The document discusses the impact of the Internet of Things (IoT) in healthcare, highlighting the shift towards connected devices that enhance patient self-monitoring and preventative care. It notes the growth in remote patient monitoring and the rise of consumer technologies enabling personal health management. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for secure and interoperable health cloud services to accommodate the evolving landscape of healthcare technology.

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Home > Resources & eZINEs : Geeks of Health > The Internet of Things in Healthcare
The Internet of Things in Healthcare
In Geeks of Health, posted on 11/17/2011 by Leandro Agrò
The Author
What is the Internet of Things
Leandro Agrò
aka leeander: 15 years experience IxD
Even if the Internet appears ubiquitous, the number of objects or devices connected Designer & Manager
to the internet is still greatly inferior to those that are not connected. The coming
revolution will result from the need of replacing disconnected objects with connected His leadership and innovative work have
ones, and making these objects ever more intelligent, and aware of their been recognized by numerous
surroundings (using sensors). The resulting network promises to create disruptive organizations, such as: Venice Biennale of
Architecture: “Visionary”, ADI: Included in
business models.
ADI INDEX (Compasso D’Oro finalist), New
We call this new step: The Internet of Things York Times: Included in Top10 Internet of
Things Products, WIRED: Nominated as
In 2008 the number of devices connected to the Internet exceeded the number of “ItAliens”, etc.
people on Earth, and we foresee 50 billions Connected Things in 2020.
Contact the author
About Healthcare
The Healthcare market research Company, Kalorama published a study that the
market for remote patient monitoring is growing of 25.4% yearly. According to the
Recent Tweets
industry standards we should think of this as exciting news that represents the whole
landscape. But... it is not true.

2.
Where the Internet of Things meets Healthcare
Mobile First!
The starting point for the Internet Of Things is represented by our smartphones which
are not only connected to the net, but are also going to be ever more enriched with
applications and sensors, and used by people as valuable tools for our Health.
The Quantified Self movement, founded by the Network Economy guru Kevin Kelly
together with the former Wired journalist Gary Wolf, identified and addressed the
need of a growing number of people to monitor themselves. These early adopters
armed with devices or even pen and paper, decided to improve their life or
performance starting studying and measuring it: everyday.
The tipping point, represented by this cultural shift, together with the explosion of a
new generation of GPS based mobile device ­ and ­ with the raising relevance of
complex information visualization, was the natural reason why many companies tried
to intercept this trend, with new products and services. The early and rapid adoption
by sport and fitness oriented products ­ starting in 2008 up to now ­ we saw the
concept of "monitoring yourself" take off and away from the classic tech or health way
to "remote monitoring".
Self­tracking means that YOU are in charge. You are the first one to monitor your
performance / conditions. Self­tracking leverage on consumer technologies instead
of complex PRO medical device, makes you the protagonist sharing on the web,
giving you the possibility to be aware of the feedback that your "stories" are
receiving.
Some traditionalists could be afraid by this alternative approach to medication, but
there is no need for fear. First of all because this is not a medication, but second ­
and most relevant ­ because self­monitoring makes people aware of how important
prevention is.
If just an email/sms makes people 30% more likely for a patient to go to the doctor for
an already scheduled meetings, imagine how effective could be a pills reminder (like
same iPhone APPs already are doing) and how big is the opportunity to extend the
space of Healthcare thought a real one to one interaction.
If the Internet of Things is the upcoming scenario, Healthcare already generated more
Fitness and Personal Health oriented devices than in any other area. A good
example: The Withings scale, which innovates through the presence of a digital layer
and it’s sharing, an old, and personal object, represents the archetype of this
category. Following this lead, every pathology, every hospital can give rise to a
special object, making it the protagonist of the lifestyle of its target.
Risks and Opportunities NYC, Fall 2010, 8am
Visiting the glass cube made by Apple in
front at the Central Park in NYC is always an
experience. Last time I went there, few weeks

3. front at the Central Park in NYC is always an
experience. Last time I went there, few weeks
ago, I saw many "health in a box" packages,
telling to the mac­users how fancy and useful
it could be to track their own health.
All these products are beautifully shaped and work in harmony with all iSomething
devices from Apple.
These objects are the high visibility portion of the huge upcoming wave of medical
devices. More and more disruptive services (or self­services) are emerging on the
health market. Every day more, these innovative approaches are grabbing the
attention of the early adopters, media ­ and ­ venture capitals. Health is quickly
evolving with some dramatic changes from the usual path. People have a completely
different role. Information is available in many places. Big brands could suffer from
the many newcomers, while the digital shift just began inside them. Like every
industry, HEALTHCARE also has an endless list of advantages over any newcomers.
More over, the specific needs of people affected by health issues, don’t fit within the
trial­and­error approach that other sectors can use. However, the digital divide as
well as the health knowledge divide, has to be faced with fancy and effective
solutions. If a consumer solutions is iPad based (and people love it), a professional
solution can’t be ugly and cold.
Data Collection and data analysis must include timely geographic
information.
The whole process of taking care of patients, have to be "inclusive" and designed in
a completely new way, based on User Experience and cutting edge design
approach.
Appropriate analysis and visualizations, typical of Web 2.0, should be a constant in
the solution provided to any kind of users. Data and information generated by
medical appliances ­ personal, wearable or geographically distant from major
hospitals ­ carry with them the need to establish remote services which are secure,
but also open and interoperable if necessary.
A "Health Cloud" is an asset that will be a primary need for hospitals as well as for
medical device manufacturers (and a service for patients).
...at the beginning of the Web, no one
believed that Amazon was set to have 5 to 10
times more revenue (online) than Walmart.
In 2010 the brick and mortar retail giant,
invested more than 100M for the acquisition
of new technologies, and it is only a small
amount given the gap they have to fill now.
The race is definitively started and a slice of this evolution is already on the store
shelf.
The Internet of Things in Healthcare
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