Even if the Internet of Things (IoT) is present from years in various forms, it’s gaining more traction and relevance now due to advances in sensor and connectivity technologies.
There are many variations of IoT definitions available but I like the one by Whatis.com. “The Internet of Things (IoT) is a scenario in which objects, animals or people are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. IoT has evolved from the convergence of wireless technologies, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and the Internet.”
More objects are becoming embedded with sensors and gaining the ability to communicate using standard connectivity technologies. The resulting information networks promise to create new business models, improve business processes, and reduce costs as well as risks.
As far as healthcare is concerned, patient care and telemedicine are poised to be the biggest beneficiaries of the IoT revolution. Start-ups, medical electronics companies, healthcare IT firms, healthcare providers and payers are working relentlessly on innovative IoT applications in the healthcare arena.
Some of the companies have already come out in the market with IoT powered healthcare products and platforms. Transformation of Healthcare with IoT is no more a dream but a reality currently in progress. It is just the start of a huge revolution coming to healthcare.
A famous example is the The Mimo Smart Baby Monitor. It is a new kind of infant monitor that provides parents with real-time information about their baby's breathing, skin temperature, body position, and activity level on their smartphones. It is also helping in prevention of SIDS (Sudden infant death syndrome).
Monitoring the health of the elderly is a challenge for their families as well as the society. Using a wearable alarm button and other discrete wireless sensors placed around the home, the BeClose system can track your loved one's daily routine and give you peace of mind by sending alerts whenever any serious disruptions are detected in their normal schedule.
BodyGuardian® Remote Monitoring System is another cutting edge approach to patient monitoring that includes a non-intrusive, wearable body sensor that allows physicians to monitor a patient’s physiological data (ECG, heart rate, respiration rate and activity Level) from anywhere, anytime.
Simplified product development, coupled with a faster time to market, holds a great promise for disruptive healthcare solutions, and will continue to drive creative and powerful deployments based on Internet of Things (IoT).
e-Zest is excited to be part of this revolution by accelerating innovation for organizations & ISVs eager to realize benefits of IoT in healthcare.
(Photo credit: Wikimedia)
