Boston, MA (PRWEB) May 15, 2006
Today, Ambient Devices announced three partnerships with healthcare companies, which expand the usefulness of its magically simple Ambient Orb. These relationships provide new rich streams of data to make the versatile Orb able to track personal activity, the state of remote loved ones, or medication adherence.
As the baby boomers age, there is an exploding market for home health solutions. More than 90 million Americans suffer from chronic diseases which account for over 60% of this nation’s $3.1 trillion in medical care costs. New home-based technologies can sense biometric trends, exercise habits and medication compliance. And now, with Ambient Devices, people don’t even need a PC to use this data. Home health monitoring becomes simple, consumer-centered and effortless.
In a co-marketing arrangement, Living Independently Group, Inc uses the Ambient Orb to make condition notifications for the QuietCare® system. QuietCare® is an early detection and early warning system that provides caregivers with 24/7 information and alerts about the safety and well-being of elderly or other at-risk individuals, while maintaining their privacy. This system uses discreet wireless activity sensors that are positioned throughout a person’s residence to learn his/her normal pattern of daily living such as meal preparation, interaction with medications and bathroom use, as well as the person’s morning wake-up time and overall activity. The system remotely identifies potential medical emergencies and automatically alerts caregivers to these situations, thereby permitting them to provide early intervention. QuietCare is currently used by institutions that care for the elderly, such as assisted and independent living facilities, homecare agencies, hospitals, and HMO’s, as well as to individuals in their homes. The Ambient Orb’s color is tuned to the status of your mother or father. For example if the Orb is green everything is fine, if it’s yellow you may want to call and check in, if it’s red something needs your attention.
A second partnership announced today with Clinical Technology Advisors focuses on medication compliance. There are over 100 medications with over $1B in revenues and compliance numbers below 50%. An electronic medication container called SIMpill sends a wireless message when opened, and the Orb changes color to reflect the current state of compliance. When medication is overdue, the orb glows red; when medication is taken, the orb changes to green. This innovative use of real-time feedback can result in changed patient behavior, leading to improved adherence and health outcomes. A clinical trial, led by Partners Telemedicine is quantifying the behavioral change effects of this application and the resulting health outcomes.
Finally, Ambient Devices has partnered with FitSense and its ActiHealth network, which delivers personal health monitoring and feedback tools to providers of health & wellness programs and their members. ActiHealth’s wireless body sensors automatically collect and transport a member’s physiological data for physical activity, weight, body fat, blood glucose, heart rate and blood pressure. With two thirds of the US population overweight, many people are trying to lose those extra pounds, but have little sense that they are just not active enough. The FitSense ActiPed, a miniature activity meter attached to a shoe, tracks a person’s daily steps & calorie burn, and then sends the information automatically to the Ambient Orb. You know when the Orb is green that you’re on track with your goals, but if it’s yellow or orange, you’ll need to keep moving.
In general, there are two factors that make the Ambient Orb so attractive to customers. First is that it’s incredibly easy to set-up and use. Just plug it into a power outlet, like a lamp, and it starts receiving and displaying data. Secondly, the constant awareness of information is motivational. This simple object acts a behavioral feedback loop. The Orb owner notices the color hundreds of times per day, often only in their peripheral vision. Continuous feedback subtly works on the subconscious encouraging behavior without being perceived as intrusive.
According to Ambient’s founder, David Rose, “Relationships with home-health data-providers like Living Independently/ADT, SimPill, and FitSense exponentially increase the value of Ambient’s information-display products. With these partners we hope to offer the easiest way to help people age in place, care for a remote loved one, remain active, and consistently take important medications.”
About Ambient
Ambient’s mission is to make online information as easy to check as the time. Ambient is the pioneer and leader in delivering actionable and relevant online information through glanceable devices supported by its low-cost wireless bit-trickling applications. Founded in 2001 out of MIT’s Media Lab, and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Ambient Devices has already achieved profitability, having sold over 50,000 units. In 2003, the company launched the best-selling Ambient Orb, named in the NY Times Magazines "Year in Ideas." Ambient's vision is to embed information in everyday objects, making the physical environment an interface to digital information. Colors glow to indicate energy pricing, analog meters reflect the movement of the stock market, a post-it-note shows you commute congestion, and on rainy days your umbrella lights up so you know to take it with you. The Ambient Information Network powers embedded wireless applications for companies in consumer electronics, transportation, energy, health and wellness, and whitegoods. For more information on Ambient, visit http://www.ambientdevices.com. To purchase products, call: (617) 758-4126 or (866) 311-1999 (toll free).
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