Shmapped: development of an app to record and promote the well-being benefits of noticing urban nature

Kirsten McEwan; Miles Richardson; Paul Brindley; David Sheffield; Crawford Tait; Steve Johnson; Hana Sutch; Fiona J Ferguson

doi:10.1093/tbm/ibz027

Shmapped: development of an app to record and promote the well-being benefits of noticing urban nature

Transl Behav Med. 2020 Aug 7;10(3):723-733. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibz027.

Authors

Kirsten McEwan¹, Miles Richardson¹, Paul Brindley², David Sheffield¹, Crawford Tait³, Steve Johnson³, Hana Sutch³, Fiona J Ferguson¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Life and Natural Sciences, Centre for Psychological Research, University of Derby, Derby, UK.
² Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Sheffield, UK.
³ Furthermore Ltd, London, UK.

PMID: 30834438
DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibz027

Abstract

The majority of research to date on the links between well-being and green spaces comes from cross-sectional studies. Shmapped is an app that allows for the collection of well-being and location data live in the field and acts as a novel dual data collection tool and well-being intervention, which prompts users to notice the good things about their surroundings. We describe the process of developing Shmapped from storyboarding, budgeting, and timescales; selecting a developer; drawing up data protection plans; and collaborating with developers and end-user testers to ultimately publishing Shmapped. The development process and end-user testing resulted in a highly functional app. Limitations and future uses of such novel dual data collection and intervention apps are discussed and recommendations are made for prospective developers and researchers.

Keywords: GPS; Geofence; Health; Smartphone app; Urban; Well-being.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Data Collection
Humans
Mobile Applications*
Prospective Studies