GeneFit: Creating a DNA based health app for the future

The convergence of understanding of our genes and the power of technology is an area we are witnessing exponential leaps. People can now access, understand and benefit from the endlessly exciting and diverse things about our genetics.

This opens up the opportunity to improve people’s health by proactively warning them of possible health risks based on their genetic insights. Combined with the advances in wearables, we can now get real-time health data from our smartwatches.

I started off by looking at research papers with keywords such as fitness, diseases, and genetics. I also took a look at the working population and gathered an understanding of how the Indian population uses their phones and smartwatches.

From here, I spoke to professionals in the field of genetics to understand the space I would be working on and the potential it holds. Finally, I conducted a user survey study to understand from a sample group how they currently use these gadgets on a daily basis.

D2C kits like 23andMe and AncestryDNA have made it simple to discover insights about your genetics from the comfort of your home.

These kits can reveal a lot of your genetic predispositions including:

Fitness wearables are becoming increasingly mainstream, but their effectiveness in improving health and fitness has been questioned.

A study by the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that fitness trackers were 'less effective at encouraging people to lose weight than simply following a diet and exercise plan.'

Researchers suggested that reliance on these devices might reduce self-motivation, whereas those who tracked their health independently seemed to achieve better results.

Regardless, wearables remain one of the best ways to collect deep user data which can used to alert them on a real-time basis. Some of the data which can be collected from the users through their smartwatches include:

I had the chance to interview two professors specializing in Biotechnology and Forensics, leveraging connections through my father’s peers.

The 45-minute discussions provided invaluable insights into genetic testing, D2C testing, and their broader implications.

These interviews highlighted opportunities I may have overlooked during my literature review and deepened my understanding of the space.

To gauge people's attitudes toward DNA testing and products like 23andMe, I conducted a survey. The survey aimed to understand perceptions of fitness and genetics from participants across diverse age groups.

All respondents were between the ages of 18 and 50, ensuring a well-rounded and inclusive dataset.

The study revealed a significant rise in the adoption of wearables, with over half of the participants already using this technology, emphasizing the growing potential for innovation in this space.

Price was identified as a key factor for purchasing wearables, with over 75% of participants considering it critical. Offering incentives and delivering value for money can attract a broader audience.

Opinions on sharing genetic data for health plans were deeply divided, highlighting the need for a natural and convincing onboarding process to build trust.

Over 60% of participants expressed concerns about sharing genetic data with third-party labs. Addressing these fears through transparent processes and strong data security measures is essential.

The designs were meticulously created using the iOS Human Interface Guidelines to ensure a seamless and native experience for Apple users.

The interface integrates effortlessly with Apple Health and wearables, providing users with real-time insights that are both actionable and personalized.

The sprint proved to be an invaluable learning experience, immersing me in an area I initially knew little about. It highlighted the untapped potential for the next version of the product. Features like comprehensive diet tracking—emphasizing the importance of balanced nutrition in fitness journeys—could add immense value. A leaderboard system would inject a sense of healthy competition among users, keeping them motivated. And finally, integrating a watch interface, though left out in this sprint, is a critical step towards completing the GeneFit ecosystem.