[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":312},["ShallowReactive",2],{"slug-kid-will-play-friends-learn-vr-teachers":3},{"post":4,"relatedPosts":189,"relatedBooks":311},{"id":5,"date":6,"date_gmt":7,"guid":8,"modified":10,"modified_gmt":11,"slug":12,"status":13,"type":14,"link":15,"title":16,"content":18,"excerpt":21,"author":23,"featured_media":24,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":29,"categories":30,"tags":32,"project_category":47,"contact_email_category":48,"yst_prominent_words":49,"class_list":64,"better_featured_image":86,"acf":124,"yoast_meta":133,"_links":136},16063,"2017-07-26T17:17:06","2017-07-26T15:17:06",{"rendered":9},"http:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?p=16063","2022-05-10T14:30:46","2022-05-10T12:30:46","kid-will-play-friends-learn-vr-teachers","publish","post","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fkid-will-play-friends-learn-vr-teachers",{"rendered":17},"Your Kid Will Play With A.I. Friends And Learn From VR Teachers",{"rendered":19,"protected":20},"\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2017. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Kids of the future will have artificial buddies, virtual reality teachers or robot nannies. Digital technologies are radically transforming the relationship between children. As I have a daughter, I decided to map how our future – mine as a father and hers – and the future of parenting could look like in the light of new innovations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003C!--more-->\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Digital technologies change social relations\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Disruptive technologies are shaping the way we work, we eat, we do shopping or find information. It changes healthcare under the transformation called digital health. Not only the access to and delivery of care, but also the doctor-patient relationship. Namely, it alters the quality of a social linkage which was relatively stable for centuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Why would that be different in the most important area of our lives, the family? The rapid swirls of technology started to change the relationship between grandparents, parents, and children. For a while in the past centuries, knowledge about how to survive in the world went down from generation to generation. And while the youth revolted against their adults as part of growing up, the basics of their experiences remained untouched. What having a job, having a family and friends or living in a community meant. Digital technologies change these social experiences profoundly. While your grandparents probably taught your parents how to read maps for finding their way out in cities, you use digital maps. And you are the one showing your parents how to do that on their iPhones. It is the same for taking photos, applying for jobs or chatting with friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fyoung-mother-taking-a-selfie-with-her-baby.jpg\" alt=\"Future of Parenting\" class=\"wp-image-16067\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fyoung-mother-taking-a-selfie-with-her-baby.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fyoung-mother-taking-a-selfie-with-her-baby-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fyoung-mother-taking-a-selfie-with-her-baby-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fyoung-mother-taking-a-selfie-with-her-baby-375x250.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Digital natives on the rise\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The number of young adults and kids who were born surrounded by digital environments or are using digital technology for 5 years or more already – the definition of \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.un.org\u002Fyouthenvoy\u002Finformation-communication-technology\u002F\">digital natives by ITU\u003C\u002Fa> – is growing exponentially. In 2013\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.itu.int\u002Fen\u002FITU-D\u002FStatistics\u002FDocuments\u002Fpublications\u002Fmis2013\u002FMIS2013_infographics_3.pdf\">, ITU estimated\u003C\u002Fa> that 30 per cent of the world’s youth, meaning 363 million people were digital natives. They suggested that over the next five years, the number of digital natives will more than double. Behind the soaring number stands the decrease in the price coupled with the geographical extension of digital technologies as well as the drop in the age of users. In the most wired areas, it is not strange to see small children watching the same cartoon on their parents’ laptop or tablet repeatedly for hours or taking silly photos of snails with smartphones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And this is only the beginning. Imagine your kids immersing themselves into VR worlds (just as pictured below), having AI friends or artificial teachers while robot nannies supervise them. As transformative digital technologies are at our doorsteps, current and future parents should familiarize themselves with the latest digital tech aimed at kids and try to prepare for its impact. It is really difficult since children growing up with technologies take them for granted; while some parents being “digital immigrants” still remember the time when portable, WIFI-enabled technology was not available 24\u002F7. Parents need to teach their kids how to survive in the digital as well as the real world in the future; how to find the balance between the analog and the digital as well as the real and the virtual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"489\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fartphetamin_tmf_illustration_childrensroom_v2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16102\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fartphetamin_tmf_illustration_childrensroom_v2.png 