There have been many new technologies that can quantify health, but most are far from "interesting." However, insurance giant Cigna and Microsoft are uniting to change this point, using Microsoft's HoloLens VR, AR technology to make the health census become more gamified.
(Source: MM&M)
They will introduce a new type of digital health device called BioBall, a hand-held electric sphere that measures critical vital signs, and a VR helmet that will guide users through interactive games. The indicators that can be measured in real time in the game are blood pressure, body mass index, movement and speed. Before the game, trained personnel from Cigna first measured the player's blood pressure, and then the player used BioBall to play a minute or so of competitive game. During this process, the ball sensed the player's pulse and responded with reflected light. After the game is over, the player will see the personal body indicator in his VR helmet display and the device can send health promotion suggestions to the mailbox. This is also the first time that Microsoft HoloLens has used its own technology for health screening.
Preventive health care entertaining, focus on four body indicators
This new product is part of the innovative "Go. Know. Take Control" project of Cigna Insurance. The "Go. Know. Take Control" program was launched to encourage people to understand the four major health indicators: blood pressure, body mass index, blood sugar, and cholesterol. According to a three-year health study Cigna disclosed in 2014, these four indicators are the cause of most preventable chronic diseases. The 200,000-person study showed that the index measurements of people with chronic diseases are usually not ideal, and medical expenses are more. Cigna believes that if more consumers can be given preventive health education, the corresponding result is to help them be healthier and save more money, and it is also a kind of profit-making move for insurers.
“Microsoft’s technology provides a new way of health education that allows people to understand their own indicators while they’re playing games, see how their blood pressure and body mass index change over time, and focus on health. The awareness of the situation," said Stephen Cassell, chief brand officer at Cigna.
Will be open to the enterprise for the purpose of promoting health prevention
BioBall made its first appearance at the Disney World Marathon in January. About 1,200 people went to the Cigna showroom to experience the game. In the future, BioBall will also appear in Cigna-sponsored events, such as the Disney Marathon in September this year, and Cigna is developing a pop-up version that can be used by customers. It may start selling some clinics or companies from April. .
More usage scenarios and details of BioBall have not been disclosed, but it is certain that Cigna Insurance can customize BioBall services according to the needs of the company in the future. This is an attractive project for companies that value the health of their employees and wish to introduce sports and preventive health care equipment in their workplaces.
Even if the coverage of medical insurance reaches 100%, the key to maintaining health is not to have enough money to cure the illness, medical equipment is advanced enough, and doctors' skills are sufficiently advanced, but to pay attention to physical conditions in daily life. prevention. "Our breakthrough is that Microsoft HoloLens brings a visually and acoustically superior experience and continues to deepen people's impressions of health data."
The role of BioBall equipment is to form an innovative and engaging platform that allows more people to understand the importance of controlling health and conduct regular physical examinations. "A lot of people do not understand this, and this is what we need to step up promotion," Cassell said.