It’s not a surprise to anyone that technology is taking over every aspect of our lives – from the smart phone in your pocket to the iRobot Roomba (which has officially changed my life – it’s magical). 
There was a recent news story dissecting an advertisement from the early 1990s displaying the latest in technological developments – including a Walkman CD player, a cell phone (in a bag, of course), a personal desktop computer, a Camcorder and a calculator. The cost of all of these items was more than $3,000. Now, all of these devices are conveniently available in one smart phone.
But, technology’s reach goes further than the consumer perspective. In the field of health care, we’re seeing an explosion of technology that could truly change the lives of millions of people. Google is leading the pack with its foray into the Google[x] Lab – the secret (or not so secret) lab in California where scientists, researchers and engineers are coming together to develop their Moonshots projects, or “those ideas so futuristic they could be taken from the pages of a science fiction novel.” As you would expect, there are a number of really cool ideas coming out of the lab, but here are a few recent examples from the health care scene:
- Google Glass with Rx Lens, which now will be covered by the insurance provider Vision Service Provider (VSP) – bringing Google Glass to the masses for a lower cost
- Contact lens allowing patients with diabetes to keep an eye on their blood sugar by testing blood glucose levels in tears
But, there’s plenty of other technology outside of the Google[x] Lab that’s bound to change the health care landscape forever, and we’re just on the cusp of it – the 3-D printing of a robotic hand that could potentially reduce the cost of prosthetics, the implantation of a tiny telescope to improve the vision of those living with macular degeneration and re-growing organs in petri dishes (like ears and bladders).
It seems like humans will have the option in the future to be nearly bionic, if we want to be! In the meantime, I’m happy enough to have the option to live like the Jetsons with my Roomba. Today’s technology is definitely for the better.
Which technological innovation could you not live without?