Cell Phones…For Your Health?

By JR Raphael
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

Some new mobile technology is aiming to turn your cell phone into a health machine.

It’s a refreshing change from the fear-inducing reports circulating once again of the cell phone’s potential to cause cancer. A Pittsburgh cancer research doctor sent out a new warning last week asking his staff to limit its cell use because of the possibility.

“We shouldn’t wait for a definitive study to come out, but err on the side of being safe rather than sorry later,” the New York Times quoted him as saying.

Now, though, Japanese carriers are coming up with ways to give phones positive power — at least, a little of it. KDDI’s Au unit has launched a new Smart Sports program for its customers. Its phones can now use GPS and motion sensors to measure steps taken during the day (either in running or walking). The devices can then calculate distance and calories burned and keep a running record, even transmitting the data wirelessly to PCs for further analysis. The program also has a music option that’ll pick tunes to match the intensity of your workout.

Japan’s NTT DoCoMo is getting ready to launch cell-linked blood pressure monitoring and even mobile-based weight checks. The goal, PC World explains, is to get hospitals and even health clubs to start linking up their own offerings with the technology.

Is it just me, or does all this exercise talk make you want to kick back and play some good old-fashioned cell phone PacMan? Now that’s what I call a workout.