Wearable technology has been the bright new thing just over the horizon for a few years now. Yet with a few exceptions, the sector has struggled to live up to the hype generated by its evangelists.

When the Healthcare Internet of Things (IoT) actually became a thing, we were amused and occasionally bemused by fridges that sensed when we were low on groceries, lights that turned on and off at the swipe of a smartphone app and coffee machines that would greet us first thing in the morning.

The second generation of the Healthcare IoT embraced wearable technology, and Australian entrepreneurs were quick to hop aboard the express. A range of wearable devices and applications is the catalyst behind a constellation of start-ups addressing the healthcare opportunities spawned by this wearable technology.

Enter Digital Medicos

Wearable medical technology is evolving fast and increasingly demonstrating the potential to revolutionize Healthcare diagnostics and long-term care. Health care researchers are refining monitors capable of providing real-time oversight of body systems. Powering this diagnostic bloom is the transmission of data via mobile wireless networks to the cloud for diagnostic processing.

We are now witnessing the true convergence of the genomic and IoT revolutions melding healthcare, active lifestyle and social structures. Wearable technology’s maturing capabilities promise to empower individuals to monitor their health and make informed decisions on their lifestyle, particularly those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart complications and high blood pressure.

More Than A Watch Or Fitness Tracker

Global Kinetics Corporation in conjunction with researchers from Victoria’s Florey Neuroscience Institute have created the Parkinson’s KinetiGraph or PKG Data Logger. The PKG Data Logger is a device worn on the wrist that closely resembles a smart watch. It automatically tracks movement information to help doctors with their diagnosis and treatment of the symptoms of movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease.

Assessing Parkinson’s symptoms to ensure patients are receiving the proper treatment has proven complex and is never easy. The Australian PKG Data Logger offers a more effective, fact-based means for physicians to monitor the progression of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders in patients and to track how Parkinson’s symptoms respond to specific treatments. Then there are these Australian companies changing the Healthcare IoT landscape:

Aipoly AI Helps The Blind Perceive Their World

Aipoly is a dazzling new app created by an Australian start-up to help the visually impaired to see the world using artificial intelligence. The app employs a clever AI algorithm to identify objects displayed through a smartphone camera. The app then tells the user what the object is. The next generation of the app will enable the app’s artificial intelligence to understand complex scenes and describe objects in relation to one another, such as “The stool is in front of the breakfast bar.”

Blue Watch Brings A New Perspective To Tackling Depression

Blue Watch is a new app developed by a team of psychology researchers at Deakin University. The app allows users to track their moods and address depressive symptoms before they deteriorate. Users can work through a set of modules, covering breathing exercises to reduce stress, techniques for addressing negative thoughts, and similar coping strategies. The inspiration behind the app is to work with the patient in building resilience. “Blue Watch is like having a personalised mobile therapist on tap 24/7.”

Hit 100 Targets Diabetic Diets

Hit 100 is an Australian wellbeing tech start-up which has created the world’s first meal delivery program aimed at tackling the growing scourge of diabetes. Hit 100 is intended to assist diabetics to manage their health more effectively by managing their diet via home delivered meals and a unique online 100 point food tracking system.

Final Word

If it continues its present development trajectory, Australia’s contribution to wearable healthcare technology promises to transform how our current healthcare system delivers extended care for patients, smooth out inefficiencies in healthcare delivery systems, reduce costs, and enable the precision delivery of medication. However, this is assuming we have a pool of venture capital and the support systems to enable these healthcare entrepreneurs to bring their concept to market!

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