by Heather Landi | Jan 9, 2020 7:15am
LAS VEGAS—Many of the innovations
showcased at CES 2020 are years away from actually becoming reality, such
as the flying taxi concept developed by
Hyundai and Uber.
Other products could have real-world applications in the
not-too-distant future, like Samsung's artificial intelligence virtual chatbots.
The AI humanoid chatbots, part of Samsung's Neon project, are designed to
“look and behave like real humans” and can act as teachers, concierges or
healthcare providers, the company said.
As the lines between consumer technology and healthcare continue
to blur, the products shown at CES provide a glimpse of the future for
health technology. Here's a look at some of the trends to expect:
Get ready for robots.
From the Charmin Rollbot to self-driving,
AI-powered luggage that follows you, CES
had no shortage of robots.
It could be several years before we see robots used at scale in
healthcare, but many experts believe there is a place for AI-powered
robots. Misty Robotics recently launched the
Misty II robot, an approachable, tabletop robot with big eyes. Misty is an
autonomous, self-driving device that is equipped with a camera, a
microphone and 3D sensors.
The robot is a tool for software developers, according
to Misty Robotics CEO Tim Enwall. Potential uses in healthcare include
concierge-type services and eldercare as Misty can detect falls.
Patient engagement company Catalia Health developed a personal healthcare companion called
Mabu that's an intelligent, socially interactive robot with conversations
tailored to each patient it works with.
Catalia Health has formed partnerships with pharmaceutical
giants like Pfizer to test symptom management and medication adherence trends
in a group of patients using the Mabu robot.
Voice assistants are everywhere.
The rivalry between Alphabet’s Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
is heating up. Voice assistant technology is being built into cars, smart home
systems and other devices.
At CES 2020, Google announced new third-party devices that
will work with its voice assistant. Those devices range from smart locks and
lamps to garage-door openers and washing machines.
Amazon showcased a partnership with exotic car maker
Lamborghini, the first carmaker to feature Amazon Alexa in-car control. Drivers
can use Alexa to change the temperature, tune radio stations or turn on the
seat heaters.
As consumers adopt AI voice assistant technology, many experts
predict it will make a big impact on healthcare.
Everything has sensors.
Clothing, watches, bathmats, toilets, mirrors—these are all products that now come with sensors that monitor
users and collect data.
Xenoma developed
e-skin, what it calls "next-generation smart apparel" that
contains sensors and can track bodily movement. The company created sleepwear
designed to monitor elderly consumers and detect falls. An ECG shirt can
track cardiovascular health. The smart clothing also links to smartphones via
Bluetooth. When a smartphone powers a VR headset such as the Samsung Gear VR,
the e-skin can be recognized and is able to mirror a person’s motion within the
VR experience.
Everyone wants to get into health and wellness.
Expect more consumer technology companies to extend their
products into health and wellness.
At CES, Analog Devices, a semiconductor company specializing in
signal processing and power management technology, demonstrated how its
technology could be used for infant monitoring. The company showed how time of
flight technology, which is a type of 3D imaging, can detect small movements
and breathing patterns.
https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/tech/what-trends-at-ces-2020-could-mean-for-future-digital-health
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