Posted by Jeremy Scott in Uncategorized | 2 Comments
In-Body WiFi Will Warn Doctors if You Have A Heart Attack
A sweet new use for WiFi has been proposed: internal health monitors… in your body. All I have to say to that is… awesome!
The same BlueTooth technology that allows you to use a wireless hands-free device with your cell phone is going to alerting the hospital when you have emergency health problems.
From the article:
If the “in-body network” recorded that the person had suddenly collapsed, it would send an alert, via a nearby base station at their home, to a surgery or hospital.
Seriously, this sounds like something out of some futuristic sci-fi movie, but it’s not that big a leap. We’ve been keeping an eye on the vital signs of astronauts for decades. This just takes the technology inside the body, Fantastic Voyage style (although without the shrunken human beings in a space ship part).
Now, if this so-called “in-body WiFi network” can also let my spleen surf the Internet and allow my lungs to place a VOIP call to the Psychic Friends Network… then it’ll be the completion of a life-long dream of mine.
Go here to read the full story on this new technology.
Man, I’m not sure I want a device alerting the ER everytime I have a health problem…Seems very anti-privacy act to me. That data would be so valuable to so many people…health insurance companies, “well, Mr. Elkins, our chart HERE says you weren’t going to die, so you didn’t need to come into the ER, you could have just waited to see your regular doctor…therefore we are denying your claim.”
Life insurance companies “well, Sammy, get the check ready, it shows here that Mrs. White just died of a candlestick blow to the head in the library”.
Your crazy uncle Charlie “hey I just hacked into Johnny’s wireless medical alert, when he croaks, let’s move into the house before the estate is divided up!”.
Ok–I may be a little far fetched here, but just like I don’t want a chip in my kid or my dog, I don’t think I would want this device alerting anyone of anything.
Another great post Jeremy!
Jason
Well, you raise all the right red flags regarding privacy… but there are privacy concerns with nearly every emerging technology–especially in health records. I don’t think the device in question would be something insurance companies and relatives could get their hands on without permission from you.
And while I don’t want Big Brother knowing when I have heartburn… I think the idea of an instantaneous notification of 911 for heart attacks is groundbreaking and would save lives. Can’t escape that. It’s like the OnStar system on Chevy cars that alerts authorities when you crash your car. Sure, you probably hate that feature if you just drove drunk and smashed into your own house… but if it’s your wife and kids in a late-night accident… it’s worth more than you have, right?
Good points. Thanks for the comment!