Strava, the socially focused, GPS-powered activity tracker, has taken the fitness world by storm. It’s had an especially profound impact on the world of cycling, with thousands of riders going to extreme lengths to claim the virtual prizes it offers. But what makes the platform so addictive?

Technology enables us to record and track data on almost any aspect of life – from diet to sleep, productivity to fertility. But what are the implications? Canvas8 sat down with Dr. Jordan Etkin of Duke University to find out how quantification can sometimes suck the fun out of life.

With people now taking a proactive approach to their health, rather than a reactive one, a new report from Flurry Analytics shows that health and fitness apps are growing at a faster rate than the overall app market, and predicts an expansion in the wearable tech market too.

Setting unrealistic goals is something we all do, especially when it comes to self-improvement. We strive to be fitter, smarter, kinder, or to eat more healthily. But shaking off old habits is hard. Sometimes we don’t even get started. Can a step-by-step app, informed by behavioural science, come to our rescue?