2024 Healthcare, Consumer & Wellness Magazine

14 Healthcare, Consumer &Wellness • 15 Smart about health Everyday household items are increasingly able to monitor and improve our health through networked smart technology – the Internet of things (IoT). Flush of health As wastewater tests flagged Covid-19’s spread during the pandemic, future toilets will tell us much about our health. The flow, frequency, colour and consistency of urine and stool provide multiple biomarkers: from prostate cancer to chronic kidney disease and bowel cancer to celiac disease. Mirror, mirror A combination of facial recognition technology and AI will enable ever more sensitive ophthalmological (eyes), dermatological (skin) and orthopaedic (posture) scanning for changes in skin features such as rashes and moles, plus the retina, which manifests symptoms of diabetes and heart disease. Themicroplasticscycle Microplastic laundry waste is a significant global pollutant, ending up back in the food chain through crop fertilisers and seafood stocks as wastewater plants cannot filter it all out. Washing machines will filter more, while AI sensors will determine how dirty laundry is, cutting down on water and waste, supporting both human and animal health. Freezing time From checking expiration dates to suggesting healthy recipes and compiling shopping lists, smart fridges will enable us to make informed food choices. They’ll also support the environment by regulating temperature and lighting to extend a product’s shelf life. Mental health matters Stress, depression, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s could all become easier to detect by monitoring keyboard dynamics. Slower typing, longer pauses between keystrokes and lower variability, are, for example, linked to depression. Bath- room Kitchen Sweet dreams AI-controlled pillows, mattresses, lights, and blinds will promote sleep quality and health by tracking sleep patterns, adjusting lighting and temperature, plus optimizing head, and body positions to ensure deeper sleep, better airflow, and lower snoring. Bedroom Living room orhome office