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Towards the end of October 2020, Forbes published an article detailing a trial in which an artificial intelligence-based diagnostic tool had reduced hospital admissions by more than 50%. Even in “normal times”, such a substantial reduction would be welcome news. But at a time when a global pandemic has pushed many of the world’s health care systems to breaking point, it’s very welcome news indeed. The tool’s manufacturer — Clare Medical — concluded that “predicting which pat

In November 2020, The Times published an article exposing the downsides of so-called “green prescriptions”, whereby patients are advised to participate in outdoor activities such as exercise classes, planting trees or visiting natural beauty spots. On paper, it seems like a sensible remedy. Studies have shown that spending time in green spaces helps to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, premature death, stress and high blood pressure. Indeed, the issuing of “green prescript

In October 2020, the Harvard Business Review published an article entitled “What Health Care Can Teach Other Industries About Preventing Burnout”. It’s a topic of particular interest to me. Not just because of my line of work, but due to my own experience of burnout.  Failing to recognise the signs is something I think all of us will be guilty of at least once in our lives. It’s just a headache it will pass… Oh it’s nothing to worry about, I never sleep well… Sorry, what did

When you hear the term “artificial intelligence”, what springs to mind first? For some, it will be the threat of a robot takeover, in part thanks to the “Hollywood” treatment the subject matter has received in recent decades. But what about “life-saving”?  Do you associate AI with improving the quality and longevity of human lives? Perhaps it’s time you did... In August 2020, Forbes published an interesting article detailing “5 Life-Saving Applications of Artificial Intellig

Prior to the pandemic, you’d be forgiven for wondering what on earth “WHO” stood for. Now, not a day goes by without some reference to the World Health Organisation. Corporate companies spend thousands every year measuring brand awareness… Did so-and-so message cut-through? Is our logo instantly recognisable? How did the new colour scheme go down? I expect many in brand marketing would aspire to reach the level of recognition that WHO has accomplished in 2020 but, you know, w

The term “mind control” may conjure up images of magicians and hypnotherapists, but where prosthetics are concerned, it represents hope.  Researchers have been developing mind-controlled prosthetics for more than a decade with the aim of dramatically improving functionality for the user. An MIT Technology Review article from March 2020 outlines the powerful potential of machine learning for such an endeavour, and the challenges faced by scientists in the process: "Until now

If you’ve ever watched a documentary about how guide dogs are trained, you’ll know it’s the doggy equivalent of joining the Marines but with plenty of belly rubs, treats and “who’s a good boy...” Potential guide dogs undergo a temperament assessment before joining a 20-week STEP training programme (Standardised Training for Excellent Partnerships). Using positive reinforcement techniques, the dogs are taught to ignore distractions and avoid obstacles, all the while developing

Prior to the nationwide Coronavirus lockdown, Greggs — the UK bakery chain — was making the  news   for all the right reasons.   Not only has their vegan sausage roll proved to be a game changer, but the bigwigs at Head Office felt it right to share the product’s success directly with employees in the form of a £7m bonus payout. And they didn’t stop there... ​ Their new Vegan Steak Bake resulted in empty shelves in stores across the nation as they  struggled to meet demand.

Anyone who has watched even one episode of  The Apprentice  will surely believe they can do better than some of the half-wits we see racing around London, trying to impress Lord Sugar with their sales patter, savvy-saving and new business plans. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that it’s an entertainment show, not a serious business programme — that the characters on our screens have been hand-picked by producers because of their unapologetic bravado and all-too-often misplaced

Progress in health care can often be as prolonged and painful as the ailments we seek to treat. When you consider how far technology has come in the last century alone, it can feel frustrating to be told to “call back at 8.30am” to book a doctor’s appointment when the phone lines open. It’s the year 2020, after all.   My 1990’s self would likely be dumbfounded that we still use telephones as a method of communication at all, let alone relying on such an archaic process for so

I revisited a Q3 2018 report from StartUp Health around digital health funding earlier this week. It contains insights into the most active investors, functions and technologies from January to end of September 2018, and generally paints a rosy picture of growth within the digital health funding landscape.   It’s fascinating stuff. Not least because Q3 2018 achieved the highest quarter performance since tracking began in 2010, with a whopping $4.5bn generated through seed, v

Peloton have certainly made a name for themselves in the seven years since they launched as an exercise equipment brand in New York City — and not just for lambasted ‘Peloton lady’  ad   that went viral in December for all the wrong reasons. Hailed as the  future   of tech fitness, the company is now believed to be worth billions. Their core offering is a luxury stationary bicycle that allows users to stream spinning classes through a monthly subscription.  Unsurprisingly, th

Disney is famed for its imagination, and way back in the 1990s they were toying with the idea of augmented reality (AR). A year after the commercial success of  Honey, I Shrunk the Kids  — the movie where Ghostbusters alumni Rick Moranis portrays a hapless inventor who quite literally reduces his children to a quarter of an inch in size — Walt Disney World Resort introduced Honey, I Shrunk the Audience; a 4D spin-off that used tactics including hidden water sprays and leg ti

If you’ve seen Spike Jonze’s 2013 film, Her, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson, the prospect of forming an intimate and meaningful relationship with artificial intelligence might not seem too far-fetched...  ​ For in the not-too-distant future, we find our protagonist — a lonely, depressed and introverted individual named Theodore Twombly (played by Phoenix) — seeking solace from a female-voiced virtual assistant to numb the pain of his impending divorce. Samant

The sheer popularity of books pertaining to the world of work can be visible from a passing glance at a Waterstone’s window display. Time management, how to influence others, how to be less stressed, how to get what you want and feel happy whilst doing so…     Conversely, the supposed “secret” to managing your time more effectively can only be unlocked by spending your precious time learning how to do so.  In most cases, there is no quick fix — no single remedy to a lifelong

Think phobias only relate to eight-legged critters, tall buildings and small spaces? Think again. There's a new phobia in town and it's got your number... ​ Where trends in digital health are concerned, it’s no surprise to see the big buzzwords crop up in predictions time and time again — AI, blockchain, remote monitoring... It’s not so much about uncovering “the next big thing”, as it is identifying when new developments will reach scalable, sustainable and, thereby, success

It’s stating the obvious to say technology has forever changed the way we interact. From telegrams to emails to FaceTime, innovations in the communications sphere have consistently strived to simplify and streamline the process of keeping in touch and up-to-date.   Whilst I am guilty of spending many an idle moment marvelling at this rapid and radical progress, for me it pales into insignificance compared with the great strides made within the realms of healthcare. The Apple

Ever wondered how long you spend on your smartphone each day? There’s an app for that… Ok, the Apple slogan doesn’t quite ring true in this case — it’s a feature within Settings rather than an app in itself — but Screen Time on the iPhone has cracked the case of deciphering where your lost hours are spent, and in impressively granular detail. Released as a key feature of iOS 12 in September 2018, Screen Time tracks how many times you pick up your phone during a specified peri