Korean tech giant Samsung and Nestle have formed a partnership to use IoT technologies and research as a way to create new health insights.
Samsung’s innovation team is currently working with the Nestle Institute of Health Sciences in Switzerland to investigate how IoT can aid health and fitness research.
IoT platform
They’re using technologies including bio sensors and multi-modal equipment to get an insight into healthcare. The aim is to help individuals “better manage their own health” by making the use of contextual recommendations on nutrition, lifestyle and fitness.
Samsung believes that its ARTIK IoT platform, semiconductor experience and network of smart device solutions, along with Nestle’s understanding of biomedical science, will revolutionise healthcare and make people live well.
Both firms will use this research to work towards creating a new digital health platform for consumers. They say it’ll provide personal and meaningful insights to help users become healthier and fitter. The first pilots are expected to run in early 2017.
Related: Scalpel, clamp, VR headset – a surgeon’s quest to fix healthcare
Health tech revolution
The collaboration combines a mixture of digital and traditional methods to nutritional science research. The relationship, the firms said in a statement, is supported by “extensive research, the innovative, visionary people inside Samsung and Nestlé and the recognition of this collaboration synergy”.
Stefan Catsicas, chief technology officer at Nestle, said: “We are delighted to enter this collaboration with a global leader in the field of sensor technologies. It will advance our nutrition, health and wellness strategy to support people who want to live a healthier lifestyle.”
Young Sohn, president and chief strategy officer at Samsung, added: “We are delighted to enter this collaboration with a global leader in the field of sensor technologies.Today, we live in an era of smarter living brought about by the convergence of technology and life science.”
“It’s an era where the data from smart sensors and devices in our daily life such as mobile phones, wearables and smart refrigerators can help us to understand our nutrition and activity and guide us towards a healthier lifestyle.”
Plethora of benefits
Gary Birks, director of healthcare at Dell UK, says Big Data and connected technologies offer major benefits for the health and fitness industry. His company is responsible for 70% of the IT equipment supplied to NHS trusts throughout the UK.
“The democratisation of data makes healthcare a very exciting industry right now. You only have to look at how much data is wasted in our day-to-day lives to see how healthcare can be made more effective,” he said.
“Each time you step on the scales or take your blood pressure, there is data that could be used to help build a rounded picture of your health. Into the frame steps a wide range of apps that can reference all that data with a series of risk factors, offering an unprecedented ability to identify and prevent individual health issues.
“As well as offering digital diagnostics, these apps can be used to optimise your lifestyle and help avoid unnecessary visits to the hospital. Look at wearable tech. It is already used by eight million people in the UK and many of these gadgets are health-related devices such as heart rate and activity monitors that are connected to our smartphones or tablets.”
Related: Healthcare clinicians are ready for the Internet of Things – but are patients?