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fartphetamin_tmf_illustration_childrensroom_v2-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fartphetamin_tmf_illustration_childrensroom_v2-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fartphetamin_tmf_illustration_childrensroom_v2-512x288.png 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fartphetamin_tmf_illustration_childrensroom_v2-444x250.png 444w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Current digital technologies for parenting\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Today’s digital kids are raised by digital parents. There is as much information available online as many selfies are taken by tourists in Venice in a year. Parents are powered by social communities and Google to find answers to their questions. In the future, various \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fchatbots-health-assistants\u002F\">healthcare chatbots\u003C\u002Fa> will also support them in finding the appropriate drug or the easiest solution to a simple health problem. Although chatbots will not substitute primary care, it will diagnose the easiest symptoms and direct to the GP if necessary. This way, digital health assistants will also take some burden off the shoulders of physicians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Freaked out wannabe-parents can also prepare for their future babies with baby simulators. A company called \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.realityworks.com\u002F\">Realityworks\u003C\u002Fa> is the leader of the “sim baby” market manufacturing \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.realityworks.com\u002Fproducts\u002Frealcare-baby\">RealCare Baby 3\u003C\u002Fa>. It is an infant doll that cries, makes demands of its caregiver, uses GPS and sensors to identify when a baby is not being treated right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"582\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Frealcare-babies.jpg\" alt=\"RealCare Babies - Future of Parenting\" class=\"wp-image-16066\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Frealcare-babies.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Frealcare-babies-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Frealcare-babies-512x343.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Frealcare-babies-374x250.jpg 374w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Advanced baby simulators could help future parents prepare for parenthood, even though the experience never replaces the real one. A \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fedition.cnn.com\u002F2016\u002F08\u002F30\u002Fhealth\u002Fbaby-simulator-teenage-pregnancy\u002Findex.html\">study actually showed\u003C\u002Fa> that unwanted pregnancies may not be prevented with their help. I expect virtual reality to lead to a leap in this area as the experience there is much different to what the simple hardware of baby sims can provide. Parents could use VR devices to go through scenarios about how they would react to situations with kids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Data for raising healthy kids and the risk of constant monitoring\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Digital technologies not only allow to know more and more about the world around us but also ourselves and our loved ones. Trackers, wearables, and sensors gathering data about a person’s every biological aspect of life are on the rise. Around a \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.wareable.com\u002Fwearable-tech\u002F245-million-wearable-devices-sold-2019-1606\">hundred million\u003C\u002Fa> wearable units to measure health parameters were sold in 2015. It is predicted that 245 million wearable devices will be sold in 2019. There are already tens of millions of wearable sensors and healthcare gadgets in the pockets of people worldwide – and many of them targeting parents and children. From \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fhealth-trackers-are-changing-the-experience-of-pregnancy\u002F\">sensors during pregnancy through baby monitors\u003C\u002Fa> until fitness trackers for kids, the scale of digital health devices for the family is widening. And the trend will continue in the future. As such data can be used to ensure the development of a healthy child in a safe environment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"615\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fbaby-monitors.jpg\" alt=\"Baby Monitors - Future of Parenting\" class=\"wp-image-16068\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fbaby-monitors.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fbaby-monitors-768x543.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fbaby-monitors-512x362.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fbaby-monitors-354x250.jpg 354w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, data and digital devices should not be overused. For example, in the case of parents trying to know more about the whereabouts of their beloved kids through tracking technologies such as mSpy, Teen Safe, Family Tracker. A \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.pewinternet.org\u002F2016\u002F01\u002F07\u002Fparents-teens-and-digital-monitoring\u002F\">Pew Research Center survey\u003C\u002Fa> of adults with children 13 to 17 years old published this year found that 61 per cent of parents checked the websites that their teenagers visited; 60 per cent visited their social media accounts and 48 per cent looked through their phone calls and messages. The portion that tracked their teenagers’ whereabouts through their smartphones was 16 per cent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2016\u002F11\u002F10\u002Fstyle\u002Ffamily-digital-surveillance-tracking-smartphones.html\">piece\u003C\u002Fa> in The New York Times, Mary Madden, a researcher at \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fdatasociety.net\u002F\">Data & Society\u003C\u002Fa>, a non-profit research organization, said that \u003Cem>we’re moving closer to a world in which parental surveillance becomes opt out instead of opt in. \u003C\u002Fem>I completely agree with this notion, and while I see the logistical and health&safety benefits of knowing kids’ whereabouts, parents \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fnautil.us\u002Fissue\u002F35\u002Fboundaries\u002Fparents-shouldnt-spy-on-their-kids\">should restrict themselves from turning into the FBI and stalking their children\u003C\u002Fa>. It would create an unhealthy family dynamic and would not help kids developing into healthy, independent and successful adults.