industry plays a very huge role in the healthcare industry, and as you can tell, it is mostly for securing the privacy of patient record and data.  But now, as one can see, it is playing a completely different role, in that of healthcare maintenance.  I am really glad to see that Biometrics (although the term is being used rather loosely here) is being used to help people be in the best shape that they can be.  After all, the United States has one of the worst obesity rates in the world, and this is just another great means to bring that obesity rate down.  By having a lower obesity rate, this will mean the ultimate in cost savings to taxpayers like you and me.  So, in my view, this is another area the Biometrics Industry can work in:  The welfare of the people. 

Remember, it is not all about Security.  As I have written about before, Biometrics is one of those very unique technologies which embraces not only the secure aspects of our lives, but the social part of it as well.  And if the technology can be used to prolong the lives of us Americans, so be it.

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