IoT opportunity in the telemedicine market
Devices are becoming smarter by gaining the ability to exchange data; adding smartness to existing devices will require several aspects, including the capacity to gather, evaluate and communicate data.
This is giving rise to a new term – the senstroller, a combination of sensor and microcontroller. This is a device capable of gathering data from its surroundings and making decisions based on specific parameters.
When combined with connectivity, it becomes clear that this capability is then extended to include data gathered from other senstrollers that can be located anywhere.
It is now possible to deploy an integrated circuit that features a sensor, microcontroller and wireless connectivity that measures just 1.0mm on each side.
These devices are finding their way into telemedicine in the near future, for instance when a patient with chronic heart problems independently monitors different values, such as ECG, weight and blood pressure, at home and then transfers the data directly to a central office via a handheld computer. In case of critical values, emergency services will be alerted.
Some manufacturers, including Freescale Semiconductor and ARM — two companies at the forefront of microcontroller technology – expect that IoT devices will fall into two categories: those that are control-centric, and those that are data-centric.
Data-centric devices will be used to ‘mine’ data; to spot trends and habits, or anticipate and pre-empt conditions such as traffic congestion. Control-centric devices will employ something Freescale terms Track, Command, Control and Route (TCC&R).
Patient monitoring would qualify for this kind of IoT application, where a patient may wear a sensor that monitors their temperature, blood pressure or other vital health signs.
This data could be streamed to a cloud-based application that assesses the patient’s condition based on the data gathered, and alerts a medical professional in the case of an emergency.
Embedded intelligence
IoT structure
Semiconductor support for the IoT will be crucial. A good example of how semiconductor vendors are targeting this emerging market comes in the form of the Quark processor family from Intel, which is intended for the IoT and sacrifices features such as graphics processing in favour of lower operating power, while preserving the x86 instruction set.
In this regard it faces competition from ARM-based devices, such as those being developed by Freescale Semiconductor, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments and others.
However despite ARM’s ubiquity amongst semiconductor vendors, Intel has arguably a more coherent IoT strategy, through the combination of its own processors and the relatively recent acquisition of embedded software specialist, Wind River, and internet security expert, McAfee.
Together these products and services promise to deliver a convincing platform for OEMs developing applications on turnkey hardware such as a Computer-On-Module (COM).
The conga-QA3 with Intel Atom (code name Bay Trail) processor which is based on the Qseven module standard and certified for the Intel Gateway Solutions for the IoT, is a good example for how the combination of reliable hardware and a consistent software package forms a “root of trust” for secure IoT application development.
By bundling a baseboard that incorporates a TPM (Trusted Platform Module) chip, congatec helps ensure that applications can be operated with maximum data security.
Large semiconductor companies, as well as system level integrators, are now actively developing Gateway solutions for the IoT. While gateways already exist in a connected infrastructure, their function in the IoT will differ; they will be required to interface to a wider range of new devices — senstrollers — that may be provided by different vendors choosing different protocols and offering different services.
This amalgamation of nodes will demand a gateway capable of handling multiple interfaces that may not be governed by ‘traditional’ internet protocols, but will nonetheless require a high quality of service.
It is well-known that the world population is growing and that people are living longer. In future, increasing life expectancy will be intrinsically linked to healthcare technologies enabled by the IoT.
More of us will turn to preventative measures in order to prolong our good health. Already there is a large market for keen athletes to monitor and record their progress when training; that same technology will likely extend to everyday activities so that our overall wellbeing can be measured.
Beyond the body area network, we can expect more ‘intimate’ sensor nodes to become part of our normal routine. One day, the concept of bathroom scales may fall from our lexicon; instead we will rely on ingestible or implantable sensors to monitor our well being, alerting us — or more importantly our health providers — of any important changes in our condition.
This data will have great value, not least to the insurance industry. Already there are devices that can monitor driving habits, allowing insurers to offer lower premiums for good drivers. The same will likely be true for health insurance providers within a short timeframe.
There are huge possibilities but in terms of the infrastructure requirements, the medical sub sector is conceivably more complex. Privacy of data, access to patient records and control over medical equipment must all be tackled in order to realise its potential.
If it is possible to meet these requirements, the IoE can merge old and new technologies to the enormous benefit of the entire medical industry and patients.
Writer is Zeljko Loncaric, marketing engineer at congatec AG
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