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"490\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fparental-control.jpg\" alt=\"Parental Control - Future of Parenting\" class=\"wp-image-16071\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fparental-control.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fparental-control-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fparental-control-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fparental-control-512x288.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fparental-control-444x250.jpg 444w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Artificial buddies are coming\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Looking more ahead in the future, the use of VR, AR, artificial intelligence and robotics seems to be inevitable in raising children. No matter whether it is about babysitting, education or play-time, digital technologies have the capacity to completely reshape the experience of being a child and a parent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Sim babies mentioned above are ancient toys compared to what advanced toys are becoming available. New York-based Elemental Path, for example, develops Cognitoys, dinosaur-shaped toys kids can have a discussion with. It teaches them how to count, how to create stories together (!), remember colors and more. They can sing or play games and they also have amazingly bad word-wits. Toys that use artificial intelligence will become real friends with kids. It must be frightening to some parents now but I expect that my new-born daughter will have real and A.I. friends by the time she becomes a teenager. Seeing how fast A.I. is developing makes me think this is quite inevitable. If for the first time, you have a conversation with an A.I. driven chatbot, you understand how hard it is to distinguish between real and artificial personalities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fcognitoys_dino.jpg\" alt=\"CogniToys - Future of Parenting\" class=\"wp-image-16072\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fcognitoys_dino.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fcognitoys_dino-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fcognitoys_dino-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fcognitoys_dino-375x250.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Are virtual teachers the future?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While the development of augmented reality (AR) still seems to be in its infancy, its counterpart, virtual reality (VR) is getting mainstream. As VR devices become affordable, and content developed for those becomes immersive and engaging, kids will switch to VR from their smartphones or use the two interchangeably. The experience of playing a game in VR is so unique, I cannot imagine kids staying away from those gadgets. Moreover, VR is not only about games but also about educational apps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, parents should consider that VR for their kids will be as television or VHS was for them back then in their childhood. Just another playground and entertainment source. Parents should familiarize themselves with VR and what effects they could have on them. Then they should draw the line for their children based on their experiences. The kids of the future should learn how to distinguish between the real and the virtual, while benefit from the achievements of technologies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"593\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fvr-kids.jpg\" alt=\"VR Kids - Future of Parenting\" class=\"wp-image-16074\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fvr-kids.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fvr-kids-768x523.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fvr-kids-512x349.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fvr-kids-367x250.jpg 367w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Would you let robot nannies watch your child?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Robot babysitters \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.com\u002F2008\u002F12\u002Fbabysittingrobo\u002F\">have been around on the market for almost ten years\u003C\u002Fa>, not to speak about the machine-nannies known from science-fiction novels, thus the idea is far from new. For example, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.ipalrobot.com\u002F\">Avatarmind brings you the iPal\u003C\u002Fa> – a robot companion looking like the 3D-version of the Teletubbies. The company’s founder, Jiping Wang, told \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ftechnology\u002F2016\u002Fsep\u002F29\u002Fipal-robot-childcare-robobusiness-san-jose\">The Guardian\u003C\u002Fa>, that the small robot for companionship could keep children aged three to eight occupied for “a couple of hours” without adult supervision. In the future, these robots coupled with A.I. could take over human tasks, such as babysitting. Parents could interact with robotic companions from a distance and make sure the kids are safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Last year, the iPal was already in production in China. Furthermore, Avatarmind promised it to introduce in the United States in 2017. Many believe that it cannot and should not replace human childcare as robots neither have the empathy nor the sensitivity for taking care of kids. Yet, how is it worse than handing your kid a tablet to watch cartoons for hours? I believe we should have more debate about the issue and incorporate technology into the family’s life consciously and only to the extent which creates a healthy environment for every member.