Written by Tyler Durbin

Shazam App for Your Heartbeat

Last week, we heard from the most progressive thinkers in the mobile health industry at the HIMSS mHealth Symposium in Copenhagen, Denmark. Amongst the many assessments and predictions was one really intriguing idea: a Shazam App for heart sounds. This app would allow smartphone users to record the sound of their own heartbeat, upload it to an analytics engine and receive diagnosis.

Question: Do you think that a heart health-related brand could whitelabel or sponsor this type of app to provide to their physicians and patients as an added value around their core offering?

World of Warcraft Boosts Spatial Ability and Focus in Older Adults

New research is showing that certain types of video games, like World of Warcraft, boosts the cognitive functioning of older adults. The study found that the multi-tasking and extensive use of cognitive skills (ie planning strategies and tracking other players) boost cognitive performance. To view the study, visit Computers in Human Behavior.

Question: If studies like this found that different types of gaming can improve the health or performance of humans, should agencies like GSW start developing videogame development capabilities? Sounds fun, right?

Squag: Social Media for Teens and Tweens with Autism

Squag, a curated space for kids with Autism to share ideas about themselves and communicate with the parents, is hoping to facilitate the opportunity for organic relationships; driven by kids and support by parents. Squag is designed to be an alternative to traditional therapy for children with Autism.

Question: Online communities are becoming more popular and more effective for supporting people with an array of conditions; what online communities do you find intriguing? Can you share with us?

Symcat Diagnoses Your Health Sypmtoms Like a Doctor Would

“Every day, people search on Google for health information. Many of these searches relate to symptoms they or their loved ones may be experiencing,” explains Chief Health Strategist Roni Zeiger, MD. Symcat, developed by two lab partners at John Hopkins School of Medicine, is looking to create a better way to check symptoms and receive diagnosis without visiting a physician’s office.

Question: With tools like Symcat, what opportunities exist for our brands to make connections with people searching for specific symptoms online?

Ford Cars and Trucks Now a Vehicle for Healthcare

Ford’s mission of making the driving experience as enriching as possible is entering a new frontier. “A driver doesn’t stop being diabetic once he get behind the wheel of a car,” says David Melcher, the lead developer integrating WeelDoc and Medtronic to Ford vehicles.  “In fact, it probably more important to know about the driver in those particular cases. Not only for the safety of the driver, but for other as well.” By utilizing a Bluetooth enabled MedTronic Glucose Monitor, the WellDoc Application and Sync, your car acts as a personal butler insuring you’ve made proper health consideration before getting behind the wheel.

Question: What capabilities do you think patients would find beneficial for managing their health in their car?