These upcoming ABL ZOOM Tables will discuss "Using the Art of Apprenticeship: What works?"


• 2/03 - ABL-Tech OC ZOOM Table - featuring Jason Makevich, CEO of Greenlight Information Services
• 2/04 - ABL-Tech SGV ZOOM Table - featuring Brian Arandez, President of Maroon Vault
• 2/11 - ABL-Tech WLA ZOOM Table - featuring Dave Berkus, Chairman of Multiple Portfolio Companies
• Explore Membership in ABL's Executive Round Tables >>>


• ENCOURAGE EVERYONE ON YOUR TEAM TO GET FREE COVID TESTS FROM: COVIDTESTS.GOV
  It's much better to have them on hand than to stand in line to buy them in a pharmacy - the germiest place in town!

• AfterNow Seeks AR/VR Presentation Builders & Unveils New AR/VR Software Product, Viz
• Alvaka Networks Named a Top Workplace + Provides Updated Info on Cyber Breach Insurance
• Covetrus Unveils Industry-First Veterinary Operating System
• Eckert & Ziegler Acquires SPECT Firm & Signs Exclusive Supply Agreement
• GIDEON Informatics Adds 1,800+ COVID-19 Research Graphs to Epidemiology Database
• Intellect Provides Webinar on Building a Covid-19 Daily Health Screening Mobile App
• Parasoft Webinars to Cover Testing APIs in the Cloud & Top Testing Trends in 2022

• BCG's Harrison Barnes on: Keep Growing & Striving
• Dave Berkus on: Looking for the Positive
• Electrosonic on: Technology-Rich Experiential Spaces
• Envision Financial Systems on: Approaching Era of Decentralized Finance
• Get Visible on: Custom Programming & Other Resources
• Intellect on: Creating a Safety Culture & Integration of QMS + EHS
• LookinLA on: Balancing Personal & Professional Life + Important Entrepreneurial Skills
• PeopleG2 on: Determining "Remoteability," Leading a Multi-Gen Workforce, and More
• ProProfs on: Qualitative Data; Psychographic Segmentation; & Cluster Sampling

• Angle Health Partners with Doctor On Demand
• Biospectal Debuted Biodisc & Launched OptiBP for iOS Public Beta at CES 2022
• ECLAT Provides Details on FY 2022 Coding Updates
• Elemeno Wins Innovation of the Year + Partners with Community Medical Centers
• LigoLab Discusses LIS Upgrades & OSHA Employer Testing Requirements
• MedWand: Going to International Space Station; Showcased at CES 2022; Announces Advisory Board
• PRODEO Writes About Brain Health Market: Investment, Operations & Governance
• Savi Group Explores Telemedicine & Medical Billing

TECH BUSINESS TRENDS

• Shortage of Software Developers Expected to Hit Businesses Hard in 2022
• Tech Recruiters Ready to Dump CVs, Academic Requirements: Survey
• Four “Don’ts” for Selling Technology to Small Manufacturers
• PC Sales Back to 2012 Levels, Up 35% from 2017 Nadir, Thanks to COVID

TECH TRENDS AHEAD

• Devices That Don’t Require Any Cables for Power or for Network Connections Are on the Way
• Rubber Material Holds Key to Long-Lasting, Safer EV Batteries
• 14 “Smart” Features That May Soon Be Standard in New Homes
• New Autonomous Sidewalk Delivery Robots Don’t Require Human Assist

TECHNOLOGY-IN-HEALTHCARE TRENDS

• Digital Health Funding in 2021: $29.1 Billion Across 729 Deals
• LG TVs Now Have Independa’s Built-In Health Platform
• Activity Data from Wearables Could Help Monitor Blood Sugar Levels: Study
• New VR Tech Could Help People with Visual Impairments
• How mRNA Vaccines Were Made: Drawing Upon Long-Buried Discoveries in the Hopes of Ending Past Epidemics

