Lean by Design

First came the computer revolution – reducing information storage costs and improving data manipulation and insights as a result of the digitization of human generated data.

Then came the communication (internet) revolution – increasing information leverage (technical and financial) due to the improved convenience of information access and reduced cost of information sharing and collaboration.

Now comes the Sensor Network revolution – reducing real-time data acquisition costs associated with physical systems, due to the availability of low cost sensors and ultra low powered radios.

This latest revolution in information technology will have an equally profound impact on the economy and business as did the previous two “revolutions”. The dramatic reduction in data acquisition costs will enable entire new industries around sensor derived information. Medicine is likely going to be one of the key beneficiaries of these changes. Once it becomes cost effective to monitor people’s vital signs and other biometrics in real-time and on a continuous basis, whole new avenues for practicing healthcare, will open up. New science related to Stream based processing of large and concurrent volumes of data will be developed. Ways of predicting heart failure and strokes will be discovered by virtue of the fact that it will become practical to monitor blood pressure on a continuous basis and under a broad set of conditions – something that has not been practical before. It will now be possible to determine precisely when a patient has had a stroke, enabling more timely and effective treatments.

The range of potential applications, from health care to agriculture, to security, and beyond is enormous. The full spectrum of discoveries that it will enable, cannot even be fathomed today. What we can be sure of, however, is that like the previous information technology revolutions, this revolution will have tremendous implications for economic productivity, for those with the vision to harness it. Sensor information occurring within the context of a broader context of data will facilitate productivity improvements. In agriculture, sensor networks will allow for the optimal application of costly fertilizer and water, thus providing significant productivity gains. Body sensor networks in medicine will also enable earlier and more rapid diagnosis of health issues, resulting in lower medical costs and improved efficacy of treatments.

This latest information technology revolution will provide an enormous stimulus for new business and will be as exciting as the previous two revolutions.

Here is an early indication of things to come …