The potential uses of Google Glass in the healthcare industry have generated a mix of speculation, experimentation and analysis. Some recognize potential health IT applications like clinical decision support. Entrepreneurs and consultants see a potential role for the device in operating rooms. Now, in a move that could verify both applications, San Diego public health system Palomar Health is teaming up with Qualcomm Life to roll out an incubator exploring the potential of wearable devices, according to an emailed statement.
Called Glassomics, the incubator will be based at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, near San Diego. It will function as an innovation lab to assess medical benefits for Google Glass in both consumer and clinical applications. SparseWare, a San Diego based software engineering firm, will develop the initial glassware prototypes.
Qualcomm Life Global Strategy and Market Developmemt Vice President Donald Jones said in the statement: “Wearable technology holds tremendous potential and we are dedicated to exploring applications that create opportunities to improve biometric data and wireless health management.”
Among the potential uses listed on its website are:
- Augmented reality guided clinical applications;
- User experience paradigms for clinical navigation of complex data;
- Physiological monitoring;
- Genomic information mapping and visualization enabled by wearable devices;
- Consumer-oriented health and wellness applications.
Qualcomm Life will provide access to its software development tools such as 2net -– the operating platform and hub that connects remote monitoring devices to the cloud for interoperability. It will also provide access to Healthy Circles — its recently acquired Software-as-a-service platform.
[Photo from Flickr user Antonia Zugaldia]
