Can Apple truly transform healthcare?

Apple’s progress report on revolutionizing health care

Apple has stated that health is a target market for the company, and its Apple watch is arguably the most sophisticated all-purpose wearable that is also packed with heart monitoring and fall detection features. But what are the next big chasms for Apple to cross to transform healthcare? The data generated by Apple devices is not being easily integrated into care provider routines as doctors are already overwhelmed. Integration and access to consumers’ electronic health records remains a complex challenge. Many opportunities for Apple exist, and perhaps more direction will be revealed at the company’s worldwide developers’ conference this week. CNBC

dis-rup-shun: Apple has equipped consumers with data about sleep, body motion and heart activity, giving us all more data than ever before. The healthcare industry, however, has not been screaming for more consumer data. The industry is being roiled by falling prices and new reimbursement models, so 180 days of your cardiac data may not be your doctor’s first priority. The question Apple must answer is if it wishes to continue its focus on equipping individuals with new insights into their own health, or if it seeks to transform clinician practices through providing remote care tools. There is plenty of room down both paths, but likely not enough time and resources to effectively pursue both.

Moneyball comes to European football via AI

Moneyball — the practice of analyzing large amounts of sports performance data to improve the results of a team and maximize return on investments, is finally coming to European football thanks to the AI analytics company, Acronis. Acronis has partnered with clubs including Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Inter Milan to help the organizations collect, analyze and eventually monetize data. Wired

dis-rup-shun: While data analytics has long been a critical part of sports management for baseball and other sports, it is new to European football. Whether data is used to improve player recruiting, play calling or advertising effectiveness, expect some very noticeable changes to occur as teams use numbers to improve both on-field and overall financial performance.

Drone deployed mosquitoes help control illnesses

Sterile male mosquitoes injected into infested areas reduce the insect’s populations by reducing the next generation, lowering the overall count of the malaria spreaders. This sophisticated treatment method eliminates spraying but requires people to introduce the sterile mosquitoes into infested and/or hard to reach places (swamps, mountains, etc.). The use of drones to release cartridges of sterile mosquitoes in infested areas, then return to base to refill, has increased the effectiveness and reduced the time of deployment. Techcrunch

dis-rup-shun: Drones continue to find their niche applications outside of hobbyists, and global disease prevention is clearly an important and potentially lucrative opportunity. Hobby, military, medical, real estate, film making and photography are all areas in which drones seem to have found adoption beyond trials. Expect to see the work of drones become a staple in these industries.

Camera wars: Arlo joins the floodlight camera race

The smart home category continues to gain heft, and Arlo has been a quality provider since Netgear purchased the brand (then spun it off in 2018). Ring gets the credit for inventing the flood light camera category, or at least for making it popular. According to CNET  Arlo has taken the lead with this high quality, $250 very bright light/camera combo which can be powered via battery, solar or AC power. Quality, as always, may be dependent on the device’s WiFi connection.

dis-rup-shun: For people seeking home security without committing to a long, large contract from a traditional provider, these new devices continue to offer strong alternatives. Device makers such as Arlo, and integrated-monitored systems providers such as ADT need to quickly partner to make these devices common for both DIY and pro-installed customers, and benefit from customer interest in this new product category.