Frost & Sullivan's Visionary Healthcare research pinpointed technologies with potential to transform the healthcare industry by 2025, according to Forbes.
Here is a snapshot of five key technologies:
1. Quantum Computing — The healthcare industry is overwhelmed by data, and the current computing technologies will not be able to handle the growing data sets. Quantum computing, however, encompasses a larger calculation capacity. Quantum incoherence still serves as a barrier to this technology, but industry experts are working on the problem. Canadian D-Wave Systems has positioned itself as a leader in this field.
2. Artificial Intelligence — This technology surpasses a human's ability to analyze and deduce. Machine learning technology has the potential to enhance diagnoses and predictive analytics. IBM Watson is a frontrunner in this industry, with the capability to read 40 million documents in 15 seconds.
3. Robotic Care — By 2025, the healthcare industry will likely see the presence of many more robotic technologies. Robotic applications cover a wide array for purposes, from surgery assistance to supply transport to elderly patient assistance. The da Vinci Surgical System, Aethon's TUG robot and InTouch Health telepresence robots represent the leaders in the space.
4. Nanorobots — Robot applications will also take a deeper dive into the human body. This technology has the potential to enhance vitals monitoring, perform body functions and deliver drugs.
5. Cyborgization — Keeping in line with the robotic trend, 2025 may also see human bodies transformed into partial robots. That is, building on technologies already available today, such as limb or organ replacements. About 30,000 to 50,000 people have been implanted with radiofrequency identification chips. Current research is particularly interested in the artificial pancreas.
Read about other transforming technologies here.