MedTech IoT Products Prove the Critics Wrong

A popular criticism of the Internet of things (IoT) is that it’s “just not necessary.” (Neither are running water or air travel, but I digress.) Given the poor execution and poorly thought-out market targeting of early IoT devices, it’s no surprise that consumers and critics feel this way. Yes, a cloud-connected toaster is silly and probably more trouble than it’s worth. Cloud connected lights? Well, that could be good if the implementation was easier — but it still leaves something to be desired for users and IoT app developers.

The problem with these examples of IoT “solutions” is that the problem they solve is not that pressing. The problem with IoT isn’t that connected devices are dumb — the problem with IoT is that app developers have been focussing on household use cases that are low-priority when it comes to saving time and making life easier for potential users. Even the Nest home temperature device/system has been slow to take off, and that’s probably the most “useful” money and time-saving concept currently on the market for household IoT devices.

The solution: IoT app developers need to be looking at areas where the current way of doing things has worse consequences than simply forgetting to turn off a light, or having to manually adjust the thermostat when you leave for work. There’s a market for mobile products that meets all these qualifications. That market is MedTech.

For an example of how cloud-connected IoT MedTech devices can solve real, pressing problems, look no further than Pixie scientific, a company that manufactures cloud-connected diapers. Sure, the idea of “cloud connected diapers” sounds like a joke, but it solves a real problem. Alzheimer’s patients frequently loose control of their bladder as well as the mental sharpness needed to realize they have urinary tract infections. Cloud-connected diapers from this startup detect UTIs before they reach the bladder and land patients in the emergency room, allowing simple at-home treatment instead of expensive, repeated hospital visits (not to mention days of agony for already suffering patients).

When IoT app developers take a break from cloud toasters to solve real problems for suffering patients, San Francisco iOS app developers will finally see the Internet of things we always dreamed of.