Health and Disability Apps for Phones and Computers

Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 2025/12/31
Category Topic: Apps - Related Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Subtopics

Synopsis: A list of popular disability and health apps for mobile devices including iPad, iPhone, Windows Phones, and Android handheld devices. The use of the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and other mobile devices has been a revolutionary new platform for assistive technology. Today you can find hundreds, if not thousands, of apps relating to disabilities and health. These tools simplify many calculations as well as provide valuable information on topics concerning disability and/or health issues.

Introduction

Defining Application Software (App)

The term "app" is a shortening of the term "application software". It has become very popular, and in 2010 was listed as "Word of the Year" by the American Dialect Society.

Main Content

Mobile App

A computer program designed to run on smartphones, tablet computers and other mobile devices. Apps are usually available through application distribution platforms, which began appearing in 2008 and are typically operated by the owner of the mobile operating system, such as the Apple App Store, Google Play, Windows Phone Store, and BlackBerry App World.

Application Software

A set of one or more programs designed to carry out operations for a specific application. Application software cannot run on itself, but is dependent on system software to execute. Examples of application software include MS Word, MS Excel, a console game, a library management system, a spreadsheet system etc.

Web Application

A Web Application, or web app, is any software that runs in a web browser. It is created in a browser-supported programming language (such as the combination of JavaScript, HTML and CSS) and relies on a web browser to render the application.

Mobile Health (mHealth)

There is no standardized definition for the term mHealth, also known as mobile health, however, in general mHealth apps are classified as health apps that are available on mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or phablets, that can be used by both patients and their health care providers. The Global Observatory for eHealth of the World Health Organization (WHO) defines mHealth as "medical and public health practice supported by mobile devices, such as mobile phones, patient monitoring devices, personal digital assistants, and other wireless devices." The main reasons for using mHealth apps include:

• Fulfilling a contextual need
• Obtaining educational tools
• Managing health professionals' activities
• Communicating and/or sharing information
• Consulting medical information and references
• Facilitating health-related management of patients.

Handy Health and Disability Apps

The use of the iPhone, iPod, iPad and other mobile devices has been a revolutionary new platform for assistive technology. Today you can find hundreds, if not thousands, of apps relating to disabilities and health. These tools simplify many calculations as well as provide valuable information on topics concerning disability and/or health issues. Generally, apps cost a couple of dollars to purchase. However, there are also a number of handy apps available that can be downloaded to your mobile device such as iPhone or iPad for free.

List of handy and accessible VoiceOver Compatible Apps for iPhone and Mac

U.S. FDA Proposes Health App Guideline

The variety and availability of smartphone applications, or apps, have exploded recently as multitasking consumers increasingly use their phones to keep up with the latest on news, finance, and health. Apple says its iPhone App Store has more than 350,000 apps, and Android, BlackBerry, Windows, and other smartphones account for tens of thousands more. With so many apps on the market, it's no wonder, the number of health care related apps has also spiraled.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now proposing guidelines that outline the small number of mobile apps the agency plans to oversee medical apps that could present a risk to patients if the apps don't work as intended.

FDA is proposing to oversee mobile medical apps that:

• Are used as an accessory to an FDA-regulated medical device. For example, an app could enable a health care professional to view medical images on an iPad and make a diagnosis;
• Transform a mobile platform into a regulated medical device. For example, an app that turns a smartphone into an electrocardiography, or ECG, machine to detect abnormal heart rhythms or determine if a patient is experiencing a heart attack.

Our list covers handy health and medical related apps available through Apple's App Store and BlackBerry's App World, as well as apps available for Google's Android operating system platform.