CES POV: Data is the New Fuel for Innovation

TL;DR
Most of the best innovations presented at CES are using data as their raw material to create better patient outcomes. Patients are willing to share their personal data in exchange for personal care. Data is a new “language” for patients and HCPs, so a great user experience is a key factor for success.

In the last couple of years, CES presented us with several innovations in the health and wellness arena.

From big tech to early-stage startups, new gadgets, devices, and software programs have been developed and launched to the market with the goal of empowering consumers to live their lives to the fullest.

Everything from providing better sleep, to recommending personalized diet plans, to disease detection and early cancer screening, and even coaching people’s toothbrushing—no matter the purpose of each solution, there is one thing you will certainly find behind the scenes: patient data.

Transcending all concerns with data privacy and increasingly restrictive regulations, patient data has been widely collected and inputted into AI algorithms in exchange for better health outcomes.

Let’s take a look at some of the most exciting applications:

Early Diagnosis

The South Korean company TTcare allows pet owners to take pictures of their pets to check their health using their mobile phones. When a user takes a picture of their pet's eyes or any part of their body with a smartphone, the artificial intelligence will inform them about whether or not there are any potential eye- or skin-disease–related symptoms. In addition to diagnostic features, there is weight management, behavior analysis, and a feature that helps pet owners easily find nearby vet services and make an appointment in just one click.

Disease Management

Epsy allows users to input their information about their epilepsy symptoms and medication use in real time, along with details about their diet, sleep patterns, mood, caffeine intake, stress level, the weather, menstruation, and more. They can also set medication reminders. In return, the app tabulates the data points that have been entered and turns them into easy-to-understand trend reports. These reports help the user better understand their epilepsy and how their lifestyle choices may be affecting it, and they can also be shared with healthcare providers to improve doctor-patient communication and guide those professionals in recommending the best treatment for the individual.

If your company is developing a new patient support program, I highly recommend you take a look at their website.

Another exciting example in disease management is Abbott’s NeuroSphere™, a remote neuromodulation patient care solution for managing Parkinson’s disease symptoms. The FDA-approved system allows a patient to both communicate with a physician and remotely receive stimulation settings in real time regardless of location. It also increases access to optimal treatment for patients suffering from chronic pain or movement disorders who don't live close to a care provider, have difficulty accessing care, or are unable to go to the doctor because of circumstances like COVID-19.

Another example is Withings, a leader in connected technology, who just launched their FDA-approved smartwatch at CES, which helps control diabetes. The smartwatch, called ScanWatch, was developed with cardiologists and other medical experts and has been validated in clinical studies. It has been available in Europe, where it has also been used in a study to monitor patients remotely in German hospitals. Now it is also available in the US.

Using state-of-the-art technology, ScanWatch can help detect atrial fibrillation through ECG and blood oxygen levels through SpO₂, as well as perform general wellness functions like monitoring sleep quality and physical activity, and checking heart rate.

Patient Metaverse

Last, but not least, let’s talk about the metaverse’s implications for medicine.

The Virtual Twin solution from Dassault Systèmes) is a piece of technology that creates powerful 3D simulations that can be used to understand and accurately predict the results of various strategies before they are implemented. With that, multiple stakeholders can collaborate to understand and overcome challenges. The technology has been applied to a number of industries, but digitally cloning the human body certainly takes its application to another level. The Human Virtual Twin is an integrative reference of personal health information. It captures the vast amounts of data generated about each individual and then recreates a detailed view of each patient’s anatomy, biology, and life exposure. The patient data is then processed and allows the customer to connect with researchers and clinicians from around the globe.

Examples like these show us two things:

1. Every brand needs a strong strategy to collect and share data. And if you want to collect data, you need to give something valuable back to your customer. Something powerful.
2. Data is only useful if it can be interpreted and understood. We are entering into a new era, where patients and HCPs are empowered by data, but first, they need to learn data as if it were a new language. So, if your brand is building a product like this, bear in mind the user experience must be simple and seamless.

At IPGH Venture, we use data to help our clients diagnose issues with (and opportunities for) their businesses, plan the way forward, and take action. So, if you are interested in hearing more about it, get in touch.