Why does this whole year feel like we are Pauline in Peril, all tied-up, with an Evil Man menacing us while the Train barrels down the tracks? Nonetheless, there are bites of news to be consumed, even though this year’s Thanksgiving in the US will be at best a muted one, and the Grinch may be stealing Christmas.

Doro remains ‘on a tear’ with new product introductions for the UK. The Doro Eliza (right) is a 4G/digital IP compatible social alarm/”smartcare” hub, with a modern design that connects to telecare accessories. The modern design has HD audio on the speaker for personal alarms, and also connects to smoke detectors, fall sensors, security cameras, and pill dispensers. Already introduced in Europe, its timing is part of the transition from analogue to digital telecare for 1.7 million UK telecare users as telecom moves to full digital by 2025. Release.

If your business is in diabetes care and the apps that assist them, Research2Guidance’s study and forecast, “The Global Digital Diabetes Care Market 2020: Going Beyond Diabetes Management” will be of interest. The 91-page report covers a global picture of growth from 2008 projecting out to 2024, as well as digital solutions, their segmentation, and competition. For instance, from 2019 to 2024, the number of diagnosed diabetics with access to smart devices is set to increase from 109 million to 180 million. It includes profiles of 10 countries. Priced from €3,290, so it will set you back a bit. More information here. 

We missed updating you on KOMPAÏ Robotics, which Editor Emeritus Steve Hards first covered in 2011. Their latest developments were earlier this year as their assistance/companion robot finally debuted for sale–right in the middle of the pandemic. This Pulse article recounts the road for CEO Vincent Dupourqué from 1975 to the third version of KOMPAÏ.

LanguageLine, which is a long-time provider of language translation services live to in-patient and acute care settings, announced an integration with Bluestream Health’s virtual visits. With a single click, a Bluestream user can access audio and video interpretation in 240 languages and over 13,000 interpreters. LanguageLine also assists with deaf and hard-of-hearing users. Bluestream provides whitelabeled telehealth services to approximately 50,000 providers. LanguageLine has headquarters in California, with offices in Taiwan and London.  Release

And finally, Optum’s 18. Optum Ventures, the funding arm of UnitedHealth Group’s Optum, has invested in a large number of healthcare ventures this year, nearly all with a health tech or AI spin. It’s neatly distributed internationally and between Series A through C, with UK companies like Oxford VR (VR used for therapies, no connection to Oxford Medical Simulations) as part of a $12.5 million Series A, Germany’s Kaia Health with a $26 million Series B tranche, and US companies like LetsGetChecked as part of a $71 million Series C. Not quite Ocean’s 11, but Optum’s bet a lot more than Danny Ocean got from those casinos in 1960. Becker’s Health IT.