AfterNow has an Open Call for Presenters! They're looking for a few professionals or creatives interested in presenting a 20-30 minute experience in VR to an intimate audience of 20-30 people as a use case for AfterNow's drag & drop AR/VR presentation builder: Prez. Anyone interested, please contact the Captain of AfterNow, [email protected], directly.
Meanwhile, AfterNow has introduced Viz, a new software product in its suite of augmented and virtual reality presentation tools, which enables users to show their audience what data means in one simple 3D and interactive experience. Any presentation, whether for sales, financial projections, inventory analysis, scientific research, or product visualization, is backed up with data. Click here to learn more and sign up for early access. (Philippe Lewicki, WLA)

Alvaka Networks has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2021 honor by The Orange County Register, based on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey of 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization.
Also, CEO Oli Thordarson writes about the changing landscape for cyber breach insurance: "2020 and 2021 have seen some insurance companies paying $0.78 of every dollar on claims. The industry is responding with strict new guidelines and reduced coverages in order to get insurance, assuming your carrier still offers it. Read on to find out the attestations to which you must apply your personal signature in 2022 - What to Expect from Your Cyber Breach Insurance Policy." Plus, Oli shares some of the best cyber breach lawyers he has worked with in Ransomware and Cyber Breach Law Firms & Lawyers. (Oli Thordarson, SGV)

Covetrus, parent company of VCP, announced the upcoming launch of Covetrus Pulse, an innovative cloud-based veterinary operating system that seamlessly connects veterinarians to the technology they need to manage their practices. Covetrus Pulse will unite the applications vet practices rely on into one secure, easy-to-use cloud platform. Veterinarians will be able to create, renew, and approve prescriptions, communicate with clients and coworkers, personalize dashboards, and customize with preferred third-party apps, all from one central operating system to fit their practice's needs. (Bob Richardson, OC)

Eckert & Ziegler (EZ) has acquired 100% of the shares of Argentinian nuclear medicine specialist Tecnonuclear S.A., a manufacturer of Technetium-99 generators and a portfolio of related biomolecules. These so-called "cold kits" function as vectors for the in-vivo delivery of Technetium-99 to more specific biological targets such as receptors and transporters. Worldwide they represent the most widely used class of nuclear medicine products for the detection of cancer and cardio-vascular abnormalities.
Also, EZ Radiopharma (EZR) has signed a joint venture and exclusive long-term supply agreements for Ytterbium-176 with Atom Mines LLC. Cancer therapies based on Lutetium-177 are proving highly effective, yet the world supply of the indispensable precursor, Ytterbium-176, has previously been measured in grams per year. A new technology partially financed by EZR and developed by Atom Mines now promises to overcome this bottleneck. (Frank Yeager, SGV)

Over 1,800 charts have been added to the robust GIDEON epidemiology database and diagnostic toolkit, GIDEON Informatics has announced. Now, researchers can download ready-to-use graphs on SARS-CoV-2 cases, cumulative cases, cumulative case rates per 100,000 persons, deaths, mortality rates, cumulative death rates by country, region, or worldwide. GIDEON also supports the creation of custom charts to compare data from one country or region versus another over time. Over 200 publications, and counting, have already leveraged the GIDEON database for their infectious disease and epidemiology-related research. (Uri Blackman, WLA)

Intellect has made its recent webinar available on-demand: How to Build a COVID-19 Daily Health Screening Mobile App with Intellect's No-Code Compliance Platform. Watch a demo on how MedBio, a full-service medical contract manufacturer, uses a COVID-19 web and mobile app to keep their business going during the pandemic. You will also learn more about:
>> Why build a COVID-19 web and mobile app for tracking COVID-19 data;
>> How simple it is for employees to submit their health status daily;
>> What features Managers and HR can leverage for keeping employees safe; and
>> What are the benefits of COVID-19 app for employees and employers. (Romeo Elias, WLA)

Parasoft will present a webinar on January 26 - Tips & Techniques for Testing APIs & Services in the Cloud: attend this session to check out how Parasoft helps with browser-based graphic environments and test data management interfaces, plus learn handy tips to optimize your software testing and virtualization processes.
Also, watch Parasoft's recent webinar on-demand - Top Testing Trends to Implement in 2022. (Elizabeth Kolawa, Ph.D., SGV)

