Connected objects, databases and networks to the rescue of health

This article is part of our REIsearch series, an initiative launched across 10 European countries. The aim: to link the experience of EU citizens with the expertise of its researchers in order to support policy makers when they make decisions that affect society as a whole. Discover all the details by clicking here .

A bracelet to save lives

The part of humanity that can afford it has entered the era of connected objects. The most connected of these haves have a smartphone, or « wearable devices », or objects that we wear: bracelet, pendant, smart watch. Could it be a simple fashion effect? There’s probably a bit of that, but fundamentally, these things that aren’t intelligent on their own are set to revolutionize the approach to health management around the world.

The American group Apple has made it a strong focus of its development policy by developing an ecosystem dedicated to the medical world and researchers. The remaining principle is to sell as many Apple Watches as possible and to retain users by offering or selling them various services.

The relay of smart watches

What are we talking about ? For Apple, a connected watch full of sensors, for other manufacturers like Fitbit, more discreet bracelets but with the same view of the vital parameters of users. We measure in real time, the level of activity of the « subject », his heart rate, and even, as does the June bracelet from Netatmo, his exposure to the sun’s rays. At Google, even more sophisticated objects are being developed, such as contact lenses (Google Contact Lenses) which permanently measure the blood sugar levels of diabetic users.

These objects take over from ordinary mortals the smart watches used by athletes to measure their performance. Here, without being an athlete, one can observe oneself and take prophylactic measures, changing one’s lifestyle or consulting at the right time to anticipate an illness. And those who think they can escape this medical surveillance will only do so if they give up their smartphones, which have similar functionalities, more or less activated. Dedicated applications use this data by monitoring the user’s sleep, waking him up gently, measuring his mobility and advising him to move, drink water, rest…

Applications make it possible to detect the first signs of degenerative diseases of the brain or to train the brain to « muscle » it against the disease. The smartphone is now used as a skin disease recognition tool (melanoma), as a diagnostician (not replacing a doctor), pharmaceutical database, etc.

Limitless imagination

The imagination has few limits here. And if it can help people live better, longer, no one will complain. And, in fact, if the debate on connected objects intended to collect data on the health of their owners has caused ink to flow about the confidentiality of data, specialists in the field of social security, health insurance , quickly made their religion on the subject

.

« For social security, there is an essential parameter to take into account: the cost of taking care of a patient

explains a doctor to us.

If it is possible to monitor the heart rate of the user of a connected bracelet and to anticipate a cardiovascular disorder, safety is largely a winner. Certainly, there will be a cost to the therapy to be implemented to prevent patients from suffering health accidents, but it is infinitely less than that of hospitalization, intensive care and revalidation of patients after such incidents. . »

Next step ? Ask your health insurance for reimbursement of an Apple Watch?

Some examples

-> My coach on the wrist

It is (one of the) bracelet(s) that does everything to help its owner get better. Assistant for jogging, the Fitbit also reminds you that you have to move, how many calories have been spent in the effort, monitors sleep and serves as an alarm clock. And it sends the data wirelessly to a smartphone or computer.

-> The connected toothbrush

Oral-B has just unveiled its new Génius connected toothbrush which incorporates position captures to allow you to check the quality of your brushing. It is accompanied by a reinforced application for the occasion and a facial detection system.

-> Contact lenses to monitor diabetes…

… and anticipate accidents? This is what one of Google’s divisions has been trying to develop since January 2014. The lens, as thin as a hair, has sensors that measure the level of glucose present in the patient’s blood every second. The sensors and the antenna (RFID for communication without autonomous power supply, the energy being provided by the measuring device) are located outside the iris area so as not to disturb vision.

-> Beware of sunburn!

A small sensor housed in a pretty bracelet? This one is dedicated to the protection of the skin of its users. Rather during the holiday period when the atmosphere and the weather lend themselves to long naps in the sun. The bracelet warns via an app of the UV doses to which the subject is exposed.

-> Body balance

Specializing in connected medical devices, iHealth offers various objects linked to an application that allows the person to analyze the results. Among these objects, a body analysis scale that calculates 9 parameters, an activity and sleep tracker, a pulse oximeter, a blood pressure monitor, a glucometer…

domesticated intelligence

Connected devices have entered our lives, it’s a fact. And we trust them, sometimes blindly. This is evidenced by the « class action » (legal action bringing together plaintiffs) launched in the United States against Fitbit, the manufacturer of health bracelets, about products that have communicated heart rhythms that do not conform to reality…

Connected sensors

The technology is not flawless. And it is good to use common sense when faced with this one. Are they really intelligent objects? Not really. In reality, it is above all about connected sensors. Intelligence is far from the user. It is located in data storage and processing centres, where the parameters transmitted via the Internet are analysed, compared with the user’s personal history, before returning via the same network to provide information or advice to the user. Here, we can speak of intelligence, since humans have developed programs for analyzing data and presenting results, readable by health specialists.

But to go further, by opening up other perspectives than just the cogitations of a few brains, there are computers capable of learning and evolving by digesting huge masses of data. It is artificial intelligence that comes to the rescue of humans to process « big data », these heaps of raw data. Elementary, my dear! At IBM, we have seized, as at Apple, the interest of this new niche. Moreover, the two American firms are collaborating to manage the data transmitted by users of connected devices. One bringing the flows, the other processing them within the framework of the « Watson » program, named after one of the founders of IBM.

Watson is the « cognitive » computer, capable of thinking. Faced with a diagnostic request, Watson is able to analyze in a fraction of a second tons of data located in remote databases, in different languages, to understand the meaning of the latest research work, the results of studies, to formulate one or more opinions on the probability of a disease, and on the possible methods of treatment, by arguing one’s answers and above all, by « understanding » the very question posed in natural language.

Necessities and chance

Here, the evolution is rapid, as lovers of dialogues with Siri, Apple’s digital assistant, or Cortana at Microsoft know. Watson is already used by hospitals and universities that have opened their databases, and gives advice on certain types of cancer and on diabetes. In the same vein, it is clear that the ongoing work on DNA sequencing is likely to fuel such a machine for further development. Specialists in data work, the « datascientists », even try to give birth to solutions or ideas by modeling serendipity, or by playing on the probability of discovering miracle recipes by chance. Do we ever know…

Health hackathon in Belgium

Apps.

Technology at the service of citizens’ health? This is the objective of companies interested in the sector, and of public authorities. In this respect, a « hackathon », i.e. a thematic intellectual long-distance race, is organized on health applications (mobile health), from March 18 to 20. Organizers ? Big names in the pharmaceutical field such as Pfizer, operators such as Base, an IT giant, IBM, the Free Mutualities, Partena / Promeris, and the Ministers of Digital and Health, Alexander De Croo and Maggie De Block.

« A hundred developers, designers, entrepreneurs, patients and healthcare specialists join forces to develop solutions that can improve the efficiency of care and make it more affordable. »

Where ? Pfizer Belgium, 17 avenue de la Plaine 17, 1050 Ixelles.

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