The New Year is the time for resolutions, but the big question is how to keep them. Can building a mobile app help keep us motivated to stick with our goals for the year?
A new app called Gympact allows you to make a commitment to go to the gym a certain number of times a week. When you don't go, your credit card is charged automatically, and that pooled money is then given to people who stick with their schedule. By using location-based check-ins, the app knows that you've actually been at the gym (and stayed there).
We like to talk at The New Group about gamification in building mobile apps, and we love the idea of mobile devices engaging users in novel ways. Apps like Gympact allow for a social-based experience that is engaging and rewarding (or possibly punishing). Even though it seems like a monetary reward probably doesn't compare to the cost of a gym membership, it is surprising how motivating any kind of reward can be.
The New Group is currently building some apps that will try to use social engagement and rewards to motivate users into healthy lifestyles. Seems like there are multiple ways of doing this—how about an app that posts to Facebook when you do or don't stick with your plan to go running once a week? New Year's resolutions will never be the same.
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