Connected Life

Transcending the Connected Home & Transport categories, the proliferation of mobile devices and services has led to a world that is truly and inextricably connected. This has led to a wealth of contextual data being delivered immediately and automatically. This combinations of mobile networks, devices and services has created a 'Internet of Things' that forms the basis of a Connected Life.

For the Spring 2013, in the Connected Life category, viable entries will provide solutions that are focused on Health and Wellness.

Low cost sensors and improvements to wearable clothing that are all controlled by the mobile device and connected by mobile and wireless networks have provided a way for solutions that address patient monitoring, patient tracking, data collection and reporting as well as patient management issues.

While the solutions can and may overlap with the other categories, entries can be unique to this category by themselves.

Background

With the proliferation of the Internet, the application of using this connectivity to Health led to the advent of eHealth - that primarily dealt with the electronic collection and transmission of data, mainly health records (EMR). This evolved to the field of Health Informatics (also known as Health IT), that addressed all electronics processes related to Health & Wellness.

As mobile networks devices became more advanced and ubiquitous, a sub-segment of eHealth emerged called mHealth. mHealth applications include the use of mobile devices in collecting community and clinical health data, delivery of healthcare information to practitioners, researchers, and patients, real-time monitoring of patient vital signs, and direct provision of care.

As mentioned in the Connected Home and Transport categories, it is now common for a constant and consistent interaction between a user and his/her environment. These interactions can be used to track, collect and report data about the user to a service or disseminate information about the environment to the user.

Focus Area & Use Cases

The Focus Areas for Connected Life are

  • Health Data
    • Collection
    • Reporting
  • Education and Learning
  • Patient Monitoring
  • Wellness
    • Exercise Community/Social
    • Vaccination
    • Provider Locator
    • Emergency alerting

Resources & Reading

http://www.economist.com/node/13437958

http://www.economist.com/node/10950499?story_id=10950499

http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/content/2/1/9

http://www.awarehome.gatech.edu/