Changes

User could just mentally compare one day and the next. Far fewer of the issues listed in this section apply to 'mental comparison'. In particular user saves time and privacy. Many purposes for self tracking can not be satisfied by just paying attention. Most relationships user would want to uncover require statistical analysis, especially strong effects that can only be seen across long periods. Though, more important effects are usually more sever and easier to notice. Many things a user would want to track required a device and can then be automatically tracked with very little effort on the user's part. 'Mental comparison' relies completely on [[Self assessment]] with all its issues and minus a few of the mellowing techniques. This alternative method to self tracking is easier though rarely usable.

User could just mentally compare one day and the next. Far fewer of the issues listed in this section apply to 'mental comparison'. In particular user saves time and privacy. Many purposes for self tracking can not be satisfied by just paying attention. Most relationships user would want to uncover require statistical analysis, especially strong effects that can only be seen across long periods. Though, more important effects are usually more sever and easier to notice. Many things a user would want to track required a device and can then be automatically tracked with very little effort on the user's part. 'Mental comparison' relies completely on [[Self assessment]] with all its issues and minus a few of the mellowing techniques. This alternative method to self tracking is easier though rarely usable.

==== Finding and setting up apps and devices can be hard. ====

==== Finding and setting up data sources takes time. ====

User could follow someone else's made trail, such as reading this wiki, instead of researching everything themselves. Uncommon problems, and the exploration inherent in science, require custom data sources that have not been documented here. Greed motivates many companies to make fake and useless devices and interventions. Many of the issues described on this page, data access<ref>https://quantifiedself.com/about/access/</ref>, data quality (devices often cover up bad signal with guesswork), and price are all constraints which make finding a good enough device harder.  See [[Commercial, Medical Device, or Open Source]] .

User could follow someone else's made trail, such as reading this wiki, instead of researching everything themselves. Uncommon problems, and the exploration inherent in science, require custom data sources that have not been documented here. Greed motivates many companies to make fake and useless devices and interventions. Many of the issues described on this page, data access<ref>https://quantifiedself.com/about/access/</ref>, data quality (devices often cover up bad signal with guesswork), and price are all constraints which make finding a good enough device harder.  See [[Commercial, Medical Device, or Open Source]] .