A revolution in healthcare is quietly brewing. The “Internet of Things”—a global system that could eventually comprise billions of devices and applications—including sensors, actuators, microcontrollers, mobile-communication devices, nano-pumps and more—will make health monitoring, diagnostics and treatment more personalized, timely and convenient, while also lowering costs.
This is the “humanization of technology.” Finally, after eras in which people often struggled to make use of unfamiliar technologies, technology in the service of healthcare will become mobile, miniature and more effective. It may be more intuitive for users, but it’s just as likely to be automated, operating quietly behind the scenes with little or no change in routine. Many devices may be worn or even embedded in the body. They’ll communicate wirelessly with applications in the cloud which could, for instance, affect the release of transdermal medication—the possibilities are endless.
One likely outcome is “ambient assisted living,” a term that describes an environment that is supported by information and communication technology (ICT) for anyone with health concerns. Connected devices may range from video cameras in the home that can detect if a person has fallen or is exhibiting atypical symptoms to embedded sensors that can read and report on vital signs. Someday, even the ability to initiate therapeutic action could be commonplace.
What advances make this possible? And what is the range of possible applications? The answers will likely transform the practice of medicine increase accessibility to high-end medical care and improve patient outcomes –while simultaneously lowering costs.
The IoT and Healthcare
In healthcare, the possibilities are so great, that we really need to imagine a few finite use cases to prioritize and illustrate likely, near-term scenarios. Today, more than one billion adults worldwide may be classified as obese, a condition in which their weight imperils their health. Imagine a wrist or arm band that senses vital signs such as pulse, blood pressure, red blood cell counts, and glucose and cholesterol levels—can even monitor activity levels. If walking is a prescribed benefit, the user might be reminded to do so. If medications should be taken at intervals, the user might be alerted to optimal timing. Home, office or mobile ICT devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops and computers might provide the robust connectivity needed for accessing a patient’s medical history, uploaded by a medical professional or fitness advisor, where the medical device could synthesize it into health advisories or alerts.
Alternatively, consider the nearly one billion humans worldwide who need disease management. Vital-sign monitoring of patients by miniature, even embedded devices, could track pre-op or post-trauma conditions, or simply track ongoing values and trends in the symptoms of various conditions. Medication could be released into the body by transdermal nano-pumps. Saliva or urine samples could be tested by real-time miniature home labs
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