Updated on
Summary
Technology may not necessarily make us happier, but it can tell us when we are happiest. A new iPhone application called Mappiness, designed by PhD student George MacKerron from the London School of Economics, maps happiness in Britain. 'When you open it, it asks you a few questions and you agree to take part and tell it what times a day it can beep you and then from then on it beeps you - the default is twice a day - and asks you a few questions. Do you feel happy? Do you feel relaxed? Do you feel awake? I'll say yes to all of those,' MacKerron said. The application matches the answers with data from the phone to develop an overview when and where people tend to be happiest. MacKerron says the data being compiled will offer new insights into the kinds of things that make us feel better. 'So far we've only had a very brief look at the data, but we found that Tuesday is in fact a slightly less happy day than either Monday or Wednesday, and is the least happy day of the week. I found that 8pm on a Saturday tends to be the happiest time. And we've had a quick look at happiness by area of the country. So far, Slough and the City of London have come very low down. Some places in Scotland and Dorset have come at the top of the list,' MacKerron said. In total, about 22,000 people have signed up for Mappiness.
