Technology has the opportunity to enforce value-based healthcare system to deliver high quality care at a better cost. Technology also allows data collection to evaluate the patient outcome. Some challenges with healthcare technology are lack of sustainability due to lack of evaluation in time. Other risks include noncompliance with data protection policies, inadequate data governance, and over expectations from new technologies (1).
Evolution in the vaping technology has therapeutic qualities in the medical field that can be used in diseases like cancer (2). The recent researches have brought out some development in the use of medical marijuana with the aid of vaping. Through technology it is proven that different medicinal drugs could be inhaled as vapers that flow through the bloodstream and reach the lungs to fulfill the set purpose. Numerous changes are taking place in the field of technology that is bringing simultaneous changes in the vaping world as well.
Technology is growing at an exponential rate in the current world. Electronic devices are becoming smaller and more intelligent, and this is apparent in vaping as well. The traditional modern e-cigarette invention has led the e-cigarette industry into a multi-billion-dollar market. Then vaping evolve into a technologically-challenging business in which companies are competing to release the most advanced products possible (3).
Vape manufacturing and designing have risen significantly along with technological expansion. Technology ranges from touch screen capabilities and miniature PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards), to Bluetooth Geofencing which aims to combat minors’ vaping, Teens are clearly attracted to the marketable technology and flavorings seen in vaping devices. Juul’s latest report says that it is trying to control its users by collecting personal data to verify that a user is legally allowed to use its products. Juul C1 is a blue tooth enabled device that helps to monitor pull count, lock the device, and locate the device through a paired mobile app. But the users need to go through many privacy screening to access the app (4).
Figure 1- SMOK G-PRIV 2 Touchscreen 230W TC Mod Kit
Ejuice connect
As per Juul they are continuing to innovate and refine the features and functionalities of the app, to give adult smokers the opportunity to manage consumption of nicotine by providing them with options and tools to control their usage. At the same time, they are committed to restrict youth from accessing their products. (4). According to the company the usage data it collects on its users is de-identified and is not stored with their names. Data is securely stored using a randomized identifier that it assigns to a user’s phone and the identifier is not linked with personal information.
References
1) BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making(2018). Weighing benefits and risks in aspectsof security, privacy and adoption oftechnology in a value-based healthcare system. Retrievd from https://bmcmedinformdecismak.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12911-018-0700-0
2) Healthcare in America.(2018). How Technology Has Changed The Face of Vaping World. Retrieved from https://healthcareinamerica.us/ways-how-technology-has-changed-the-face-of-vaping-world-144fd6fdfe96
3) TMCNET Feature. (2019). Smart vaping – how e-cigarette technology is rapidly evolving Retrieved from https://www.tmcnet.com/topics/articles/2019/09/16/443252-smart-vaping-how-e-cigarette-technology-rapidly-evolving.htm
4) GIZMODO. (2019). Juul’s new e-cig sure is collecting a dumb amount of data about its users. Retrieved from https://gizmodo.com/juuls-new-e-cig-sure-is-collecting-a-dumb-amount-of-dat-1836971857
Annie's Blog 