In Never Get Too Comfortable, Harrison Barnes, CEO of BCG Attorney Search, declares that people who succeed in the long term constantly seek challenges, make room for further growth, and demonstrate their ability to take up further responsibility. He says that everyone works to achieve their goals, but failure comes when they lessen the amount of effort they put forth after having achieved these goals. "Security and comfort are certainly desirable results and may be a significant part of achieving your goals. However, when you focus on your comfort or bask in your success, you stop growing," he suggests. (Harrison Barnes, JD, WLA)

In Jeff Bezos asked a question that blew me away!, Dave shares that during a board meeting for a company where Jeff Bezos sits as a board member, he asked: "Is there anything big or small, which is working better than you expected? Is there anywhere we could double down?" Dave declares that this is a great insight, adding, "We spend a lot of time focusing on what's not working in board meetings (especially during difficult times) and not enough time focusing on what is surpassing expectations. Often times the key levers in businesses are found in little things that are really outperforming, whether by intention or not."
Visit Berkonomics.com to read more of Dave's recent blogs, including "If you're lucky enough: Celebrate your exit!;" "VC investors: Don't be greedy even if you can;" and "My hard-earned lessons from negative exits." (Dave Berkus, SGV & WLA)

In Technology-Rich Experiential Spaces, the Next Way to Attract Talent, Electrosonic acknowledges that there's fierce competition to recruit the next generation of workers and keep them engaged. As such, companies are utilizing great design, including incorporating experiential technology into shared office spaces.
Meanwhile, The FRIENDS Experience, an interactive, immersive project, for which Electrosonic provides audiovisual support, has been named among USA Today's Top 5 "Best New Attractions." (Bryan Hinckley, SGV)

In Envision Financial Systems Growing Wallet Share in the Approaching Era of Decentralized Finance, Satnam Gambhir, Envision CEO, shares why financial advisors should adapt a broad range of tools. In the article, which is published in the WealthManagement.com 2022 Market Outlook, Satnam says hard questions are coming, which might include, "Are you going to allocate my money to initial-investment opportunities on the blockchain?"; "Is it smart, or even safe, to ignore machine-learning insights about portfolio reallocations?"; "What's your take on using the new AI tools to help optimize a tax strategy?" Satnam believes successful advisor platforms will provide a seamless, integrated web presence that embraces a wide range of decentralized tools. (Satnam Gambhir, OC)

Jason Ciment, CEO of Get Visible, says that if you are faced with a web-based business challenge that requires custom programming for an online website type of solution, email him your specs: [email protected]. "I invested in a company 18 years ago that has just developed an API extension to its platform which means they can rapidly deploy a custom solution in 1/4 the time of any custom developer," he continues. "And of course at a lower cost too. More info is forthcoming. What I can say is that the solution currently powers Adrecom.net Integrated Ecommerce platform."
Meanwhile, Jason suggests the following resources:
>> Online toolkit for PDF documents - https://tinywow.com
>> Copy content from a PDF or merge or split PDF docs: https://www.ilovepdf.com
>> Curious what Google search results look like in another city? http://isearchfrom.com (Jason Ciment, WLA)

In 6 Ways to Create a Safety Culture in Your Organization, Intellect shares the importance of encouraging workers to participate in all steps of your safety program. Make sure they all have access to information such as risk assessments, how to report safety hazards, and how previously reported issues have been fixed. Management should always empower employees and encourage them to share new ideas and suggestions and should never retaliate against an employee for raising a safety concern.
And, in Why Is Quality and EHS Integration Important?, Intellect reports that the most common software solutions in many organizations are Quality Management Systems and Environmental Health and Safety systems. Because these two systems have very similar processes and can be merged into one single source of truth; this combination will provide a level of visibility that combines two critical areas into a single system. (Romeo Elias, WLA)

