Google rumored to be working on wearable coach. Sourcing an anonymous tip, Android Police is reporting that Google is working on a wearable health and fitness coach called "Google Coach". Internally referred to as Project Wooden, it will be an app for Wear OS, the operating system that powers Google Smartwatches and will expand the devices' existing monitoring capabilities to also include data-driven notifications and suggestions about diet, activity, hydration, and more.
Stanford researchers turn to VR for "autofocals". A recent paper from a trio of Stanford researchers details a prototype for VR-powered "autofocals", a tech savvy tool for addressing presbyopia. Currently, people with presbyopia might wear biifocals, which allow them to see both nearby and faraway objects, but only by looking through particular windows. A computer vision-based system could detect where the user's focus is and automatically adjust their vision correction allowing them to switch back and forth effortlessly. The current build is too clunky for practical use, but researchers have high hopes the system will be commercially viable eventually.
VitalConnect adds VistaTablet to bring its platform to the home. At HIMSS last year, connected vital signs monitoring patch company VitalConnect launched Vista, its end-to-end remote monitoring platform. Now the company has added VistaTablet, a mobile interface that will allow home health providers to use the system as well.
"For acute care and the aging population, home hospital programs offer an affordable solution to healthcare that works for providers and patients," Dr. Nersi Nazari, CEO and founder of VitalConnect, said in a statement. "With the implementation of VistaTablet we are able to offer an easy-to-use mobile interface for physicians and patients to simultaneously monitor vital signs in real-time, allowing patients to recover at home while still under the care of their doctor."
VisualDx begins beta for Aysa. VisualDx, a company that makes both clinical decision support software for clinicians and consumer-facing medical advice software, has launched its beta for Aysa, an AI app to help consumers assess skin conditions.
"As a dermatologist, I know my patients are going to Google before coming to see me. But, too often, what they find is not only inaccurate, but dangerous," Dr. Art Papier, CEO of VisualDx, said in a statement. "Our patients deserve better and Aysa can provide peace of mind to a worried parent and serve as the foundation for a productive visit to the doctor's office. We want people to use their smartphones to get the right answers when they need it most, and for the answers to be drawn from the professional knowledge of physicians."
The beta is running now, with a sign-up available on askaysa.com. The full launch is set for early September.
Tyto Care comes to Canada. Tyto Care, a telemedicine company that integrates remote patient monitoring tools with video visits, has been approved by the government of Canada, and the Israeli company has launched its service there.
"We are thrilled to bring Tyto over the border to the Canadian market, which has made significant progress in raising awareness of digital health and its many benefits," Dedi Gilad, CEO and cofounder of Tyto Care, said in a statement. "We are removing barriers to quality healthcare access by replicating in-person doctors' visits with a virtual, on-demand solution, putting health in the hands of Canadian consumers. With more than 5,400 sites across Canada already providing telehealth services, our presence will greatly enhance the nationwide telehealth offerings and advance the country as a global leader in smart health accessibility."
