Healthcare highlights at International CES

For the healthcare minded, the Consumer Electronics Show (International CES), officially kicking off Thursday (7 Jan) in Las Vegas (but all over the press with Google's Nexus One, 'smartbooks'/slates etc.), has a section in the LVCC's North Hall dedicated to 'digital health'.  Unfortunately the exhibitor list in this 'tech zone' is a bit of a disappointment, with only Continua Alliance and GrandCare Systems of interest to our readers.  The neighboring Silvers Summit 'tech zone' has more of interest, with Dakim (brain fitness), Jitterbug (phones), Tabsafe (med dispensing) and Wellcore (fall detection).  But Continua seemingly has a child's garden of wonders in their booth.  They are demonstrating 'the first end-to-end connected health solution based on the Continua architecture':  Nonin Medical's wireless Bluetooth pulse oximeter sends data to a PC manager running Vignet's Connected Health Services platform (debuting at CES-release) which is then uploaded to an IBM server.  But...there's more:  A&D Medical (blood pressure and weight--see recent story on Halo partnership), Lamprey Networks, PDT, Renesas Technology, Tunstall Healthcare (Telehealth Platform--see below--and Connect) and ZyXEL are also demonstrating in the Continua booth. Continua's release and press advisory.

[Donna Cusano update 7 January] Live from CES--GrandCare Systems hosted their weekly open webinar/conference calls from the just-opened floor.

• Add to your visiting list: Carnegie-Mellon/University of Pittsburgh (Silvers Summit 'tech zone' booth #3013)--their display from their Quality of Life Tech Center is a 64 square foot room demonstrating their latest innovations, including RFID-assisted walls that change moods--color and brightness--to assist those with traumatic brain injury, plus touch screens for vital signs monitoring.  (Thank you Jeff Giuggio from C-M for the short briefing).
• Wellcore (#2909) is introducing at CES their in and out-of-home fall detector, which will be marketed through the firstStreet catalog starting in March. Beyond the usual accelerometer, it uses algorithms to track and discern type of motion, delivers voice messages from their online website and will prompt to be worn. Out-of-home, the Wellcore monitor connects via Bluetooth to a cell phone.  Releases.

Although this editor isn't there, we could have an 'inside source' for updates...we hope that what happens in Vegas, can't stay in Vegas!

[Donna Cusano update 8 January] According to this release, at today's 11am keynote Qualcomm chairman Dr. Paul Jacobs was joined by Dr. Eric Topol of the West Wireless Health Institute to highlight a selection of digital medical devices, including AirStrip OB (AirStrip Technologies), Mobile Baby (Great Connection), PiiX (Corventis) and Vscan (GE Healthcare).