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Frobot-nanny.jpeg\" alt=\"Robot Nanny - Future of Parenting\" class=\"wp-image-16073\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Frobot-nanny.jpeg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Frobot-nanny-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Frobot-nanny-512x341.jpeg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Frobot-nanny-375x250.jpeg 375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>All-in-all, I believe that kids of the future will have relationships with A.I. friends they highly value. They will have to learn to respect robots as much as animals. (The way we treat other beings reflect upon our inner values, that’s why.) They won’t need the motivation to exercise and live a healthy life. That’s going to be the standard way of life – reached with the help of wearables, trackers and health sensors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While in my childhood, I had to find a balance between playing video games indoors and playing with other kids outdoors, my 6-months-old daughter will have to find a balance between spending time with technologies and real people. Yet, the proper response is not to get scared and expel technology from our lives but contemplate about it; discuss it and incorporate it into our common future consciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fthemedicalfuturist.us8.list-manage.com\u002Fsubscribe?u=5b42ebb547c75ff669a6572d3&id=efd6a3cd08\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.google.com\u002Furl?q=https:\u002F\u002Fthemedicalfuturist.us8.list-manage.com\u002Fsubscribe?u%3D5b42ebb547c75ff669a6572d3%26id%3Defd6a3cd08&source=gmail&ust=1534355444917000&usg=AFQjCNH9L0BP3FQtAahXcvw9Dg9JLtyZDw\">\u003Cb>Subscribe To The Medical Futurist℠ Newsletter\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\u003Cli>News shaping the future of healthcare\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Advice on taking charge of your health\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Reviews of the latest health technology\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",false,{"rendered":22,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>Kids of the future will have artificial buddies, virtual reality teachers or robot nannies. Digital technologies are radically transforming the relationship between children. As I have a daughter, I decided to map how our future – mine as a father and hers – and the future of parenting could look like in the light of new innovations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",6,16080,"closed",true,"","standard",{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[31],511,[33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46],377,410,425,450,517,144,527,206,573,207,715,246,716,289,[],[],[50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63],1617,5619,1681,5645,1721,1725,1729,1737,1853,1883,2017,2411,1571,2413,[65,14,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85],"post-16063","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bioethics","tag-robotics-2","tag-social-media","tag-technology-2","tag-vr","tag-gc1","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-ar","tag-digital","tag-kids","tag-digital-health","tag-parenting","tag-future","tag-children","tag-innovation",{"id":24,"alt_text":87,"caption":27,"description":27,"media_type":88,"media_details":89,"post":5,"source_url":123},"Future of Parenting","image",{"width":90,"height":91,"file":92,"sizes":93,"image_meta":120},870,488,"2017\u002F07\u002Fdigital-kids.jpg",{"medium":94,"large":100,"thumbnail":105,"medium_large":109,"large_old_512x287":110,"medium_old_445x250":115},{"file":95,"width":96,"height":97,"mime-type":98,"source_url":99},"digital-kids-370x208.jpg",370,208,"image\u002Fjpeg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fdigital-kids-370x208.jpg",{"file":101,"width":102,"height":103,"mime-type":98,"source_url":104},"digital-kids-768x431.jpg",768,431,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fdigital-kids-768x431.jpg",{"file":106,"width":107,"height":107,"mime-type":98,"source_url":108},"digital-kids-150x150.jpg",150,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fdigital-kids-150x150.jpg",{"file":101,"width":102,"height":103,"mime-type":98,"source_url":104},{"file":111,"width":112,"height":113,"mime-type":98,"source_url":114},"digital-kids-512x287.jpg",512,287,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fdigital-kids-512x287.jpg",{"file":116,"width":117,"height":118,"mime-type":98,"source_url":119},"digital-kids-445x250.jpg",445,250,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fdigital-kids-445x250.jpg",{"aperture":121,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":121,"copyright":27,"focal_length":121,"iso":121,"shutter_speed":121,"title":27,"orientation":121,"keywords":122},"0",[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2017\u002F07\u002Fdigital-kids.jpg",{"related_posts":125,"related_posts_footer":129,"cta_type":27,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_books":20},[126,127,128],17741,21349,17884,[130,131,132],17701,16355,13296,{"yoast_wpseo_title":134,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":135,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":15},"The Future of Parenting: Your Kid Will Play With A.I. Friends And Learn From VR Teachers","The Future of Parenting: artificial buddies, virtual reality teachers, robot nannies, data for raising healthy kids and the risk of constant