Beyond Wearables
Your Entire Home Becomes Your Health Monitor
Imagine waking up in a home that's not just smart, with a state-of art-diagnosis pod in the bathroom but also your personal health guardian. Welcome to my near future(s) forecast, where your entire living space is a sophisticated health monitoring and diagnostic center.
Let's peek into a day in this not-so-distant future... A Day in the Life of a Health-Smart Home
# 6:30 AM: Smart Wake-Up Call Your smart bed gently wakes you, having monitored your sleep cycles for optimal rest. As you step onto your smart floor, it analyzes your gait, detecting any irregularities that might indicate balance issues or early signs of neurological conditions.
# 7:00 AM: Bathroom Health Check In the bathroom, your routine becomes a comprehensive health scan: 1) Your smart toilet analyzes your waste, checking for early signs of digestive issues or even potential cancers. 2) The smart mirror scans your face, detecting subtle changes in your skin that might indicate stress or underlying health conditions. 3) Your toothbrush analyzes your saliva, providing real-time data on your oral health and hydration levels.
# 8:00 AM: Breakfast with a Side of Health Data As you prepare breakfast, your home listens. Advanced vocal biomarker technology, integrated into your smart home system, analyzes your morning conversation and coughs, detecting any changes that might indicate respiratory issues or even early signs of heart disease.
# 12:00 PM: Lunchtime Check-In During your video call with a friend, your smart display subtly scans your retina, checking for signs of diabetes or hypertension. Meanwhile, the chair you're sitting on measures your weight and posture, updating your health profile in real-time.
# 3:00 PM: Quick Afternoon Scan Feeling a bit off, you step into your home's medical nook. Here, a compact MRI machine - no larger than a shower stall - performs a quick, targeted scan. The AI-powered system immediately analyzes the results, scheduling a telemedicine appointment if anything concerning is detected.
# 7:00 PM: Evening Wind-Down As you relax in the evening, a wearable ultrasound patch monitors your heart activity. If it detects any irregularities, it can perform a more detailed scan, rivaling the quality of hospital equipment.
# 10:00 PM: Nightly Health Summary Before bed, your home's AI assistant provides a summary of your day's health data, offering personalized recommendations for tomorrow. It might suggest dietary changes based on your nutrient levels or recommend exercises tailored to your current physical condition.
The Future is Closer Than You Think
This scenario isn't science fiction - it's based on technologies that are either already here or in advanced development stages. From smart floors, toilets and mirrors to miniaturized MRI machines and observant AI-powered health assistants, our homes are on the brink of becoming our first line of defense against health issues. Check out some real-time and future(s) pointing examples at my Keeping an Eye on Signals Page here. Stay tuned for more insights and be well.