Better Health through Machine Learning

A revised overview at how A.I. and machine learning are saving lives.

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Shortly after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical world embraced their options as far as permissions regarding A.I. and machine learning. This had everything to do with necessity over innovation.

Privacy concerns in the healthcare industry related to AI and machine learning delayed progress. This stems from the vast amounts of sensitive data being processed. As these technologies are increasingly utilized for tasks like diagnostics, personalized treatment plans, and predictive analytics, there is a heightened risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential misuse. Patients worry about the security of their private information.

These days, there has been a shift so that the data quality, user expectations and platform availability are more or less commonplace and have become more accepted. Finding the balance between the benefits of advanced healthcare technologies and safeguarding individual privacy is a genuine challenge. This calls for robust data protection measures, stringent regulations, and transparent frameworks. This ensures the responsible and ethical use of AI and machine learning in the healthcare sector...and they are worth it. The possibilities that come with machine learning and AI in wellness tracking are in fact so worthwhile, deep learning is no longer an exception but a life-saver.

As AI and machine learning continue to improve, overall personal and individual health is improving. Wearables are becoming smarter and more powerful. Designers like Empatica are focusing their energy on developing their smart software. This has resulted in their wearable EmbracePlus to be selected by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) to be developed to detect pre-symptomatic signs of disease and illness. An example of this is the ability to predict the oncoming of a seizure for epileptics. This is achieved through Empatica’s algorithm, Aura.

The Algorithm is Gonna Get You

Aura was developed to detect irregularities in the body through a wearable platform. It calculates the output from the person wearing the device and alerts the user (and their caregiver) when something is amiss. The goal is of course to treat the issue before it could do more harm to the person and to prevent spreading it, if applicable. This is only one of the features of this platform can detect through machine learning. The breadth of the scope is impressive. They are making huge breakthroughs in neurological disorders including strokes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer’s, and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Just imagine getting a heads up that symptoms from a health issue about to rear their ugly head. Not only will this help you plan better, but it can save your life.

Complete Coverage for the Entire Body

Smart watches and wearable patient monitoring systems track many sensors and digital biomarkers. This can include Electrodermal activity (EDA), Pulse rate variability (PRV), Inter-beat interval (IBI), steps, rest, Advanced optical PPG (Photoplethysmogram), and much more. What’s really important to consider here is that without a simple and (let’s be honest) stylish device, this will not get done. Anyone who has tracked calories on a diet knows that it is a pain, and no one wants to do it. To take that to the next level, imagine being assigned by a doctor to manually log erratic symptoms on paper. The collected data will never be fully accurate or objective. It will have holes, and it will be questionable. Smart watches don’t have opinions and they never forget. They simply detect patterns and report back to headquarters while the wearer lives their life uninterrupted.

The Benefits of Health Tracking through AI and Machine Learning

The benefits that follow, you know besides saving lives, are significant. With health data consistently being traced and tracked, doctors can make better decisions. There are times when patients don’t know what is valuable to share or times when they have simply forgotten symptoms they have felt. While the dialogue between a doctor and patient will always be there, the unsaid will now be heard too.

With all of this in mind, the cost of healthcare also drops when one can act proactively. By using this crystal ball of artificial intelligence, unnecessary procedures and medications can be avoided. Problems can potentially be managed before they become big problems, avoiding those costs as well. It is preventive maintenance for the body.

These days it is common to hear data is power. Living through the 4th industrial revolution, this has proven to be true. The question is, why should that be limited to industry, when people matter so much more?

To learn more about automated test and measurement systems, please contact Averna.