Remote care improves cancer care

Remote monitoring improves care for cancer patients

Cancer patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering (New York City) whose health symptoms were monitored remotely each day showed an unplanned hospital visit rate approximately 2/3 less than those not monitored. Unplanned admissions between scheduled hospital cancer treatments account for 48% of the costs of cancer treatments. Daily management of patients enabled them to receive, in most cases, care without admissions. HBR

dis-rup-shun: The healthcare world is full of indications that certain technologies improve care, but not enough clinical bodies of evidence that statistically confirm the results. As a result, the healthcare industry lags other industries in the deployment of connected technologies. The rising costs of care, especially hospital admissions, require increased use of remote care. In two to three years, large care providers will be deploying remote care solutions, pushing the industry to more efficient operations.

BMW demonstrates gesture control

BMW has offered gesture controls in cars for several years, but new enhancements in the 850iL prove highly reliable and easy to learn. With hand motions, like rotating one’s index finger, the sound volume can be turned up or down. Gesture control further reduces the need to find and depress a button. Gesture can be an alternative to larger touch screens which may require more, rather than less, focus on locating the correct control on the screen. TechCrunch

dis-rup-shun: New interfaces in cars include larger touchscreens, voice control, and now gestures. In car technology is a significant differentiator, as consumers love technology that improves the in-car experience. Better, easier controls increase safety and lower production costs, however the driving experience continues to be significantly different from manufacturer to manufacturer.  New innovations continue to make it difficult for car renters and borrowers to easily know where all the controls are in unfamiliar models.

The pros and cons of Google’s acquisition of Fitbit

Wired ponders the pros and cons of Google’s acquisition of Fitbit. On the positive side, the same intelligence that tells you which route to take to get to an appointment and how long it will take can make smart suggestions about how to reach certain fitness goals. On the downside, Google could use the data that it has committed not to sell to cross-sell other Google products and services, fatiguing users with promotions of products we don’t want (remember Google +).

dis-rup-shun: The majority of tech users today are mostly willing to trade personal data for beneficial services. What is lacking is constant assurances that our data is safe and has not been compromised. Apple has taken the lead in establishing its public image as “the privacy company.” Google will quickly follow suit and try to prevent Apple from gaining this higher ground without company. Facebook is too busy testifying to Congress to improve its tarnished privacy reputation.

IOTc, the Internet of Things Consortium launches summit

The Internet of Things Consortium launches IOTc Next, The Connected Futures Summit. The event takes place in New York City’s TimesCenter on November 12th.

dis-rup-shun: Readers of dis-rup-shun.com are entitled to event discounts. The one day event features a wide variety of IOT topics and speakers. The agenda topics include: financing IOT projects, user interfaces, media organizations in a connected world, marketing how-to’s, seeing the future, IOT and mobility, smart homes, connected health and wellness, securing devices and networks, connected retail, smart cities, and the ethics of IOT. 7 days to register.

Nest WiFi a top performer

Nest has joined the ranks of companies selling mesh network WiFi extenders for the home. Nest’s extenders double as smart speakers and come in colors to match decor. CNET

dis-rup-shun: Big Tech is anxious to create new product categories, especially ones that Apple does not already dominate. Why device makers have waited 5 years to solve the common problem of weak WiFi reception in certain parts of the home is a puzzle, but having a coordinated, fashion forward device that makes me quit cussing my WiFi is a great value.

McDonald’s use of AI could save $18 billion

McDonald’s invests in AI for voice recognition

The fast food company announced its acquisition of Apprente, a company specializing in voice recognition for fast food ordering. The terms were not disclosed, but the acquisition follows McDonald’s purchase of Dynamic Yield, a big data analytics company it acquired for $300 million.

dis-rup-shun: Quick math says that elimination of 1 to 3 hourly employees and a reduction in human “translation” errors that seem to occur when we say our orders to McDonald’s cashiers could save $50 to $75 per hour, times 18 hours times 365 days is $492 thousand per store per year. With 37,855 worldwide restaurants… the potential value of this technology is about $18.6 billion per year. Seems like a good investment.

Apple’s announcements

Yesterday’s Apple announcement went as expected and can be summarized as follows:

  • iPhones: 2 new iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max are over $1000 and have enhanced cameras and displays. The iPhone 11 is a less expensive ($699) offering.
  • Apple TV Plus, the streaming service, is $2 less per month than Disney + and is included for free for a year when you purchase an Apple device.
  • iPads — bigger screen, and better processor.
  • Apple Watch Series 5 has some fancier bezels and always on display.

The Verge

dis-rup-shun:  Is that it? This seems like the most un-amazing Apple new product release ever. The camera features on the 11 Pro are remarkable, and the days of ever wanting a separate digital camera are all but dead, but the lack of a really exciting new product, or really unique features, is concerning. It is time for Apple to think different.

Apple TV Plus undercuts Disney+ which undercut Netflix

Apple today announced that its streaming video service, Apple TV Plus, will be priced at $4.99 per month, $2 less then Disney + at $6.99. Disney + combines three networks at HD, which provides far more than Netflix at $12.99 per month.  CNBC

dis-rup-shun:  It will be a rough fall season for AT&T. Not only did the company pay $85 billion for Time Warner to launch, among other things, a video streaming service to compete with Netflix and Disney, it is now under pressure by activist investor Elliot Fund, that believes the company grossly overpaid for Time Warner. It is also not a good time to be Netflix, a company that said profits will be deferred while it invests in original content. This was before Disney and now Apple declared a video streaming price war. Expect investors to be wary of Netflix as it is the only big streamer with only one line of business.

Vehicle brands less important in Cars-as-a-Service economy

IBM CEO Ginni Rometty tells CNBC that the riding experience, rather than the car brand, is most important to consumers in the world of autonomous cars and ride sharing.

dis-rup-shun:  As the transportation experience moves from one of ownership to one of services, and consumers’ investments in the experience shift from significant to minor, it stands to reason that auto brand will take a back seat to other service attributes such as locating the car, setting the preferences, providing the appropriate class of service for the occasion and enabling in-car communications. Expect BMW’s future tag line, “The Ultimate Riding Experience.”