Apple CEO Tim Cook made a surprise call to Jim Cramer on the 10th Anniversary of his show ,"Mad Money." Cramer is obviously a fan and was effusive about Cook and the job he is doing at Apple.
During the call, Cook spoke of several topics like Steve Jobs, world currency, etc., but he had some interesting things to say about Apple's new ResearchKit. Cook explained that in the 24 hours after Apple launched ResearchKit, 11,000 people signed up for a study on cardiovascular disease through Stanford University's app. He went on to say that it would have taken 50 medical centers a year to sign up that many people. He then called ResearchKit a "game changer."
Not everyone thinks ResearchKit will be all that helpful. In a recent article by Bloomberg, a professor from Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy seemed skeptical.
It remains to be seen how ResearchKit will affect the health industry, but my guess is Apple will find a way to keep the "noise" out and gather relevant data.
Later in the call, Cook hinted Apple is looking at the home and car as areas of interest, but said health may be the "biggest" one. Apple is clearly interested in being in every part of our lives and health is huge. If Apple devices can be the standard for tracking health issues it will not only enrich our lives, it will mean a windfall of cash for Apple.
During the call, Cook spoke of several topics like Steve Jobs, world currency, etc., but he had some interesting things to say about Apple's new ResearchKit. Cook explained that in the 24 hours after Apple launched ResearchKit, 11,000 people signed up for a study on cardiovascular disease through Stanford University's app. He went on to say that it would have taken 50 medical centers a year to sign up that many people. He then called ResearchKit a "game changer."
Not everyone thinks ResearchKit will be all that helpful. In a recent article by Bloomberg, a professor from Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy seemed skeptical.
“Just collecting lots of information about people -- who may or may not have a particular disease, and may or may not represent the typical patient -- could just add noise and distraction,” said Lisa Schwartz, professor at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, in an e-mail. “Bias times a million is still bias.”
It remains to be seen how ResearchKit will affect the health industry, but my guess is Apple will find a way to keep the "noise" out and gather relevant data.
Later in the call, Cook hinted Apple is looking at the home and car as areas of interest, but said health may be the "biggest" one. Apple is clearly interested in being in every part of our lives and health is huge. If Apple devices can be the standard for tracking health issues it will not only enrich our lives, it will mean a windfall of cash for Apple.