This document summarizes the results of a survey about quantified self-tracking. The survey found that: - The top 5 things people track are weight, sleep, steps/walking, activity logging, and heart rate. - The most commonly used self-tracking tools are spreadsheets, pen and paper, Fitbit, MyFitnessPal, and Moves. - Respondents' goals for self-tracking include integrating data easily without giving up control to any one company and running peer-based workshops on data analysis. - The greatest challenge is maintaining ease of use and automation for long-term data collection.

1. A survey of the uses in
quantified self
CC-BY-SA | ulrichatz.eu

2. What are people looking for?

3. Wearables

4. Why do a survey?
We estimate around 500 unique tools.
(Matches the 505 tools listed in the QS guide to self-tracking tools.)

5. Why do a survey?
We estimate around 500 unique tools.
(Matches the 505 tools listed in the QS guide to self-tracking tools.)
What mobile device do you use?
iPhone / iOS 52%
Android 50%
Windows 5.7%
Other 4.7%

6. Why do a survey?
We estimate around 500 unique tools.
(Matches the 505 tools listed in the QS guide to self-tracking tools.)
having all the relevant
data at my fingertips and
being able to use it safely
After my death
definitely.
What mobile device do you use?
iPhone / iOS 52%
Android 50%
Windows 5.7%
Other 4.7%

7. Aim
1. What data people are collecting and
analysing?
2. Where are the gaps in the current tools and
skills?
3. What above all are people looking for and
ultimately trying to do?

8. ❏ Allergies
❏ Weight
❏ Running
❏ etc
In five categories select
the things you track:
For each metric you track
we ask 3 more detailed
questions:
And finish with two pages
of general questions
1. 2. 3.

9. Stanza: Body 01000010011011110110010001111001

10. Who are you?
All complete
responses:
105

11. Who are you?
All complete
responses:
105

12. Who are you?
All complete
responses:
105
Software Development (e.g. coding) 30%
Data Analysis 46%
Visualisation & Design 35%
Making (e.g. building sensors) 6.7%
Skills

13. Here are the top ten!

14. Here are the top ten!

15. Notable mentions
#11 Mood / Happiness 29%
#18 Alcohol 21%

16. Notable mentions
#11 Mood / Happiness 29%
#18 Alcohol 21%
#36 Sex 8%
#59 Perspiration 2%

17. Overall top tools
Spreadsheet 41%
Pen & Paper 28%
Fitbit 20%
MyFitnessPal 16%
Moves 14%
RunKeeper 13%
Withings Scales 13%

18. Overall top tools
An analog stronghold.
The first wearable gadget!
Spreadsheet 41%
Pen & Paper 28%
Fitbit 20%
MyFitnessPal 16%
Moves 14%
RunKeeper 13%
Withings Scales 13%
A total of 1452 tools were mentioned,
that’s almost 14 per person.

19. 90% consider sharing Matches a study by
Makovsky Health

20. Privacy vs data sharing
As promised we will publish aggregate stats.

21. Privacy vs data sharing
As promised we will publish aggregate stats.
Raw data is more difficult because of “high-
dimensionality” and text fields.
I use a self made tool to
draw art while asleep.R > sdcMicro

22. “Integrating everything easily, without
giving up control to any one company.”

23. “I want to run peer-based workshops.”
“Perhaps invite a data-mining statistician to
talk, be available (at a charge)”

24. “The greatest challenge with data
collection is around ease of use,
automation, etc. Whenever I have
had to manually record my own
data then I have usually given up.”

25. Questions?
Contact me!
@statshero
ulrich@theodi.org

26. Appendix
Such data. Much slides.

27. Plan to collect in the future
Blood Glucose 24%
Brainwaves (EEG etc.) 19%
VO2max (maximal oxygen consumption) 19%

28. Currently
Collecting
Previously
Collected
Plan to Collect
in Future
Total
Collected
Weight 47% 17% 7% 64%
Sleep 31% 19% 17% 50%
Steps / Walking 35% 12% 3% 48%
Activity Log / Timekeeping 28% 12% 4% 40%
Heart-Rate 22% 17% 16% 39%
Running 28% 8% 4% 35%
Spending & Purchases 23% 11% 10% 34%
Body Fat 30% 3% 17% 32%
Eating / Diet / Supplements (e.g.
vitamins & minerals)
18% 13% 15% 31%
Exercise (not including Running,
Walking or Cycling)
19% 12% 8% 31%

29. What are you measuring?
Physical (e.g. Blood Pressure, Weight, Sleep) 84%
Emotional & Mental (e.g. Mood tracking, Happiness,
Psychometrics)
46%
Activity & Consumption (e.g. Exercise, Time, Diet, Travel,
Email)
83%
Money / Personal Finance (e.g. Income, Spending) 50%
Social (e.g. Meetings, Facebook Use) 21%