This week’s Smart Health roundup features a basketball tracker that teams up with a coaches’ association, the reasons why healthcare leads a survey documenting a list of things that should be connected to the Internet, how a health app maker raised $6 million in funding and a government app that rewards healthy living.

ShotTracker announces partnership with NABC

ShotTracker, a wearable device that tracks attempts, makes and misses for basketball players, has partnered with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and been named by the association as its “Official Wearable Technology.”

ShotTracker makes data available to both coaches and players that will help them improve their game. With ShotTracker, players can set goals, complete exclusive workouts and track their stats, all of which are particularly important during the summer off-season.

“The National Association of Basketball Coaches is always looking for new technology, tools and information that will help our membership and teams grows. ShotTracker is providing crucial technology for coaches and players to excel,” said Jim Haney, executive director of the NABC. “ShotTracker helps players improve through measurement, and with access to this shooting data, coaches can more effectively develop their players and make more informed game-time decisions.”

A ShotTracker starter pack sells for $149.

Healthcare should be connected to the Internet

Technology products and solutions distributor Element14 Pte Ltd. conducted a survey that revealed that of the things that can and will connect to the Internet, respondents were more interested in devices that are connected to healthcare.

Sixty-eight percent of respondents stated they are more interested in seeing healthcare connect to the Internet, followed by renewable energy at 66 percent, the environment with 56 percent, education with 44 percent and agriculture with 25 percent, rounding up the top five areas of focus in the regions the survey was conducted in.

Another surprising revelation is that respondents were more interested in connecting themselves to the Internet compared to connecting other devices. The survey revealed that two thirds of respondents stated that they would like to connect themselves directly to the Internet and 23 percent expressed interest in connecting their children to the Internet.

The survey was conducted among 3,500 adults in Australia, Asia, Europe and North America.

Zest Health raises $6m in Series A funding

Mobile health company Zest Health announced that it has raised $6 million in Series A funding led by a well-respected group of healthcare and consumer technology investors, including 7wire Ventures, Lightbank, Zaffre Investments, Martin Ventures, Dallas Venture Partners and LSAN/Azimuth Ventures.

“Zest Health empowers both consumers and corporations with information to more intelligently navigate the healthcare system and save money,” said Shawn Ellis, president of Zest Health. “With so many Americans paying for a growing percentage of their healthcare needs, Zest Health’s easy-to-use app puts people in charge, in the same way they buy other services today, over their phone. The Zest Health platform enables smart choices about healthcare by supporting choice of provider, scheduling delivery of services and a better understanding of the costs of those services. Zest Health makes cost transparency data actionable.”

Canada’s Carrot Rewards app

The government of Canada is tapping into people’s love of rewards points to incentivize healthier lifestyles. An app called Carrot Rewards will soon be launched by the Canadian government together with the Federal Minister of Health Rona Ambrose. The Canadian government is investing $5 million in the project, with the government of British Columbia providing an additional $2.5 million.

The government has also partnered with Social Change Rewards to market the app and the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Diabetes Association and YMCA Canada to create the app, which will be launched first in British Columbia this fall and then expand to other provinces and territories.

The government will also be funding the recruitment of two million Canadians to use the app in the hopes that they would spread the use of the app and get people living healthier lives in the process.

Image source: Element14