monitoring.",{"self":137,"collection":143,"about":146,"author":149,"replies":152,"version-history":155,"predecessor-version":159,"wp:featuredmedia":163,"wp:attachment":166,"wp:term":169,"curies":185},[138],{"href":139,"targetHints":140},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F16063",{"allow":141},[142],"GET",[144],{"href":145},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts",[147],{"href":148},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fpost",[150],{"embeddable":26,"href":151},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F6",[153],{"embeddable":26,"href":154},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=16063",[156],{"count":157,"href":158},19,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F16063\u002Frevisions",[160],{"id":161,"href":162},44807,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F16063\u002Frevisions\u002F44807",[164],{"embeddable":26,"href":165},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F16080",[167],{"href":168},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=16063",[170,173,176,179,182],{"taxonomy":171,"embeddable":26,"href":172},"category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=16063",{"taxonomy":174,"embeddable":26,"href":175},"post_tag","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=16063",{"taxonomy":177,"embeddable":26,"href":178},"project_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=16063",{"taxonomy":180,"embeddable":26,"href":181},"contact_email_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=16063",{"taxonomy":183,"embeddable":26,"href":184},"yst_prominent_words","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=16063",[186],{"name":187,"href":188,"templated":26},"wp","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.w.org\u002F{rel}",[190],{"id":132,"date":191,"date_gmt":192,"guid":193,"modified":195,"modified_gmt":196,"slug":197,"status":13,"type":14,"link":198,"title":199,"content":201,"excerpt":203,"author":23,"featured_media":205,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":20,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":206,"categories":207,"tags":211,"project_category":217,"contact_email_category":218,"yst_prominent_words":219,"class_list":226,"better_featured_image":237,"acf":265,"yoast_meta":266,"_links":269},"2016-06-23T17:00:46","2016-06-23T15:00:46",{"rendered":194},"http:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?p=13296","2021-12-06T00:55:15","2021-12-05T23:55:15","5-jaw-drapping-stories-of-digital-health-technology-saving-lives","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F5-jaw-drapping-stories-of-digital-health-technology-saving-lives",{"rendered":200},"5 Heart-Warming Stories of Digital Health Saving Lives",{"rendered":202,"protected":20},"\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\"> \u003Ctbody> \u003Ctr> \u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"> \u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2016. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp> \u003C\u002Ftd> \u003C\u002Ftr> \u003C\u002Ftbody> \u003C\u002Ftable> \u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>There are truly heartwarming stories of digital health technology saving lives or helping patients live better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003C!--more-->\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The rapid development of digital health technology has resulted in scores of awesome gadgets and cool devices. It’s hard to grasp how transformative they are until you look beyond the shiny chips and lines of code. Time to fill your hearts with hope towards the future of medicine. Here are the five most inspiring and jaw dropping stories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>1) 3D-Printed Heart Saves the Life of a Nine-Month-Old Baby\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The nine-month-old baby was born with a fatal heart defect in China. He was suffering from a rare condition extremely difficult to repair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>„The little boy was taken to hospital in a critical condition due to heart failure and severe pneumonia. He was so young and small, and needed treatment immediately. His chances of dying before his first birthday would have been as high as 80 per cent, if treatment had been delayed” – \u003C\u002Fem>said the baby’s surgeon, Zhang Xueqin, the director of the paediatric cardiac surgery center at the People’s Hospital of Jilin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F3d-printed-heart-guides-first-kind-surgery-china-jilin-province-2.jpg\" alt=\"3D-printed heart saving life \" class=\"wp-image-13299\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F3d-printed-heart-guides-first-kind-surgery-china-jilin-province-2.jpg 600w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F3d-printed-heart-guides-first-kind-surgery-china-jilin-province-2-512x299.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F3d-printed-heart-guides-first-kind-surgery-china-jilin-province-2-429x250.jpg 429w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The team of experienced doctors decided to build a full-sized model of his tiny heart with the use of a 3D printer to pre-plan the complicated surgery. This was the first time someone used this method in China.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>“With the model, we were able to know precisely where and how we should cut, and how big the incision should be. And with such a thorough plan, we spent only half the time we had expected to complete the surgery,” \u003C\u002Fem>Doctor Zhang Xueqin said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F3d-printed-heart-guides-first-kind-surgery-china-jilin-province-1.jpg\" alt=\"3d-printed-heart-saving-child-life-in-china\" class=\"wp-image-13298\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F3d-printed-heart-guides-first-kind-surgery-china-jilin-province-1.jpg 600w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F3d-printed-heart-guides-first-kind-surgery-china-jilin-province-1-512x299.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F3d-printed-heart-guides-first-kind-surgery-china-jilin-province-1-429x250.jpg 429w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002F3dprint.com\u002F124954\u002F3d-printed-heart-saves-baby\u002F\">The doctors completed the extremely risky and complicated surgery in March 2016.