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Technology trends

Technology is advancing continuously, at an unprecedented pace, and its application is taking place in the most diverse sectors. Agriculture and health are two of the most dynamic sectors where technology is constantly advancing. Below, we review some of the most relevant developments in terms of technological trends.

In the agricultural sector in particular, technological innovations are of such magnitude that they have led to the emergence of new concepts such as “green revolution” or “agriculture 4.0”. An example can be environmental monitoring through electronic sensors installed on crops and the possibility of automating irrigation systems. Another of the most frequent technological applications is the use of drones that, through remote sensing, make it possible to obtain images and videos remotely. The application of artificial intelligence to the management of a large volume of data from agricultural machinery, for example, is also key, as is the Internet of Things (IoT), which allows real-time information to be obtained and facilitates traceability through the installation of devices such as chips. It also highlights the automation of machines and the use of GPS in tractors, allowing to know the exact measurements and distances in crops. The application of Big Data also entails a series of important benefits in the agricultural sector, such as obtaining information on weather conditions, the state of the soil, the crops planted, the amount of inputs needed according to the environment, and identifying anomalies in crops, such as pests or diseases.

In short, the application of these different technologies in agriculture allows not only to improve yields or increase efficiency in the use of resources, but also to anticipate and identify certain risks. For example, at Macrotest we have the Agroint solution for intelligent crop management, minimizing the impact of pests, diseases and weeds through monitoring and geolocated records from cell phones.

The health sector is not lagging behind in terms of new technological trends. In recent years, technology applied to healthcare has not only focused its efforts on saving lives, but also on making daily life more comfortable.

Among the main technologies is the use of virtual reality in medical training, involving realistic scenarios such as surgery or emergencies. Once again, the application of artificial intelligence appears as fundamental, whether to monitor patients, assist surgeries by means of automated devices, or even predict the situation of high-risk patients.

Another trend is access to remote healthcare, for example through online chat platforms available 24 hours a day through chatbots that apply artificial intelligence, or even medical consultations by video call. There are also implantable and ingestible sensors that facilitate the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of certain diseases through the Internet of Things.

Mobile applications can also be mentioned, which contribute to improving the healthcare system through the prevention, control and treatment of numerous diseases, including monitoring the follow-up of patients with diseases such as diabetes or epilepsy. Meanwhile, Cloud Computing applied to the healthcare sector makes it possible to speed up access to patients’ clinical data, as well as to improve communication between healthcare centers. These trends as a whole currently imply benefits both for healthcare professionals and for the users of the healthcare system.

In this line in Macrotest we have developed a solution for patients who suffered a stroke which allows the realization of their rehabilitation from home, based on years of research, development and innovation.

We are waiting for you to deepen these applications that promote the development of the agro and health sectors.

Transformación digital del sector salud

Digital transformation is a recurring topic today, where all sectors and social areas are impacted to a greater or lesser extent by this transformative wave, even without the actors themselves being aware of the depth of the changes it generates. In this sense, it is important to understand the real dimension of the concept of digital transformation, which implies a continuous and complex process affecting the very essence of what we are and what we do.

The healthcare sector is also experiencing this digitalization phenomenon with changes that aim to improve the quality and efficiency of medical care by obtaining information and its appropriate use in order to optimize decision-making at all levels of the healthcare system. A clear example is the digital acceleration that the healthcare field has experienced due to the coronavirus pandemic. Thus, digitalization in the healthcare sector is not only about helping patients with their illnesses or doctors with their tasks, but also about speeding up workflows, providing more security for medical staff and hospitals, and offering more transparency to patients. Thus, creating a connected healthcare ecosystem, where interactions are smarter, faster and more accurate between people, devices, data, analytics and applications that are transforming the way healthcare is delivered.

What are the main advantages of digital transformation in the healthcare sector?

It optimizes the work of medical professionals by offering more accurate results and diagnoses that contribute to providing more appropriate comprehensive treatments.
It speeds up times by reducing the number of medical appointments, allowing check-ups and consultations to be made from home.
Enables the creation of a unified medical record that is continuously updated across devices
Performs remote patient monitoring and virtual training to reduce costs and complications of chronic illnesses
Allows the exchange of information in real time between doctor-patient, making a continuous follow-up from prevention to diagnosis and treatment, significantly reducing medical errors.

What tools and technologies are needed?

The digital transformation in the healthcare sector is being driven mainly by the Internet of Things (IoT), which makes it possible to connect sensors, devices, software and intelligent networks via the Internet. In this sense, wearable clinical devices have become a trend in the sector in recent years and are being used especially to observe high-risk patients.

Macrotest’s mission is to contribute to the healthcare sector by providing products and solutions that allow us to continue improving patient care and the quality of medical services. In this sense, we have developed Rehabictus, a support platform that makes it easier for stroke patients to carry out their rehabilitation from home. Rehabictus is a technological development composed of an APP, a web platform and electronic devices based on artificial intelligence that monitor the movement of patients. The mobile application receives data from the device, which has functionalities such as exercises with personalized levels and visualization of achievements, and from the web platform, the medical professional can access the patient’s data, establish the frequency of exercise, note observations, verify the graphs of their evolution taking into account different parameters, details of exercises and achievements.

In this way, with this development, Macrotest seeks to provide an accurate follow-up of patients’ rehabilitation and ensure greater success in their recovery. Contact us for more information on how to digitize your healthcare organization.