Research demonstrates value of Amazon Echo and Google Home during medical procedures
Smart speakers that are customarily used in your living room can be programmed to act as an aid to physicians in hospital operating rooms, according to new research presented today at the Society of Interventional Radiology’s 2019 Annual Scientific Meeting. Smart speakers, such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home, offer a conversational voice interface that allows interventional radiology (IR) physicians to ask questions and retrieve information needed for their patient treatments without breaking sterile scrub.
“During treatment, IRs rely on nuanced medical information delivered in a timely manner. When you’re in the middle of a procedure, you need to remain sterile, so you lose the ability to use a computer,” said Kevin Seals, MD, a fellow in interventional radiology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and lead author of the study. “This smart speaker technology helps us to quickly and intelligently make decisions relevant to a patient’s specific needs.”
The researchers at UCSF developed a device-sizing application for the Google Home smart speaker. The application processes questions from a human voice and provides recommendations on the precise sizing of medical devices. For example, if an IR needs to know what size sheath to use to implant a stent in a patient’s blood vessel, the smart speaker can quickly and accurately communicate the correct size based on the specific circumstances, which helps the physician in making a final decision.
“There are hundreds of devices, with more being introduced every day, making it difficult to determine the correct sizing or materials needed in every circumstance. This technology allows physicians to concentrate more closely on the care of their patients, devoting less time and mental energy to device technicalities,” said Seals.
In developing the application, size specifications were acquired using literature reviews for 475 IR devices, such as catheters, sheaths, stents, vascular plugs and others. Natural language processing was implemented using Dialogflow, which extracted the information of interest from an input query. Logic operations and other data processing were performed using a Python script deployed to the cloud.
The researchers plan to continue to build on this technology and expand its scope to include information on material costs and inventory databases. Having this information readily available will make treatments more efficient, cost-effective and beneficial to patients. Further research will look to yield information for physicians in other specialties and provide information from electronic health records and patient clinical data, such as allergies or prior surgeries.
Learn more: Smart speaker technology harnessed for hospital medical treatments
The Latest on: Smart speakers
[google_news title=”” keyword=”smart speakers” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Smart speakers
- Your Sonos speaker is getting a free upgrade that’s long overdueon April 26, 2024 at 11:03 pm
Popular home audio company Sonos has majorly updated its smartphone app for iPhone and Android in a redesign that promises better personalisation, faster access to controls, and a clearer view of all ...
- Salon Creates Five-Star Audio Experience with Genelecon April 26, 2024 at 12:16 pm
Jesamondo Salon & Spa utilizes Genelec Smart IP active in-ceiling speakers to give patrons a high-end, unforgettable sonic experience.
- Top Smart Speakers with Must Have Features in Indiaon April 25, 2024 at 11:52 pm
Smart speakers have become indispensable in many homes, acting as a central point for accessing information, entertainment, and managing a variety of smart home gadgets.
- Audiophile Brand, Moondrop, Has Just Released A Smartphoneon April 25, 2024 at 1:30 pm
Moondrop, a company best known for its audio equipment, has just released its first smartphone, and audiophiles are going to love it.
- MOONDROP MIAD 01 smartphone with HiFi audio features launches globally for $399on April 25, 2024 at 11:06 am
Just a day after launching in China, the MOONDROP MIAD 01 5G smartphone with HiFi audio features has now launched worldwide. The Android-powered smartphone is available now from HiFiGo for $399. It ...
- Forget Sonos, this device can stream your vinyl records to any smart speakeron April 25, 2024 at 8:00 am
The A2D2 Stream is a relatively small box that you connect to your deck (or another analogue audio source) via its stereo phono inputs. It comes with Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity to hook it up to ...
- Top Smart Speakers for Your Smart Home: Amazon, Apple, Bose & Moreon April 24, 2024 at 1:24 pm
The best smart speakers keep you connected and stream your favorite music and podcasts The post Top Smart Speakers for Your Smart Home: Amazon, Apple, Bose & More appeared first on Reader's Digest.
- Nest revival? Google's smart speakers may be poised for a long-due refreshon April 23, 2024 at 5:12 pm
Signs of a new Nest Hub Max and Nest Audio were spotted in the Google Home app, hinting at a potential refresh for Google's smart home lineup.
- Amazon device deals: Save big on smart hubs, speakers, tablets, and moreon April 23, 2024 at 8:48 am
Amazon tech consistently ranks among some of the best gadgets you can find on the web. To help you update your smart home on a budget, Amazon is offering major savings on Reviewed-approved devices ...
- Sonos overhauls iOS controller app to simplify smart speaker streamingon April 23, 2024 at 7:16 am
Sonos is updating its mobile app, providing iPhone users with a simpler design to make streaming services through its smart speakers even easier.
via Bing News