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Exercise Incentive App Monitors Movement in Leeds Parks
Leeds council to use technology to encourage healthier lifestyle and reduce the strain on health and social care services.
10:22 06 April 2021
Leeds ‘smart cities’ plan to improve services will include the use of an app to monitor how much people walk, run or cycle. The scheme provides incentives in a form of credit, which can go to a charity to be redeemed for goods or services. The scheme will also involve the use of sensors across the city centre to monitor pedestrian and traffic levels as well as an app to control road signals and give priority to cyclists.
A report by Leeds City Council officers reads: “Smart Leeds has a role to play in the ‘left shift’ towards increased self-care and prevention that can lead to earlier intervention that costs less and results in better outcomes for patients and citizens.
“Apps are playing an increasingly important role, with more and more citizens downloading apps that can support them to reach targets and manage their conditions.
“Over the last year evidence has shown that many people are doing significantly less daily movement and as lockdown starts to ease we want to support people to access their local areas and gain confidence to get back outdoors and move more.”
It added: “If the trial is successful, funding options to support it long-term will be identified, and the number of users, participating charities and companies will be scaled up.”