Alpha version of Open Health Data Platform produces impressive data analysis graphics (UK)

July 29, 2013 | by

The alpha version of the CDEC Open Health Data Platform offers a tantalising glimpse into what big data can do to improve healthcare. This site uses data from sources like the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) and shows how it can be turned into visualisations and analysis to answer specific health-related questions.

The initial release, which focuses on a small number of datasets including data about GP prescriptions and diabetes prevalence to show the extent of diabetes treatment in the UK, is a request for comment from the UK  innovator community. Specifically sought are views on functionality to include and the future data sets to incorporate.

The outline business case for developing the tool suggests potentially many profitable opportunities particularly for micro-enterprises and SMEs.

An extremely exciting venture, much to be encouraged.

£12m project to up the game on home sensor data for health and wellbeing (UK)

May 9, 2013 | by

The University of Bristol has just released news of a new interdisciplinary research collaboration (IRC) led by the university, together with the Universities of Southampton and Reading. It has been awarded a £12 million grant by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). They will work in partnership with Bristol City Council, IBM, Toshiba and Knowle West Media Centre. The IRC, known as SPHERE (Sensor Platform for HEalthcare in a Residential Environment), will develop home sensor systems to monitor the health and wellbeing of the people living at home. [So far, so 2002.]

But the press release goes on to make it clear that they do not intend to develop new sensors but to improve ways of analysing data from existing systems. “The IRC’s vision is not to develop fundamentally-new sensor technologies for individual health conditions but rather to impact all these healthcare needs simultaneously through data-fusion and pattern-recognition from a common platform of non-medical/environmental sensors at home…The system will be general-purpose, low-cost and accessible. Sensors will be entirely passive, requiring no action by the user and suitable for all patients, including the most vulnerable. An example of SPHERE’s home sensor system could be to detect an overnight stroke or mini-stroke on waking, by detecting small changes in behaviour, expression and gait. It could also monitor a patient’s compliance with their prescribed drugs.” [So far, so 2005 but perhaps the available technology these days is more up to the job. Let’s hope so.]

Ill health prediction from Facebook interests?

March 28, 2013 | by

Joseph Kvedar, Director, Center for Connected Health, Partners HealthCare poses a ‘big data’ question on his cHealth (connected health) blog: Is Facebook a Predictor of Your Health? Well, per se it’s not, of course, but the interesting speculation is on how far collectors of data relating to our online behaviour and offline shopping habits might soon be able to start identifying our likelihood of developing particular health conditions. If you think it is far-fetched, find the link in the comments to the Forbes item spotted by David Doherty ‘How Target Figured Out A Teen Girl Was Pregnant Before Her Father Did’.