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In the October issue of the medical journal Pediatrics, researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York published the results of a study showing that text messaging could significantly improve the rate of adherence among 41 young liver transplant patients. The text messages reminded the teens to take their medications and over the course of a year, the teens were more likely to take their medications than they had been before they started receiving the messages. Also the number of episodes of liver rejection dramatically decreased. The results suggest one way technology may help address some of the most challenging health and healthcare problems. But are these types of solutions just for Gen X and Gen Y? The answer may be a resounding No! Take for example the fact that there are literally thousands of applications available for the iPhone. Some people are increasingly trying to use the iPhone to adress health and healthcare needs. The Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI) has completed trials using Apple's iPhone as a stuttering therapy tool to enhance the transfer of new fluency skills from the clinical setting into real-life situations. Similarly the Trainerpack app for iPhone is a kind of personal physical trainer particularly for women-on-the-move. The application aims to provide a cost-effective exercising guide to the users. There are many other health apps avaialble for providers and consumers. Social networking (Web 2.0/Web 3.0) web sites like Second Life are also making thier mark in the consumer directed, patient centered health world. Here healthcare providers, educators, medical and public health researchers, patients and consumers all coexist as avatars in a virtual world that they control, complete with hospitals, clinics, patients seeking health and providers proving care and counseling services. Finally, according to a recent survey of 1,002 Americans, ages 18 and older by Kelton Research, 66% of Americans are interested in receiving health-related reminder e-mails and 52% would be open to receiving e-mails that provide them with feedback on their health progress. In addition, more than half (55%) reported that they thought the current healthcare system was fragmented in terms of helping people proactively manage their health. Almost half (49%) felt their health plans don’t help them stay well but rather only help them when they need to visit a doctor. Perhaps most interestingly though was the finding that most of the adults in this study (77%) were receptive to the idea of using technology to help them solve their healthcare needs. In this study 66% prefered e-mail while 57% viewed the telephone as the best technologies to use. Yet 10% were open to the use of text messaging,7% wanted instant messaging and 4% prefered videoconferencing. Studies like these suggest that among many Americans (teens, tweens and adults) the healthcare system may one day be able to proactively use technology such as electronic avatars who provide “health coaching” via the web, e-mail or phones to help individuals build healthier lifestyles, improve health habits, manage health concerns, better coordinate their care and reduce or eliminate disparities in health and healthcare.