Ali Payani, CEO of LookinLA, hosts "The Leading Mindset" podcast, where recent discussions include:
>> How Do You Balance Your Personal & Professional Life?, with Sean McGraw, the Founder and Visionary of FOR Energy; and
>> What Are the Most Important Skills to Have as a New Entrepreneur?, with Charles E. Gaudet II, CEO & Founder of Predictable Profits.
(Ali Payani, SGV)

In 6 Key Questions When Interviewing For Remote Jobs, Chris Dyer of PeopleG2 provides a short list of questions plus a few other ways to evaluate "remoteability."
Also, Chris was interviewed in a recent Authority Magazine article, Remote Career Development: Chris Dyer Of PeopleG2 On How To Advance and Enhance Your Career When You Are Working Remotely .
Meanwhile, read PeopleG2's recent blog - How To Lead A Multi-Generational Workforce. And, watch/listen to Chris's Talent Talk Radio Show, in which he interviews top executives about leadership and talent development. (Chris Dyer, SGV)

Visit ProProfs' blog page to read about a variety of topics. Recent posts include:
>> 10 Best Employee Assessment Tools;
>> Decoding Qualitative Data: Methods, Analysis & Examples - explore the qualitative data definition, various methods, advantages, disadvantages, and how you can analyze qualitative data in 5 simple steps.
>> Psychographic Segmentation: Variables, Examples & Templates - This approach divides customers based on their psychological traits - preferences, personality, lifestyle, and beliefs, and gives you a sneak peek of their thought processes.
>> Cluster Sampling: Definition, Methods & Applications - discover what cluster sampling is, its types, and all the essential aspects that can help you obtain more accurate information from a large audience in less time and budget. (Sameer Bhatia, WLA)

Angle Health will offer its members virtual urgent care and behavioral health services through a partnership with Included Health and its Doctor On Demand offering. As such, Angle Health members in Utah have seamless access to virtual care services seven days a week, 24 hours a day. (Andy Leeka, ABL-Health LA)

Biospectal announced the debut of Biodisc™, a stand-alone, sleekly designed, all-in-one, blood pressure monitoring (bpm) device at CES 2022. Biodisc allows users to measure their vital signs via their fingertip - quickly, accurately and without the hassle of a traditional blood pressure cuff. It's a tech-free device that works together with the Biospectal OptiBP app and extends the reach of Biospectal's bpm platform. International Business Times covered Biodisc in its article, CES 2022: Biodisc Allows You To Monitor Your Vital Signs With The Tip Of Your Fingers.
Also at CES 2022, Biospectal announced the public beta launch of OptiBP for iOS, which will be available in the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland.
Meanwhile, read Three Steps To Overcoming One Of Modern Healthcare's Biggest Battles, by Eliott Jones, Biospectal CEO. (Eliott Jones, ABL-Health SV)

In "FY 2022 Coding Updates: Determining the Principal Diagnosis" Webinar Roundup Blog, ECLAT recaps its end-of-year webinar and shares how ECLAT's coding team can smooth the transition to these updates that affect reimbursements and compliance.
And, watch the entire webinar replay here and get prepared for 2022 coding updates. (Gabe Stein, ABL-Health LA)

The American College of Emergency Physicians has named Elemeno Health the 2021 Emergency Medicine Innovation of the Year. And, Elemeno and Community Medical Centers, a leading healthcare provider in the California's Central Valley, have partnered to support hospital staff with just-in-time best practices, building upon the successful deployment of Elemeno in their emergency department.
Plus, read The Gap Between What Institutions Know, And What Frontline Caregivers Do, by Arup Roy-Burman, MD, CEO of Elemeno. (Arup Roy-Burman, MD, ABL-Health OAK)

