Never mind Santa – 365 days a year, it’s now Google that may know when you’re sleeping or awake. The tech giant will be able to track things like heart rates and blood sugar levels, too, thanks to a partnership with IBM and help from the Continua Health Alliance.
New software should allow most personal medical devices to stream data into Google Health accounts. Once started, the transfer is supposed to be a simple, automated process that will lead to better healthcare when users let medical professionals access the info. Think fewer unnecessary trips to the doctor and faster and more accurate emergency responses, for starters. The peace of mind factor can’t be overlooked, either.
Dave Whitlinger, the Continua Health Alliance’s president, said in a statement, “With close to a quarter of the world’s population overweight, more than 600 million people with some form of chronic disease, and millions more reaching retirement age, the time for greater personal health management is now. Continua member companies like IBM and Google are working on real solutions that will empower consumers and healthcare professionals to access and share information quickly and easily through connected products and solutions.”
He then continued, “Together, we can create a new marketplace, improve health and quality of life, and advance personal telehealth worldwide.”
Privacy advocates can stand down (at least to some degree), too, since participation in any of this will be voluntary. Google and IBM also took special precautions on the security front.
