Asthma Tech: You're Doing It Right

Asthma and technology

Sometimes writing about creating change for the asthma community is a bit like shouting into a black hole (or at a cloud)—or at the very least preaching to the choir.

Today is actually NOT one of those days. AND it even has to do with one of my favorite-ever subjects: technology and quantified self! (If you’re a regular around here, you may remember such previous episodes as Hi, I’m a patient: Talk to me!, "It’s Just a Prototype”, and Show me what you’ve got: More than a prototype.

A few weeks back, Strados Labs in Philly started following me on Twitter. I replied to their direct message (DM) but didn’t think much of it. After all, Twitter bots are everywhere and so are startups, right? For some reason though I was intrigued and actually replied to the DM.

Later at night, at midnight in Philadelphia, I get a DM back from Nick, co-founder of Strados Labs. For background, last year I wrote a piece for Asthma.Net ranking the asthma apps that are out there.

“We use your asthma app evaluation as a benchmark for what we should be focusing on for a UX [user experience design] side."

NICK. WHAT?!?!? YOU DO WHAT?!?!

That was my brain. These people use my app ranking criteria on their own in-development app?! Fortunately my typing fingers are more business-like somehow. Nick told me he’d sent me an e-mail so OFF I WENT ALL PROFESSIONAL-LIKE. (Except not at all, it was full speed ahead to the old gmail!)

NICK CAN WE BE BEST FRiENDS?

Well, I actually said, “Hey Nick! Great to hear from you. I’m flexible tomorrow for a call."

Because, you know, I emulate professionalism alright.

People. This was NOT an OLD MAN YELLS AT CLOUD! night. Because:

• a. Strados is developing something that is brand new to the consumer asthma space—a wearable with sensors as well as the ability to detect the sound of your inhaler (…which you’d then confirm which one you used. Also because hanging out with other asthmatics could get interesting.)
• b. Nick actually has asthma, so he gets major bonus points for developing in the asthma space (also he’s walking around with things stuck to himself to figure out a comfortable sensor—hollaaa.)

and

• c. 12 hours later I had a call coming in on my cell phone from Nick.