Could a Virtual Nurse or Doctor Be Your Future Facebook Best Friend?

Microsoft and their partner Intel have an understandable interest in promoting new computing fields. So the recent reference to a Jetsons-style future with a virtual personal assistant, named Laura, coming out of Microsoft makes sense – Laura can tailor responses and decisions to your personal situation and visual presentation.

 

The challenge for Laura gaining a significant following in the long run may be the number of people any of us can have a meaningful relationship with. As estimated by the Anthropologist Robin Dunbar, humans can have about 150 connections in a stable social network. Recent analysis of Facebook data by Cameron Marlow reinforces the hypothesis, along with the observation that the number of friends a person frequently interacts with is typically quite small. At the upper end, when you go much beyond the 150, the cognitive limits of our species become a constraint. Now all this is far from precise, but the main point is that we do have limits, and preferences among possible types of friends. So what kind of person might make the list?

 

How about one that knows your health history, routine behaviors, and likes and dislikes. One who you can trust unconditionally, who could give you advice about how you could make your life more fulfilling, more healthful? In short, how about someone with the qualities that we often wish our nurses and doctors had? Could Laura be your future doctor or nurse and make it into your Dunbar 150? Might Laura be your best friend in 2020?

Comments

[Timothy Simard]

The exploration of a RIA (rich internet app) experience and game techniques in particular as it can be applied to healthcare is a great example of cross-pollenating innovation. It illustrates how we have to make technology more engaging in general as well and where we have to go as innovators and entrepreneurs - so my thanks.
The challenge, we believe with avatars and telemedicine/telehealth in general remains one of human nature and a need for a sense of caring and socialization. What we refer to as the affinity quotient between a nurse/healthcare provider and a patient and then how to achieve that efficiently and effectively. The affinity quotient can be used to determine the potential quality and success of the relationship between the nurse/healthcare provider and the patient and thus improve the patient outcome as well as lower costs. This aspect also applies to the degree the nurse/healthcare provider will be equally satisfied in the relationship and role as well. Thus, we're working on a win-win-win technology solution for patient, nurse and all stakeholders- with a particular enablement on nurses working anywhere they live; at anytime they want to.

Thank you and keep up the good work.

Sincerely,
Tim Simard
CEO
Anthurium Solutions

[medical billing software]

I would prefer to only know my doctors in the office.

medical billing software

[Penny]

I think we still need to see our doctors at the office. Some things cannot be done by technology alone.