In 2011, devices including smart phones and tablet computers areexpected to help to drive consumer-driven health care, as people can monitor their healthand prevent illnesses, according to a new Ovum report.

"Against a backdrop of increasing life expectancy, consumers aretaking more responsibility for safeguarding their long-term qualityof life and ensuring they continue to be healthy well into thefuture," says Cornelia Wels-Maug, Ovum senior analyst and author ofthe report.

"The latest technology can play a key role and aid this shifttowards the consumerisation of health care. For example, smartphone applications can advise on ways to lead a healthy lifestyle,helping consumers to avoid illness in the first place. We expectconsumers to turn to their smart phone or tablet computer forhealth care advice and preventative care more and more."

Both the report and smartphone and tablet computer apps finddedicated health and fitness devices are entering the market. BestBuy, for example, will start offering wireless-enabled health andfitness devices in more than half of its 1,089 nationwidestores.

"The devices have the ability to transfer health informationfrom the individual to websites such as Microsoft's HealthVault,"Wels-Maug says. "The data can then be shared with medicalprofessionals so that they can monitor conditions and be alerted toany issues.

"Other retailers are sure to follow this example and we expect astronger uptake of medical devices aimed at the consumer during2011. We expect uptake to the stronger in the US, where retailersare ahead of their European counterparts in exploring thisopportunity."