Innovative devices displayed at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas can now monitor health conditions through the Internet and mobile networks. NY1's Technology reporter Adam Balkin filed the following report.
At the annual Consumer Electronics Show, which wrapped up in Las Vegas over the weekend, most of the gadgetry is designed to make daily life more fun and productive. But some of the creations are aimed at dealing with certain health issues.
One example is the talking television for the visually-impaired.
"Rather than relying on reading text they can actually be talked to," says Peter Boyt of Oceanblue Software. "So things like the menu, program guide, anything that's textual is presented to them in an audio format."
People with diabetes can benefit from the Mediche LifeOne System, which allows them to monitor their disease and allow anyone of their choice to also monitor it through mobile phones.
"We've put some circuitry inside an injectapen and a blood glucose
reader as well," says Richard Bishop of Mediche Ltd. "We then combine that with a mobile phone and then the whole thing is connected to the cellular phone network, where medical professionals, a physician, friends, family, etc. can see how you're doing remotely."
Finally, EasyHealthMD.com has taken that whole concept several steps forward, by allowing patients to get an entire doctor's visit
in front of the home computer. Special Bluetooth measuring devices send in weight, blood oxygen level, blood pressure and soon cholesterol and blood sugar to a physician instantly via the Internet. Patients can then meet with that physician via webcam.
"Patients that are chronically ill, that are at hospitals all the time, it's basically coverage if you're going to see your doctor. Your standard visits where you'd get your testing, your labs, your monthly prescriptions, it basically replaces that," says Aaron Crowle of EasyHealthMD.com.
Developers say users pay monthly subscriptions and have access to a doctor 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Yet developers say the monitors work as supplemental and preventive care, and are not a replacement for regular in-person visits.
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