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i tried it. it clearly had a script, and my answers were all emoji or one word (they render for you as options to press). So... really was a "next...next...next

i tried it. it clearly had a script, and my answers were all emoji or one word (they render for you as options to press). So... really was a "next...next...next.." kind of experience. And then it was done with me for the day, after it rambled about making mistakes. There is a vibe of "i'm one of the cool kids", like when parents try to "level" with their teenagers. And the machine learning appears rudimentary or perhaps tastelessly implemented. But it gets CBT in the hands of more people. Maybe people wouldn't pickup a book but are willing to checkout an app. So i think thats an important win, even if the app itself isn't all that.

hmhrex 9y ago
I think this year we will see more therapeutic apps that deal with mental illness. I also think, that this is just a simple beginning and that we'll see bigger and better apps, maybe even this one will greatly improve with time.
pnathan 9y ago
Yeah, running through a flow chart with a "hello cool kids" vibe was... offputting. Maybe it's enjoyed by many.
meesterdude 9y ago
Update I tinkered with it some more. it is a good idea, and a tasteful medium to do it in. However, the implementation is half-assed. And - I don't doubt that they put a lot of thought into it, but because your only service complexity IS this dialog, you have to nail it. It has to be really good. As is, it's about at the level of a poorly done IVR for a corporation. And you're expecting people to use this for any kind of therapy? I'm just along for the ride, playing through the options. But there are clearly cliffs where, one moment it asks you to tell you about something personal, and the next it goes "ok see ya!" - i guess in a way it's good they managed to replicate the emotional distance you can feel from therapists in real life, too. Perhaps it'll improve over time. If they want this to be good, they'll have to.

hmhrex 9y ago

I think this year we will see more therapeutic apps that deal with mental illness. I also think, that this is just a simple beginning and that we'll see bigger and better apps, maybe even this one will greatly improve with time.

pnathan 9y ago

Yeah, running through a flow chart with a "hello cool kids" vibe was... offputting. Maybe it's enjoyed by many.

meesterdude 9y ago

Update I tinkered with it some more. it is a good idea, and a tasteful medium to do it in. However, the implementation is half-assed. And - I don't doubt that they put a lot of thought into it, but because your only service complexity IS this dialog, you have to nail it. It has to be really good. As is, it's about at the level of a poorly done IVR for a corporation. And you're expecting people to use this for any kind of therapy? I'm just along for the ride, playing through the options. But there are clearly cliffs where, one moment it asks you to tell you about something personal, and the next it goes "ok see ya!" - i guess in a way it's good they managed to replicate the emotional distance you can feel from therapists in real life, too. Perhaps it'll improve over time. If they want this to be good, they'll have to.