LigoLab CEO Suren Avunjian shares some of the keys that all lab managers should consider when upgrading their lab's information system in a recent article in Medical Laboratory Observer magazine.
Also, read LigoLab's article - Market Differentiation and Unmatched Customer Service: Two Major Reasons Why You Should Consider LigoLab for Your LIS Upgrade.
Meanwhile, in TestDirectly: A Simple and Complete Solution for Labs Preparing for OSHA Employer Testing Requirements, LigoLab announces that its TestDirectly Direct-to-Consumer Portal can help labs prepare for what's expected to be a large increase in COVID-19 testing in 2022. The demand is expected to go up once new OSHA requirements take effect. (Suren Avunjian, ABL-Health LA)

MedWand Solutions is heading to the International Space Station in October on an Ansari re-supply rocket for evaluation and testing as a medical support conduit for Northrup Grumman's and NASA's initiative for human colonization of space, CEO Bob Rose has shared with ABL.
And, MedWand showcased the latest developments of its award-winning product at the 2022 CES in Las Vegas, and announced that it's now able to host FDA-approved Anomaly Indication algorithms through its cloud-based and scalable VirtualCare software platform. This capability further advances the science of telemedicine by enabling low-cost screening for life-threatening conditions that might be missed by primary providers unfamiliar with the symptoms.
Meanwhile, MedWand announced the launch of its newly formed strategic committee of trusted advisors, comprised of distinguished healthcare and industry leaders who will focus on shaping and guiding the strategy and go-to-market priorities of MedWand, working closely with the leadership team. The advisors are: Thomas Leffler, Transitioning CEO, Entrepreneur, Investor; Bob Kelley, CEO, ABL Organization; Bob Funari, Executive Chairman, Patient Care America; and Shan Padda, CEO, Entrepreneur and Investor. MedWand has submitted for 510(k) clearance by the FDA and is expected to be available for sale in multiple countries in early 2022. (Bob Rose, ABL-Health OC)

Mark Heinemeyer, CEO of PRODEO, co-authored a recent article in STAT - Preventing market failure in brain health: Moving toward fixes in investment, operations, and governance. An excerpt: "The existing workforce of health care providers cannot keep up with this brain health epidemic, and existing approaches to care are woefully inadequate. Screening is rarely implemented. Diagnosis is often subjective. Treatment is largely trial and error. Brain health technologies are key to addressing the global brain health crisis. These technologies span the "omics," digital therapeutics, artificial intelligence, robotics, and devices. They aim to improve the entire spectrum of care from prevention to screening, diagnosis, treatment, and continuing care. They can facilitate scale and equity (think apps and telehealth) along with personalization (think genetics)." (Mark Heinemeyer, ABL-Health OC)

In The Continuing Benefits of Telemedicine, Savi Group notes that although the benefits of telemedicine are many, ambivalence about payment options could impede progress and usage moving forward. There still needs to be a resolution on how to handle different reimbursement scenarios and value-based payment models. That being said, telemedicine is proven to be both efficient and highly useful as a way to extend access to healthcare.
And, in Key Skills Medical Billing Experts Bring to the Table, Savi Group highlights some of the most important skills its team keeps sharpened in order to stay ahead of the industry and provide the most helpful information possible to its clients. (Sumit Mahendru, ABL-Health OC)

A poll of 14,000 developers and tech recruiters by coding platform CodinGame and technical interview facilitator CoderPad found that nearly half of employers are struggling to find suitable candidates to fill tech roles. As a result, hiring managers predict that recruiting qualified developers will present their biggest recruitment challenge of 2022. This year, web development, DevOps and AI/machine learning are among the technical skills most sought after by tech recruiters, the survey found. Plans to hire full-stack engineers and back-end engineers are also expected to present a recruitment challenge because, while common roles, they are needed in such high numbers. When it comes to programming languages, JavaScript, Java and Python are the top three languages recruiters will look for in 2022. The research suggested that more employers are turning to freelancers and contractors to fill their skills gap: 42% of recruiters said they increased their reliance on contingent workers during the pandemic. (https://www.zdnet.com/article/finding-developers-is-going-to-be-your-biggest-hiring-headache-this-year/)

