Bipolarity Managed via Text Messaging

Apparently Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire won an award called the NHS Live Award  for coming up with a system to help Bipolar patients manage their own conditions.  The system sends messages to the patients asking them how they’re feeling and the patients respond with pre-arranged answers.  It’s a pretty cool use of text messaging.

I’m not really sure why text messaging isn’t being used for more things, like:

• Letting you know when your table is ready at a restaurant
• Remind forgetful patients to take their medicine or dress their wounds
• Notifying you that Wal-mart is done changing your oil
• Playing cards with other users

Here’s the article about the British Mental Health Texting system.