\u003C\u002Fa> They were successful and the little boy is expected to survive with little to no lasting ill-effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>2) Artificial Pancreas Saves Diabetes Patient And Let’s Her Have The Perfect Wedding\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Diabetes is a lifelong condition with no cure. It requires constant attention from the patient and his or her environment. To monitor glucose (a type of blood sugar) levels successfully, diabetes patients use insulin pumps and monitors, which send alarms if the glucose levels are too low or too high. More often than not, however, these alarms are quite inefficient. For example, they are often unable to wake up diabetes patients during the night to correct their glucose levels, risking death in their sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"386\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fglucose-monitor.jpg\" alt=\"diabetes-sleep-glucose-monitor\" class=\"wp-image-13301\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fglucose-monitor.jpg 525w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fglucose-monitor-512x376.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fglucose-monitor-340x250.jpg 340w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Dana Lewis, diagnosed with diabetes when she was 14 has already suffered this terrifying event several times. She tried to make her continuous glucose monitor (CGM) louder but it turned out to be extremely difficult. Dana and her date, Scott Leibrand, a former Twitter engineer and an expert in computer networks, decided to defy existing technology and fate and started hacking together \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.businessinsider.com\u002Fhacked-raspberry-pi-artificial-pancreas-2015-8\">a homemade ‘artificial pancreas’ to help Dana manage her disease.\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fdana-lewis-512x405.jpg\" alt=\"dana lewis digital health technology saving life\" class=\"wp-image-13302\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fdana-lewis-512x405.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fdana-lewis-316x250.jpg 316w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fdana-lewis.jpg 650w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Instead of creating a new organ inside her body, they installed a group of electronics that can mimic the missing functions of her pancreas. A Raspberry Pi mini computer takes data from a USB stick and glucose monitor and transfers the recommendation to the insulin pump. It’s all online, so Dana and Scott can track glucose levels and administered insulin on their smartwatches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Their groundbreaking invention could help scores of diabetes patients. The pair has already started to spread their best practices and the method to assemble the DIY pancreas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And not only did the artificial pancreas ease Dana’s life, but it also helped her on her wedding day. Unlike many diabetes patients, she did not have to cut into the lining of her dress to make a pocket for her monitor. Finally, it was Scott who wore the monitor under his shirt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“No alarms – no problems,” the groom said. “Diabetes was not in the picture during the wedding, and that was exactly how it should be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fdana-lewis-scott-leibrand.jpg\" alt=\"dana-scott-digital-health-technology-making-life-better\" class=\"wp-image-13304\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fdana-lewis-scott-leibrand.jpg 480w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fdana-lewis-scott-leibrand-333x250.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>3) Robotic Exoskeleton Help A Paralyzed Groom Walk Down the Aisle\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Matt Ficarra broke his neck and became paralyzed from the chest down in a freak boating accident in 2011. That moment changed his life forever. The surgeon who operated on him had said that he would be paralyzed from his nipples down for the rest of his life. However, during his rehabilitation, there were promising signs. He had motion in his arms, could make a fist with his left hand and a partial fist with his right, he also recovered some sensation in his legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>With his determination and strong will, later he was able to dress and feed himself without assistance. When Matt and her girlfriend, Basile got engaged in 2013, he vowed not to use a wheelchair at the wedding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.rt.com\u002Fusa\u002F197572-paralyzed-man-wedding-robotic-exoskeleton\u002F\">His dream came true\u003C\u002Fa> thanks to an \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Feksobionics.com\u002Fproduct\u002Fekso-bionics-ekso-gt\u002F\">Ekso Bionics \u003C\u002Fa>suit that functions as a gait-training exoskeleton. The robotic equipment provides a means for people with complete paralysis and minimal forearm strength to stand and walk. It provides function based rehabilitation, over ground gait training, and upright, weight bearing exercise under the supervision of a physical therapist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"665\" height=\"442\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F16111612-standard.jpg\" alt=\"matt-ficarra-digital-health-technology-making-life-better\" class=\"wp-image-13306\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F16111612-standard.jpg 665w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F16111612-standard-512x340.