Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home IT Management
    • IT Management

    Accenture, Philips Develop Display for ALS Patients

    By
    Nathan Eddy
    -
    August 8, 2014
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin
      health it and tablets

      Health IT specialist Royal Philips and management consulting, technology services provider Accenture announced that they have developed proof of concept software connecting a wearable display to Emotiv Insight Brainware that could ultimately give more independence to patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases.

      When patients lose muscle control and eye-tracking ability, they can still potentially operate the Philips suite of connected products in their home environment through brain commands.

      After a wearable display and the company’s Insight Brainware, which scans electroencephalography (EEG) brainwaves, are connected to a tablet, users can issue brain commands to control Philips products including Philips Lifeline Medical Alert Service, Philips SmartTV (with TP Vision), and Philips Hue personal wireless lighting.

      The tablet also allows control of these products using eye and voice commands, and in both cases, a person could communicate preconfigured messages, request medical assistance and control TVs and lights.

      Affecting more than 400,000 people per year, ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, impairs brain and spinal cord nerve cells, gradually diminishing voluntary muscle action. Late-stage patients often become totally paralyzed while retaining brain functions.

      For the past several months, the two companies have been collaborating on this proof of concept with Emotiv, Brent Blum, wearable technology practice lead at Accenture Technology Labs, told eWEEK.

      “The major breakthrough was the digital integration of wearable technologies allowing an ALS patient to communicate preconfigured messages, request emergency medical assistance, and control TVs and lights,” Blum said.

      The Emotiv technology uses sensors to tune in to electric signals produced by the wearer’s brain to detect, in real-time, their thoughts, feelings and expressions, while the wearable display provides visual feedback that allows the wearer to navigate through the application menu.

      “While the ALS patient population is the initial focus, the proof of concept has the potential to focus on anyone with limited muscle and speech function, providing them with the ability to communicate and issue commands, using their brains,” Thibaut Sevestre, innovation lead for IT architecture and platforms for Philips, told eWEEK. “The proof of concept could possibly be extended beyond ALS patients. Patients with Locked-in-Syndrome, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and paraplegia could also benefit, potentially giving them control over specific commands via the a wearable display technology.”

      Blume said he believes this proof of concept shows the potential of wearable technology in a powerful new way —helping people with serious diseases and mobility issues take back some control of their lives through digital innovation.

      “At the heart of all health care IT progress impacting peoples’ lives is the improvement and wider use of the latest digital technologies,” he said.

      Anthony Jones, M.D., vice president and chief marketing officer for Philips patient care and monitoring solutions said that today, most monitoring solutions are either reserved for the very ill hospitalized patient (OR and ICU) or found in simple consumer devices for basic health and wellness management.

      “Over the next 5 years–if not sooner–wearable technology will close the gap between these two extremes, becoming as ubiquitous and unobtrusive as the common bandage,” he explained. “When coupled with basic smartphone technology, these solutions have the potential to provide cost-effective solutions to support continuous monitoring of populations ranging from the seriously ill to the elite athlete.”

      Nathan Eddy
      A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan was perviously the editor of gaming industry newsletter FierceGameBiz and has written for various consumer and tech publications including Popular Mechanics, Popular Science, CRN, and The Times of London. Currently based in Berlin, he released his first documentary film, The Absent Column, in 2013.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Android

      Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: Durability for Tough...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 5, 2020 0
      Have you ever dropped your phone, winced and felt the pain as it hit the sidewalk? Either the screen splintered like a windshield being...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Why Data Security Will Face Even Harsher...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 1, 2020 0
      Who would know more about details of the hacking process than an actual former career hacker? And who wants to understand all they can...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      How Veritas Is Shining a Light Into...

      eWEEK EDITORS - September 25, 2020 0
      Protecting data has always been one of the most important tasks in all of IT, yet as more companies become data companies at the...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×