Nudging is a slippery business. Here’s a primer to help get you started with your design for better health decisions.

Designing settings and scenarios in which people make healthy choices requires presenting those choices in a way that takes the all-too-human side of decision making into account. People need (and want) choices, but they also need (and want) help—a nudge—when they’re not sure what to do.

Andre Blackman is an agent of change and innovation within the public health community. He is very passionate about the role of new media, mobile technology and other useful innovations as it relates to health communications and public health in general – resulting in Public Health 2.0. Andre feels that public health and new media are focused on the people, so there should be parallels to how they both interact.

Read his comments about the entries in the Patient | Choices | Empowerment Competition.

How many times have you whipped out your cell phone and texted a message that could help save the planet? Probably never, right? Well branch out from all those lols and xoxos and send a text to FishPhone.

At a little gym in Portland, OR, powering through a tough workout on the elliptical machine can actually work a lot more than your biceps and thighs. Inspired by a similar fitness center in Hong Kong, The Green Microgym generates electricity using a combination of solar power and the dogged pedaling of exercisers' feet.

Founded by fitness trainer Adam Boesel, The Green Microgym opened its doors last September, and has since generated thousands of watts of electricity by harnessing the power of its patrons.