Meanwhile, some reports have suggested a third of tech workers plan on quitting in the next 12 months; others claim as many as three-quarters. What is clear, however, is that the workforce is already on the move. Figures from the US Labor Department show that workers quit in record numbers in November 2021, with 4.5 million leaving their employers. Given that the start of a new year is typically regarded as a time for fresh starts, it's likely that this wave of resignations is only going to accelerate in the coming weeks and months. (https://www.zdnet.com/article/new-year-new-job-the-tech-resignations-are-coming-so-get-ready/ )

57% of tech recruiters said they definitely or maybe would be willing to remove CVs from their recruitment process for developers, according to a hiring survey conducted by CodinGame and CoderPad in late 2021. Recruiters also demonstrated an openness to applicants from nonacademic backgrounds, with 39% saying they "regularly" drew from this pool over the past year. Another 41% said they drew from this pool of applicants, but "rarely." CodinGame and CoderPad gathered responses from 4,000 tech recruiters and 14,000 developers for its survey. Respondents came from across the globe. (https://www.ciodive.com/news/tech-talent-nontraditional-background-CVs/617156/)

Small manufacturers and those selling technology often don't relate to one another, according to a recent Forbes article. With that as a backdrop, here are four things that salespeople and the consultant class should avoid when reaching out to small manufacturers; in summary they are: Don't Use Consultant Speak or Tech Talk; Don't Develop Solutions in Search of Problems; Don't Show the Cadillac First; and Don't Treat Manufacturing Like Other Industries. (https://www.forbes.com/sites/ethankarp/2022/01/13/four-donts-for-selling-technology-to-small-manufacturers/?sh=15982a4e5277)

The PC market grew 14.8% in 2021, shipping the largest number of desktops, laptops, and workstations in a single year since 2012, according to data tracker IDC. Shipments were up over 34% from the industry's low point in 2017, to 349 million units, according to preliminary data. It's a noteworthy recovery for a sector that had been written off by tech investors and operators as a sleepy field in decline as recently as a few years ago as smartphones became the most important and highest-volume product in the electronics business. (https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/12/chart-pc-market-has-recovered-to-2012-levels-from-low-point-in-2017.html)

Technology that can charge devices from across the room or through walls is coming to market. Ossia and Energous, both proponents of the nascent technology, used CES 2022 to show off new products that'll keep security cameras, smart doorbells, hearing aids, and similar products continually charged while eliminating cables or charging pads. (https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/long-distance-wireless-charging-could-power-your-smart-home/)

Meanwhile, Georgia Tech researchers said they have come up with a way to tap into the excess energy from 5G networks and turn them into "a wireless power grid." Because 5G networks are specifically built for high-bandwidth connection, the FCC has authorized them to focus power much more densely than 4G networks. That means the high-frequency network will have a great deal of unused power that, unless "harvested," will be wasted, a spokesman said. That harvested energy could fuel the many battery-powered devices around us and even - via wearable electronics - inside our bodies, he said. (https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/harnessing-5g-excess-energy-could-end-battery-power)

For electric vehicles to become mainstream, they need cost-effective, safer, longer-lasting batteries that won't explode during use or harm the environment. Researchers at Georgia Tech and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology may have found a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries: Elastomers, or synthetic rubbers, are widely used in consumer products and advanced technologies such as wearable electronics and soft robotics because of their superior mechanical properties. The researchers found that the material, when formulated into a 3D structure, acted as a superhighway for fast lithium-ion transport with superior mechanical toughness, resulting in longer charging batteries that can go farther. (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220112121455.htm)

Meanwhile, automotive manufacturers are working with battery producers to ensure their supply of batteries for electric vehicles. Volkswagen invested in Sweden-based battery manufacturer Northvolt to obtain batteries designed, developed and assembled in Europe, while the US Department of Energy reports that more than a dozen new battery plants will be established in the US by 2025. (https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20220112VL201.html)

