A new Google-branded hardware device for home entertainment will connect to other home electronics. Might they include medical devices? Also, Verizon joins with Health Evolution Partners.

Google Entertainment Device Will Connect to Other Home Electronics

The entertainment device will be designed first for streaming music via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and to connect to other home electronics. Release is expected later this year, and the device would stream music from Google’s online Music service, which was introduced in beta last year.
PC World

Verizon Partnership Will Advance Health IT

Healthcare IT investor Health Evolution Partners and Verizon Enterprise Solutions are collaborating to foster innovation in mobile health, telemedicine and health data management. The partnership, which both companies announced Feb. 6, will leverage Verizon's IT infrastructure to spur innovation in the 100 health care IT companies that Health Evolution Partners invests in.
eWeek.com

How Health Insurers are Using Mobile Apps

Insurance companies have long sent out glossy health magazines to members, beefed up websites with wellness information, and offered classes on everything from weight loss to asthma management to urge members to make healthy lifestyle changes and take charge of chronic conditions.

Insurers now plan to expand on these wellness initiatives by targeting members more directly through smartphones and tablets. As a result of fostering well-being and efficiency, insurers could help lower the burden on the healthcare system and save money.
Forbes

Physicians Say iPad Has Bright Future in Medicine But Isn't Ready for Clinical Use

One barrier to clinical use of iPads today is the attitude of hospitals. "Seventy-five percent of physicians interviewed reported that hospital IT [staff] was resistant to supporting personal mobile devices on the corporate network," [according to a release from Spyglass Consulting Group]. "Hospital IT believes personal devices are insecure, less reliable, and more expensive to deploy, support and maintain than desktop computers."
Information Week

 Health Hack Day Scheduled for May in Stockholm

The event aims to make developers aware of the many opportunities in creating apps for the healthcare market. It will take place on 18–20 May 2012 ... The event will bring together hackers, designers, healthcare professionals and researchers who will have 24 hours to build a prototype for an app or a hardware hack that can help users manage their health.
medtechinsider

—Jamie Hartford

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