SelfGuard

Overview

During the COVID-19 pandemic, tracking daily activities and visited locations became important for self-protection. SelfGuard is a mobile application that semi-automatically tracks daily activities and enhances self-protection behavior using mobile sensing and gamified feedback.

Approach

• Semi-automated tracking: Automatically recording visited places, mobility range, and duration using location sensors, with optional manual logging of place conditions
• Gamified feedback: Encouraging self-protection behaviors (handwashing, mask wearing, staying home) through gamification elements
• App Store deployment: Released as a publicly available iOS application for widespread adoption

Results

• Deployed via the App Store with over 324 installations and 52 active users sharing activity data
• Successfully demonstrated that gamified mobile sensing can encourage and track infection prevention behaviors in daily life

Significance

SelfGuard demonstrates a practical approach to promoting self-protection behaviors through mobile technology, combining passive sensing with gamified feedback to encourage healthy habits during pandemic situations.