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F16111612-standard-376x250.jpg 376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 665px) 100vw, 665px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As the device was designed only for use in a clinical setting, Matt had to drive seven hours to Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network in Allentown, Pennsylvania every week for months until his wedding so he could practice walking with the Ekso. He even broke hospital records for most number of steps taken in an hour with the bionic suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In the end, the feeling as he could walk down the aisle with the woman he loved, was more than worth it. “It feels great to be married!” said Matt on the Big Day in an ecstatic mood. “And I am so happy to have met my goal of walking at my wedding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Exoskeleton allows New York man to walk down the aisle\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FqomGq6ysd9E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>4) Dad Quits Job To Establish Research Company To Fight His Son’s Rare Disease\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Ilan Ganot was a banker at J.P. Morgan in London when his two and a half years old son, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.xconomy.com\u002Fboston\u002F2015\u002F11\u002F05\u002Fbiogen-helps-put-42-5m-into-a-fathers-duchenne-gene-therapy-quest\u002F\">Eytani was diagnosed with Duchenne Syndrome.\u003C\u002Fa> For this devastating disease, there is no cure and no effective treatment. Patients with Duchenne lose the ability to walk by their teens, and often die from one of a number of complications—like respiratory or heart failure—at a young age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Filan-ganot-son-512x341.jpg\" alt=\"Ilan-Ganot-digital-technology-saving-life\" class=\"wp-image-13307\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Filan-ganot-son-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Filan-ganot-son-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Filan-ganot-son.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Devastated to receive the news, Ilan didn’t want to give up on his son’s life. Deciding to challenge fate, he left his job and started a company called \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fsolidbio.com\u002F\">Solid BioSciences\u003C\u002Fa> to fight the disease. Though he left J.P. Morgan, to help his quest, his former employer raised $17 million for his startup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The company has three subsidiaries – Solid GT, Solid One and Solid Suit – each pursuing a different strategy to help impact Duchenne. \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fsolidbio.com\u002Fgene-therapy\">Solid GT\u003C\u002Fa> houses a gene therapy program which the company aims to get into clinical testing in 2017. Gene therapy—a method of using a virus to shepherd genetic instructions into the body—has been tried for Duchenne before, but never successfully. Ilan believes key scientific advances will make a difference this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Solid One is in-licensing drugs used for other diseases and trying them out as potential treatments for certain symptoms of Duchenne, hoping to find a cure faster than if a new drug had to be developed to fight the disease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Finally, with \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fsolidbio.com\u002Fsuite\u002F\">Solid Suit\u003C\u002Fa>, Ilan aims to develop a “soft exo suit” that Duchenne patients could wear to help offset their loss of muscle function. The dad noted that as Duchenne patients use their muscles over time, they break down. The idea would be for a suit to make, for instance, 1,000 steps feel like 600. “Maybe we can save the other 400 steps for tomorrow,” he says. “This is a battle against time after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fempty-512x320.jpg\" alt=\"duchenne battle against time digital health technology saving life\" class=\"wp-image-13314\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fempty-512x320.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fempty-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fempty-400x250.jpg 400w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fempty.jpg 870w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>5) Fast Genetic Sequencing Saves A Newborn Baby’s Life\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>No one knew what was wrong with the little boy who spent his entire short life in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.nature.com\u002Fnews\u002Ffast-genetic-sequencing-saves-newborn-lives-1.16027\">When his liver failed in April 2013, the medical staff warned his parents there is little hope for a successful recovery.\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fgenome-sequencing-baby-512x384.jpg\" alt=\"genome-sequencing-baby-digital-technology-saving-life\" class=\"wp-image-13309\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fgenome-sequencing-baby-512x384.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fgenome-sequencing-baby-334x250.jpg 334w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fgenome-sequencing-baby.jpg 722w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Then geneticist Stephen Kingsmore and his team took on the mysterious case. They performed what is called the rapid genetic sequencing technique. It means that a group of four or five specialists collects DNA to quickly identify mutations in the person’s genome, then sequences the DNA. As the next step, they use specific software to target specific parts of the genome on the basis of the symptoms and finally, they set up a gene-based diagnosis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>To help the little boy they had sequenced the genomes of the baby and his parents within three days. The team identified a rare mutation that was common to the child and both of his parents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"397\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fgenetic-sequencing-newborn-baby-feet-and-letters-of-a-t-c-g-512x397.jpg\" alt=\"genetic-sequencing-baby-digital-technology-saving-life\" class=\"wp-image-13310\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fgenetic-sequencing-newborn-baby-feet-and-letters-of-a-t-c-g-512x397.