Members of Forbes Technology Council shared their predictions for the smart home technology tools and features they believe will be standard inclusions in new homes built over the next five to ten years. In summary, they are: construction to LEED standards; smart thermostats; intelligent waste management; resource-optimization systems; refrigerator touch screens, smart concierges; "empathetic" technology; environment-monitoring tech; closed, private networks; solar panels and electric charging stations; voice assistants; home security tech; UVC lamps for disinfection; smart self-tinting windows. (https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2022/01/14/14-smart-features-that-may-soon-be-standard-in-new-homes/?sh=5399a4b950af)

Serve Robotics, an Uber spinout that builds sidewalk delivery robots, is deploying its next generation of robots that are capable of completing some commercial deliveries without a human in the loop, according to the startup. That means in certain operational design domains, or geofenced areas, Serve won't be relying on remote operators to teleassist robots or followers to trail behind the robots for safety. Most companies in the industry lean on remote operators to monitor autonomous deliveries and take over driving in case the robot stops or needs help, so Serve's milestone is indeed a step toward progress in robotic deliveries. (https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/13/serve-robotics-new-autonomous-sidewalk-delivery-robots-dont-require-human-assist/)

2021 saw $29.1 billion raised by U.S. digital health companies across 729 deals, Rock Health reports. Also of note, 2021's 272 M&A deals almost doubled 2020's 146, and there were a record 23 public exits - nearly triple 2020's 8. Beneath all the funding, consolidation, exits, and consumer adoption, the digital health sector was reshaped by big forces of change in 2021 (think: data interoperability, business models, and talent wars) - and downstream effects in 2022 are likely. (https://rockhealth.com/rock-weekly/29-1b-across-729-deals-digital-health-funding-in-2021/)

All 2021 and 2022 LG smart TVs will be equipped with a health education and telehealth app from the senior-focused health platform Independa, Kian Saneii, Independa's CEO and an ABL-San Diego alum, has announced. The platform will allow users to set up and have telehealth appointments through their TV. While telehealth visits via apps on smartphones and computers have become normal for many patients during the pandemic, using a TV-sized screen to see a doctor can be helpful for people with eyesight issues, and also makes it easier for doctors to ask people to stand up or show more of their body during the visit. People who enable the Independa Health Hub on their TVs will also be able to message and video chat with friends and family members. (https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/4/22865640/lg-tv-telehealth-platform-independa)

Activity data from a Fitbit can predict changes in blood sugar control for adults with prediabetes, a condition that affects around one in three adults in the U.S., a new study shows. Tech companies are looking toward diabetes and blood sugar management as the next set of tools to incorporate into consumer-facing products like smartwatches and smart rings. (https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/13/22882382/activity-data-prediabetes-prediction-fitbit-wearable)

A new acoustic archery game will allow people living with blindness to experience virtual reality technology for the first time. It's part of a small growing number of experimental technological options for the visually impaired. The system lets users hear virtual environments rather than see them by translating images into sound waves. The research goal was to understand how people with blindness move and orient themselves in space. The platform, researchers said, may be used in the future to rehabilitate their orientation skills and enable independence, as Braille does for reading and writing. VR devices already offer solutions for improving the lives of vision-impaired users: Eye care professionals use different kinds of optical aids to magnify images to the retina; VR technology can accomplish these tasks in one instrument. Images can be magnified, contrast adjusted, the color changed to each patient's individual needs, and customized for each eye if needed. (https://www.lifewire.com/new-vr-tech-could-help-people-with-visual-impairments-5215440)

Tony Pfannkuche, a 17-year veteran of ABL, prior to retiring as the CEO of Bridge Executive Corporation to become an accomplished reader and commenter, consistently keeps our Inbox full of valuable articles, including this one from The New York Times, about which he writes: "I always thought that the great value of ABL was the diversity of its expert membership. Every discussion I attended provided a variety of perspectives and usually resulted in a clarification of knotty issues achieved through leveraging the long and varied experience of the members. I thought of this this morning when I read the long and very entertaining article about the provenance of the COVID mRNA vaccines, Halting Progress and Happy Accidents: How mRNA Vaccines Were Made. This should be recommended reading for ABL-ers."

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