Cryptocracy

I’ve Moved!

tshb — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:44:42 +0000

I have relocated back to NYC. Please note my new address and phone number

530 E86th St #3C
NYC, NY 10028
USA

Mobile: +1 917.744.7934

IMD News: Implantable Cardiac Devices Now Closer to Lifelogging

tshb — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:45:49 +0000

A new clinical trial named The Clepsydra Study yesterday announced its first inclusion. The study will investigate clinical utility of the enhanced data collection possibilities in current generation pacemakers and ICDs. Using additional sensors now present in some devices, study subjects behavior will be monitored to aid medical care givers who will examine the logged data for trends and patterns. In addition to the obvious EKG data, accelerometer data and ventilation will be examined.

From a research perspective the following thoughts and questions popped into my head while reading the article:

1: What are the power implications of this increased level of sensing and logging?

2: I love the fact that we are getting closer to lifelogging, but I hope some thought has been given to privacy. Every time we enhance the sensory and storage capacity of medical devices we should also enhance user knowledge and control over the personal data these devices record.

3: Are some of the analysis algorithms running on the implanted device? Or will the analysis be run on raw sensor data on the care giver’s computer?

4: With such sophisticated features, are there software update mechanisms? If so how are they validated?

More info: Business Wire article

IMD News: New head of cardiology business at Medtronic

tshb — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:18:42 +0000

As many of my readers know, I’m fascinated by implantable medical devices. Frankly, my artistic alter-ego is a futurist, and esthetically I love the prospect of our society increasingly turning to cyborg-ism as our concept of normative health expands ever towards having the health of a younger person at an older age.

Today’s IMD news is that there is a new executive VP heading Medtronic’s cardiology section. Michael Coyle formerly of rival St. Jude Medical (which also produces pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators) will take the helm.

From the geek angle, I wonder what – if any – change this will mean in their R&D labs. Medtronic has always been a wonderful company to interact with as a researcher, they even sent a representative to this year’s new ACM workshop on health security SPIMACS. I’m hoping that the new management will continue working well with external researchers who work with their products.

More info: Press Release

Newspaper article: http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_13913830

Intel Thinks Brain Implants Could Control PCs by 2020 – Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News – FOXNews.com

tshb — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:59:30 +0000

Intel Thinks Brain Implants Could Control PCs by 2020 – Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News – FOXNews.com.

Looks like this story has legs. I first got it from a Google Alert a few days ago. Now I’m seeing it come back from the mainstream media. I can’t wait to see what is on the conspiracy theory blogs.

Needless to say: I Want One.

Dear Subscribers

tshb — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:39:37 +0000

Dear Subscribers,

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