Five new technologies from the 2015 Connected Health Symposium

The Internet of "Healthy" Things.  The Internet of Things (IoT) has provided material for many markets, so the acronym begs for reuse and recycle. Consider the Internet of Caring Things, (gadgets that note worrisome changes in wellbeing). Then there’s the Internet of Everyday Things (think vacuuming and thermostats), the Internet of Transportation Things (that's cars and truck stuff), the Internet of Medical Things (old term: Health IT), etc. The 2015 Connected Health Symposium was sponsored by Boston’s sprawling care delivery system, Partners Healthcare. So last week's IoT boomlet was sub-titled: The Internet of Healthy Things, and included improving patient digital experience through 'better understanding of their emotions' through the use of facial, voice, and other indicators.

No surprise, there were plenty of doctors, and former-doctors-now-entrepreneurs. And of course, there were the B2B companies that partner (or wish they could) with the giant health system. So here are five new companies, not previously covered on this site, from the 2015 Symposium. The material is from the new companies' websites:

• Affectiva.  "We understand the importance of emotions in every aspect of life. It shapes our experiences, our interactions and our decisions. In an increasingly technology-driven world, emotion is either absent or oversimplified. Our mission is to digitize emotion, so it can enrich our technology, for work, play and life. Adding the emotion layer to digital experiences enriches these interactions and communications." Learn more at Affectiva.com.

• Empatica Embrace. "Our first model, E3, is the most comfortable and accurate bracelet to monitor physiological signals in real time. It is used today by many of the world’s most famous hospitals, universities, and companies to study human behavior in real life. We recently introduced the new version, the E4. We are completing the process for the E4 to receive clearance as a Medical device in Europe, and we are planning to do the same with FDA in the US. We also are preparing this for Embrace. We are very researcher-friendly and also provide open APIs, so that you can build whatever app you want, while we take care of the difficult parts." Not yet in market, learn more at  Empatica Embrace.

• iGetBetter.  Perhaps more appropriately titled, 'youGetBetter', this is a“digital health company that specializes in the delivery of standardized care plans for high-risk procedures and interventions for patients transitioning from hospital to home.  iGetBetter care plans are 100% customizable allowing the clinician to assign a given care plan to large patient groups or meet the specific needs of an individual patient. Patients follow care guidelines via online and mobile devices providing feedback by answering questions and collecting biometric data through connected devices. With iGetBetter clinicians have access to real-time, actionable data allowing for early intervention and reduced 30-day hospital readmissions." Learn more at iGetBetter.

• Quell Wearable Pain Relief. "Quell’s patented, 100% drug free OptiTherapy™ technology automatically adjusts stimulation intensity to ensure you receive maximum relief. It even senses when you are sleeping and adjusts to a gentler mode so you can rest peacefully. Quell is more than just innovative technology. Every aspect of the product is designed for wearability and comfort. Quell’s slim, lightweight design ensures that it is as discreet as it is powerful." Learn more at Quellrelief.

• ZynxCarebook™.  "A mobile app used by healthcare providers to deliver better coordinated care that is patient-centered, evidence-based, and HIPAA-compliant. Healthcare delivery is typically episodic and the collaboration between inpatient and aftercare providers is tenuous at best. Even within a single location it is often difficult to identify the members of a patient’s care team and/or quickly view a patient’s status. As the healthcare system transitions to a value-based model it is increasingly important that caregivers efficiently work together to guide patients to the best possible outcomes."  Learn more at Zynxhealth.