Smartphone App Knows You're Sick Before You Do

Your smartphone might have a better grasp on how you're feeling than you do. A new startup has unveiled an Android app that uses your phone's activity to detect the onset of the common cold, the flu, and depression, reports Mashable. DailyData, developed by a group of MIT alumni, collects SMS, calling, and location data from your phone then looks for deviations from your baseline—and alerts you when something could be wrong.

For example: When you're depressed, the way you communicate often tends to change. In tests, the app correctly identified 60% to 90% of symptomatic days for mental health and respiratory conditions. But you should probably still keep your doctor's number. “We’re not a diagnosis,” says the developer. “We’re an early warning, self-support, self-serve tool.” (Read more smartphone app stories.)