Tech companies and Health Monitoring Apps
In the global fight against Covid-19, tech companies have developed a new-found affinity to healthcare and well-being. With their devices already being used by millions, tech companies can beam their health monitoring apps straight to their customers’ hands at the push of a download button, or with no action required at all.
Here are a few of the most recent tech company innovations, that bring digital health ever closer to our daily lives.
- Samsung has recently released an application that allows Samsung smartwatch users to monitor their blood pressure, and track signs of heart disease through ECG, or Electrocardiography. The South Korean Ministry of Health and Drug Safety gave Samsung their approval after the 2 new capabilities gained clearance in spring.
“The launch of the Samsung Health Monitor app demonstrates Samsung’s dedication to providing accessible and convenient healthcare for all by integrating advanced hardware and best-in-class software technology,” said Samsung SVP, TaeJong Jay Yang. He then hinted at further expansion of their healthcare suite later on.
- Apple has had an ECG option in its apple watch for a while now, but recently they announced an additional functionality. The FDA approved what they deemed a non-invasive monitoring for patients during the pandemic for remote care. Healthcare providers can ask to view their patients’ ECG that can be sent to the doctor via the monitoring app on their Apple Watch during a remote session. The results of the monitoring can be sent in PDF form along with any symptoms. This, at least partly, bypasses the need for physical check-ups during the lockdown, although the system is not designed to triage patients for urgent conditions.
- January.ai is a startup that came out of the blue during the 80th American Diabetes Association Scientific Studies Conference held virtually. The startup, which uses artificial intelligence to advance medical insights, revealed their Sugar Challenge study. They wrote an algorithm that can predict Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes patients’ glucose response to meals before eating them, using data collected from heart rate monitors, CGMs (Continuous Glucose Monitoring System), food and medication logs.
“We believe AI-enabled technology can be used to deliver a very scalable program that helps people make positive behavior modifications through solid, science-based personalization,” said founder and CEO, Noosheen Hashemi in a statement. “The results of this initial study are just the beginning of that journey for us.”
The current pandemic has pushed innovation in medical technology forward, in ways we didn’t think possible. Today’s health monitoring apps and health technologies have made remote healthcare not just an option, but an everyday necessity.