Information Processing System Analysis for a Health App: Report

This report provides a detailed analysis of the information processing system used in a health-focused mobile application. The report begins with a description of the system, which is designed to gather and analyze data related to healthy eating habits. It highlights the use of an advanced information system capable of scanning food items to determine their nutritional value, similar to a barcode scanner. The report then explores the input, processing, and output devices employed by the app, including barcode scanners, weight trackers, and diet calendars. These devices are designed to facilitate efficient data collection and provide users with personalized health recommendations. The reflection section discusses the student's learning experience, including insights into the functionality of various input devices and the app's potential benefits for users. The report concludes with a list of references to support the findings.

Foundations of MIS & CBT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Description of the information processing system used in App.................................................1
Input, processing and output devices used..................................................................................1
Reflection....................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

Description of the information processing system used in App
As the App is completely based on healthy eating, so it involves an information
processing system that gathers all the data required for analysing the symptoms, factors and
measures for a healthy eating (Curtis, Lahiri and Brown, 2015). An information processing
system can be considered as a system that takes the information and data in one form and replies
in some other form. This is a managed process that actually helps in analysing the factors better.
The information processing system which has been used in this application is advanced enough
as the requirement of the app is to scan the nutritional value and other essential factors from just
scanning the food. So, the factor cannot be maintained by an ordinary information processing
system. So, an advanced information system has been used in this application. Also, it has a
feature that at the time of analysing the factors, it makes use of the rear camera for scanning the
food. After scanning, it presents an approximate of the nutritional values in that specific food.
The scanning can be done like a bar code scanning. The technology of bar code scanning is
considered as a very optimal mechanism which helps in making an interaction between the
mobile phone and food database. Also, it is important to maintain the technology because it is
essential to ensure about some factors very carefully while using the bar code scanning
technology. Thus, the information processing system has been made in order to store the
nutritional value of almost 2044 food items.
Input, processing and output devices used
While the application made, some input devices were used to make the processing easy
and better for the people (Conroy, Yang and Maher, 2014). A processor has been used for an
efficient processing and for the output, a printer has been used so that if someone wants to have
the information for a longer period, they can get it. The input devices used are as under:
Bar code scanner
A bar code scanner has been used that can simply capture the picture of the food item and
automatically generate the amount of calories and nutritional values present in it. Thus, it can be
considered as a better input device that can actually prove beneficial for the people who want to
have a balanced and complete diet (Pagoto and Mann, 2013). One can also stay fit by means of it
because they can analyse first what is good for their health and what is not. Therefore, it can help
in preventing oneself from diseases and health issues.
Weight tracker
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Also, it has sensors in it that analyses the number of steps the person has taken, how
much physical activity has been done (West and Barrett, 2012). So, the sensors also help in
analysing the weight of the person. This feature has also seen very successful and beneficial for
the people who are conscious about their health. Also, as obesity is increasing day by day, so this
app can act as a better option for the people who are obese and are not happy with their weight.
This app can provide them accurate details about the intake of food they should carry forward
just to make themselves fit and strong. Weight tracker factor of this application pops out the
notifications to the user every time, an increase or decrease is observed in someone's weight.
Hence, it can act as a better option (Ramage and McCargar, 2013).
Diet calendar
The diet calendar in the application keeps reminding the people about the intake as
notifications are being popped out about the intake of every single day so that the person can
follow that and can live a healthy life (Schoffman and Wilcox, 2013). It helps in providing
option in association with the weight of the person so that the food item recommended can make
the person fit and healthy, not fat. Accordingly, it ensures all these factors. This calendar has a
specified schedule for every month that has to be followed by the user in order to maintain a
healthy body weight.
Reference guide
Along with the specialised features like diet calendar, weight tracker etc. the app also
provides a reference guide (Duncan and Noakes, 2014). This guide helps in evaluating what
products and food items can act beneficial for them. So, then it is completely dependent on the
person itself. The guide provides a variety of options that as per the bodily requirements, what
food items they should take and consume.
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Reflection
In the whole designing of the app, I have realised that I have learned various input
devices and their functions such as bar code scanner, weight tracker etc. Although I went through
some ups and downs, but, I managed. I realised there are various types of specialised features
such as there are several sensors that are helpful to a huge extent because the bar code scanner is
used as it scans the food item and analysed the amount of nutritional value in it. On the basis of
it, the person can consume it. I realised that this app can be a better option for people who are
very conscious about their health and want to have a healthy life. I think every feature is better
enough for maintaining a healthy body weight but there can be various more output options as
well just to make it more effective and appropriate. I think this app can be considered as a better
option for the people who want to stay fit and healthy. It is because the app contains all
specialised features and sensors that can help in analysing the bodily factors easily and
appropriately.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Conroy, D. E., Yang, C. H. and Maher, J. P., 2014. Behavior change techniques in top-ranked
mobile apps for physical activity. American journal of preventive medicine. 46(6).
pp.649-652.
Curtis, K. E., Lahiri, S. and Brown, K. E., 2015. Targeting parents for childhood weight
management: development of a theory-driven and user-centered healthy eating app. JMIR
mHealth and uHealth. 3(2).
Duncan, M., and Noakes, M., 2014. Effectiveness of a web-and mobile phone-based
intervention to promote physical activity and healthy eating in middle-aged males:
randomized controlled trial of the ManUp study. Journal of medical Internet
research. 16(6).
Pagoto, S. and Mann, D., 2013. Evidence-based strategies in weight-loss mobile apps. American
journal of preventive medicine. 45(5). pp.576-582.
Ramage, S. and McCargar, L., 2013. Healthy strategies for successful weight loss and weight
maintenance: a systematic review. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 39(1).
pp.1-20.
Schoffman, D. E. and Wilcox, S., 2013. Mobile apps for pediatric obesity prevention and
treatment, healthy eating, and physical activity promotion: just fun and
games?. Translational behavioral medicine. 3(3). pp.320-325.
West, J. H. and Barrett, J., 2012. There’s an app for that: content analysis of paid health and
fitness apps. Journal of medical Internet research. 14(3).
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