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fgenetic-sequencing-newborn-baby-feet-and-letters-of-a-t-c-g-768x595.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fgenetic-sequencing-newborn-baby-feet-and-letters-of-a-t-c-g-323x250.jpg 323w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002Fgenetic-sequencing-newborn-baby-feet-and-letters-of-a-t-c-g.jpg 830w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The mutation was linked to a disease in which an overactive immune system damages the liver and spleen. Armed with a diagnosis, the baby’s physicians put him on drugs to lower his immune response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Now, the boy is healthy and at home. Had physicians not sequenced his DNA, or sent it off for a conventional genomic test, the diagnosis might never have arrived or could have taken more than a month — by which time the child would most likely have died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":204,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2016. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY […]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",13318,{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[208,209,210,112],498,500,521,[212,44,213,214,215,46,33,35,216],130,260,262,275,453,[],[],[220,221,50,222,223,224,225],1587,1593,1619,1631,3435,4405,[227,14,66,67,68,69,70,228,229,230,231,232,83,233,234,235,85,72,74,236],"post-13296","category-3d-printing","category-biotechnology","category-future-medicine","category-robotics","tag-3d-printing-2","tag-genetics","tag-genomics","tag-healthcare","tag-wearables-2",{"id":205,"alt_text":27,"caption":27,"description":27,"media_type":88,"media_details":238,"post":132,"source_url":264},{"width":90,"height":239,"file":240,"sizes":241,"image_meta":262},376,"2016\u002F06\u002F3021601-poster-p-1-tracked-since-birth-the-pros-and-cons-of-extreme-baby-monitoring.jpg",{"medium":242,"large":245,"thumbnail":249,"medium_large":252,"large_old_512x221":253,"medium_old_458x198":257},{"file":243,"width":96,"height":97,"mime-type":98,"source_url":244},"3021601-poster-p-1-tracked-since-birth-the-pros-and-cons-of-extreme-baby-monitoring-370x208.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F3021601-poster-p-1-tracked-since-birth-the-pros-and-cons-of-extreme-baby-monitoring-370x208.jpg",{"file":246,"width":102,"height":247,"mime-type":98,"source_url":248},"3021601-poster-p-1-tracked-since-birth-the-pros-and-cons-of-extreme-baby-monitoring-768x332.jpg",332,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F3021601-poster-p-1-tracked-since-birth-the-pros-and-cons-of-extreme-baby-monitoring-768x332.jpg",{"file":250,"width":107,"height":107,"mime-type":98,"source_url":251},"3021601-poster-p-1-tracked-since-birth-the-pros-and-cons-of-extreme-baby-monitoring-150x150.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F3021601-poster-p-1-tracked-since-birth-the-pros-and-cons-of-extreme-baby-monitoring-150x150.jpg",{"file":246,"width":102,"height":247,"mime-type":98,"source_url":248},{"file":254,"width":112,"height":255,"mime-type":98,"source_url":256},"3021601-poster-p-1-tracked-since-birth-the-pros-and-cons-of-extreme-baby-monitoring-512x221.jpg",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F3021601-poster-p-1-tracked-since-birth-the-pros-and-cons-of-extreme-baby-monitoring-512x221.jpg",{"file":258,"width":259,"height":260,"mime-type":98,"source_url":261},"3021601-poster-p-1-tracked-since-birth-the-pros-and-cons-of-extreme-baby-monitoring-458x198.jpg",458,198,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F3021601-poster-p-1-tracked-since-birth-the-pros-and-cons-of-extreme-baby-monitoring-458x198.jpg",{"aperture":121,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":121,"copyright":27,"focal_length":121,"iso":121,"shutter_speed":121,"title":27,"orientation":121,"keywords":263},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F06\u002F3021601-poster-p-1-tracked-since-birth-the-pros-and-cons-of-extreme-baby-monitoring.jpg",{"cta_type":27,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_books":20,"related_posts_footer":20,"related_posts":20},{"yoast_wpseo_title":267,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":268,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":198},"5 Heart-Warming Stories of Digital Health Saving Lives - The Medical Futurist","There are truly heartwarming stories of digital health technology saving lives or helping patients live better. Here are the five most incredible of them.",{"self":270,"collection":275,"about":277,"author":279,"replies":281,"version-history":284,"predecessor-version":288,"wp:featuredmedia":292,"wp:attachment":295,"wp:term":298,"curies":309},[271],{"href":272,"targetHints":273},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F13296",{"allow":274},[142],[276],{"href":145},[278],{"href":148},[280],{"embeddable":26,"href":151},[282],{"embeddable":26,"href":283},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=13296",[285],{"count":286,"href":287},11,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F13296\u002Frevisions",[289],{"id":290,"href":291},37217,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F13296\u002Frevisions\u002F37217",[293],{"embeddable":26,"href":294},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F13318",[296],{"href":297},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=13296",[299,301,303,305,307],{"taxonomy":171,"embeddable":26,"href":300},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=13296",{"taxonomy":174,"embeddable":26,"href":302},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=13296",{"taxonomy":177,"embeddable":26,"href":304},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=13296",{"taxonomy":180,"embeddable":26,"href":306},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=13296",{"taxonomy":183,"embeddable":26,"href":308},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=13296",[310],{"name":187,"href":188,"templated":26},[],1788949293286]