In September 2024, UNIST Healthcare Center proudly introduced its new mobile health promotion platform, namely Fruto. In response to the growing emphasis on physical and mental well-being, this app has been designed to support university members in cultivating healthier lifestyles.
The name Fruto, which translates to ‘Fruit‘ in Spanish, encapsulates the concept of nurturing a healthy body and mind to achieve academic and research excellence. The development of this app was a collaborative initiative, led by Professor Doyoung Jung from the Graduate School of Health Science and Technology, alongside Professor Hwang Kim from the Department of Design at UNIST.
The image features ‘Fruto,’ a newly launched mobile health promotion platform developed by the UNIST Healthcare Center. This innovative application is designed to support university members in achieving and maintaining better physical and mental health.
Fruto encompasses a wide array of features, including inquiries about healthcare center services, consultations and medical appointments, self-diagnostic tools, program applications, and access to the latest health news. Users can easily access health information from anywhere at any time and utilize essential services. Its brand identity was shaped by insights gathered from a perception survey conducted among undergraduate students, with user-centered design principles guiding the UI/UX planning and collaborative design sessions throughout the development process.
To date, Fruto has attracted over 400 subscribers, who have reported increased satisfaction due to the app’s enhanced convenience and accessibility for counseling applications and self-diagnosis features. While most functionalities are available to Ulsan citizens and the general public, medical service applications remain exclusive to UNIST members, providing significant value.
“Fruto represents the culmination of our ongoing efforts to develop accessible health services,” noted Yu Geyong Lee, a clinical psychologist at UNIST who was involved in the app’s creation. “It fulfills the need for a communication channel that facilitates efficient sharing of health information and immediate connections with healthcare experts.”
Professor Kim remarked, “Fruto is an efficient and systematic healthcare platform that will continue to evolve by integrating UNIST’s innovative ideas.” He highlighted the importance of the collaborative approach between the in-school laboratory and the UNIST Healthcare Center, noting that the participatory design methodology utilized was particularly significant.
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Professor Doyoung Jung further emphasized the pressing mental health challenges facing young individuals, particularly those in the fields of science and technology. “We aim to foster an environment where users can enhance their well-being independently by promoting early problem detection and providing proactive support through Fruto,” he remarked.
To access the app, users can visit the Fruto website at (https://fruto.unist.ac.kr/home) or simply scan the provided QR code with their mobile device to download and install it.
In addition to the app, the UNIST Healthcare Center operates a subsidiary clinic equipped with a medical office, counseling office, family medicine department, and psychiatric department. This facility is dedicated to helping UNIST members maintain their physical and mental health, thereby promoting a balanced lifestyle. Looking ahead, the center plans to strengthen the campus health management system in conjunction with the counseling management system.
