In December 2016, many were suggesting that wearables were dead. Fitbit’s stock price was rapidly dropping. Apple Watch sales had declined for two consecutive quarters and Pebble had just been acquired in a fire sale.What a difference a year makes. Today, Apple Watch is poised to become the world’s best selling wearable. And, the market is quickly diversifying as hearables (once again led by Apple) and clinical wearables gain importance.The lesson is clear. As we look toward 2018, it’s more
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The Internet of Voice in Health: Why It’s Time to Pay Attention
According to the Future Today Institute, about 50% of our interactions with computers will be via voice by 2023. Voice interfaces are already having an impact on health. The recently completed Alexa Diabetes Challenge demonstrated that voice-computer interfaces can play a role in chronic condition management. Are you up-to-speed on this trend? To help, I've outlined five questions and answers about the current state of voice interfaces in healthcare. 1. Is interest in the potential of voice
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Is The Digital Health Industry Failing or Flourishing? New Report Provides Answers
Recently, there's been an argument about whether digital health (as an industry) is dead, or alive. In some cases, investors have failed to realize rapid returns and companies are struggling to gain traction. Others argue that it's too early to declare digital health's death, mainly because of the long sales and technology adoption cycles characteristic of the health market.This debate is framed within the context of funding levels and investor returns because of how the strength of the digital
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The Most Surprising Health Wearables Trend of Q2 2017?
One of the stories that is gaining traction in the health wearables space is the reality that sensors are becoming less expensive and increasingly commoditized. It’s no longer enough for health wearables makers to leverage better sensors to attract consumer interest. Instead, they must develop more holistic offerings with software that makes wearables smarter and more useful.This is one reason why wearables makers in the United States, India and other parts of the world are focusing increasingly
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What is the Future of Digital Health Under Trump’s Administration?
Editor's Note: Fard Johnmar is a digital health futurist, strategist, researcher and inventor. This analysis is also available in a free eBook, which you can access by clicking here.Obviously, the world is a different place than many of us thought it would be when we woke up on Wednesday morning. Hillary Clinton has been defeated. And, the Democratic Party is at its lowest level of political power -- from the federal government to state houses and legislatures -- in generations. This week, I've
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6 Ways Digital Health Transformed Healthcare in 2014
Fard Johnmar, founder of Enspektos describes 6 major gifts digital health has granted doctors, patients, caregivers and others during 2014. There's a lot of skepticism about the potential of digital health tools and technologies to transform health and medicine. A lot of it is warranted. We're still waiting for robust studies that help to prove that tools such as mobile applications and wearables can actually improve health and change behavior. The ones we have today are
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Can Professional Failures Foster Digital Health Innovation?
Fard Johnmarr describes the vital role professional failures could play in fostering digital health innovation. Let's face it. When it comes to tolerating and encouraging failure, there's a big disconnect between what people say and what they do. In many organizations and businesses, failure and risk-taking is punished, even though both are vitally important -- especially in industries facing or undergoing significant digital-induced economic and human disruption. Fard Johnmar,
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Digital Health’s 4 Dirty Little Secrets Revealed
Digital health is hot. Consider the evidence. StartUp Health recently reported that investors poured $5 billion into the digital health sector during the first three quarters of this year, double what was invested during 2013. (This is small change compared to what was invested in other industries, but it is a promising trend.) Companies like Google Apple, Walgreens, CVS and Microsoft are seeking to shake up health with new digital innovations and initiatives. And, hardly a day
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Are Health Wearables Evangelists Fools?
Have the skeptics won? Late last month, TechnologyAdvice released an interesting study looking at whether most people want to use health wearables such as fitness trackers and other tools for health purposes. Here are the top-line results of this study: - 75 percent of U.S. adults do not track their weight, diet, or exercise using a health tracking apps or devices - 43.7 percent had no specific reason for not tracking their fitness - 27.2 percent won't use these devices
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The Apple Watch & Digital Health: 3 Must-Ask Questions
So, the much-anticipated Apple Watch has arrived. The tech world is still digesting Apple's big announcement. Some believe Apple's watch is the Second Coming. Others are disappointed that it does not look cooler. Left-handed people are up in arms that the device is not designed to be worn on the right hand. My opinion: plenty of people will buy the Apple Watch and it will dramatically improve over time. Apple's great at getting people to desire its devices (remember what they said about
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