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Robots and Haptics and Bandwidth … Oh My!

Earlier this month, I explained how the convergence of sensor technology and robotics will soon lead to more capable household robots. In keeping with this theme of convergence, I’d now like to outline another exciting possibility—long-distance tele-surgery.

It will happen as a result of four different technologies—robotics, flexible electronics, haptic technology and Internet2. For starters, companies such as Intuitive Surgical and MAKO Surgical are already using robotics to conduct prostatectomies and knee surgeries. Both companies, however, intend to employ haptic feedback to allow surgeons to better “feel” where these robotic devices are inside the body—when performing surgery. And haptic technology, as this article on foldable, stretchable circuits explains, will only improve as flexible electronics are incorporated directly into latex surgical gloves.

If you then throw into this mix the extraordinary amount of bandwidth that Internet2 and next-generation advances in wireless and fiber optic technology promise to bring to the Internet, the prospect of conducting some surgeries for afar suddenly becomes more feasible. (I discussed this idea briefly in this article last year.)

And if you want a slightly longer view on where all of this is headed watch this video of Boston Dynamics BigDog robot and it is not difficult to image a robot running to the aid of a soldier wounded on the battlefield or rushing to the aid of a person injured in a car accident on some remote rural highway and allowing a surgeon to conduct an emergency operation from the anywhere in the world.

Interested in Jack’s other thoughts about the future of health care? Check out these related posts:

The Future is About to Get Personal
The Coming Health Care Revolution
Visualize the Future of Health Care
Be Still My Virtual Heart
The Future of Health Care: Part 2
The Future of Health Care
Why the Health Care Sector Should Give a Rat’s Ass
Mayo Clinic Has Got Some Game
Hospitals Need to Get Plastered
Reality Stems Stem Cell Breakthrough
The Future of Organ Sales

Jack Uldrich is a writer, futurist, public speaker and host of jumpthecurve.net. He is the author of seven books, including Jump the Curve and The Next Big Thing is Really Small: How Nanotechnology Will Change the Future of Your Business. He is also a frequent speaker on future technology and future trends, nanotechnology, innovation, change management and executive leadership to a variety of businesses, industries and non-profit organizations and trade associations.

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