Spotted: Over 100 million people are living with energy-limiting conditions like long Covid and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis – also called chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). While wearable technology like the Fitbit can track the body’s signals, it is not designed to manage illnesses. When Harry Leeming developed symptoms of long Covid and was told by doctors there was nothing physically wrong with him, he decided to do something for himself and founded Visible.

Visible is an app that helps those suffering from illnesses like long Covid and ME/CFS to better track their symptoms and manage activity. For many with these conditions, symptoms worsen after exertion, but not necessarily immediately – and it can be difficult to know exactly when this will happen. The app makes it easier for sufferers to gauge safe levels of exertion and explore trends in their symptoms.

The app allows users to log symptoms, sleep quality, and their menstrual cycle, as well as measure heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) by placing a finger on the back of the smartphone’s camera lens. HRV is reduced in people living with illnesses like long Covid and ME/CFS, so it can be used to predict worsening fatigue.

Lemming explains that they are helping to “make these conditions visible – visible to patients so that they can manage their own condition, visible to clinicians, so they can recognise them, and visible to research as well so they can understand them.”

Health trackers are proliferating at a rapid pace. Some recent advances Springwise has spotted include a conductive thread that could turn items of clothing into medical sensors, and a wearable that can predict stress.

Written By: Lisa Magloff