Tools to Support Health and Well-being with Personal Data

Personal data can be instrumental for health and well-being. While it has become easier to obtain such data, realizing its benefits remains challenging. People overburden themselves by collecting too much data yet they may not collect the relevant data, especially as their needs evolve. They cannot usually handle the complexity of the data or they fail to connect the data to their needs. They additionally struggle to translate data insights to actions. My research addresses these challenges through 1) using technology probes around tools that help individuals understand their personal well-being, 2) building data-driven behavior planning systems that facilitate health behavior change, and 3) designing computational methods that characterize and quantify the impact of social adversities on mental and emotional state.