10 Crazy Christmas Robots

Christmas is here with us, and there is no better time than now to spend time with loved ones. It is also a great time to explore fun things that trigger those childhood emotions, like the crazy Christmas robots. Speaking about robots, here are the 10 crazy Christmas robots.

An evil Christmas robot from the TV show Futurama

If you've watched Futurama, you are no stranger to the four-ton antagonist Robot Santa Clause. You probably even recall some of his crazy lines, "You DARE bribe Santa, I'm gonna shove coal so far up your stocking, you'll be coughing up diamonds."

Initially, the robot version of Santa was designed to judge whether people were nice or naughty and sort out presents accordingly. But a programming error set its morality standards too high. So, the Robot Santa sees everyone as naughty, save for Zoidberg.

So, every Christmas Eve, Evil Santa rides his robot-reindeer-sleigh to Earth to judge the naughty. And that scares everyone. Like when Fry, a character in the movie, tries to find a perfect gift for Leela, he has to hurry before the robotic, homicidal Santa finds him, chops his head off, and fills his neck with toys from his sack of horror.

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Santa Suit from Invader Zim

Zim, a character in the Christmas series, Invader Zim, creates a robot Santa Suit, an elaborate disguise to make himself look like Santa Clause. He uses sophisticated technology to make the suit, and hopes to control the Earth's population. But Zim ends up losing control as the Santa Suit grows a conscience and believes itself to be the real Santa. So it goes around the Earth and comes back every Christmas to destroy cities – and people try to keep him out using various creative methods.

Buddy 3000 from Netflix's Jingle Jangle

Everyone is obsessed with Buddy 3000, the Christmas robot from holiday musical Jingle Jangle. Buddy, a charming little robot, plays a crucial part in the film’s storyline, and fans cannot get enough of its magical charm. It has quickly become a huge fan-favorite because of how adorable it is and how it provides answers to Jeronicus's money worries.

One subscriber took to Twitter, saying that Netflix should to send all Jingle Jangle fans their very own Buddy for Christmas. Another one said that they better make a Buddy doll. And another added, “I have five siblings asking for the robot. Do something about it, please.”

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Sadly, no Jingle Jangle robot is currently available at the time of writing. But there's a Buddy in the market – an emotionally intelligent robot that can serve as a personal assistant and playmate. It can even sing jingle bells and other Christmas songs.

Toy Santa from the Santa Clause 2

The toy Santa is the main antagonist of Santa Clause 2. Curtis, the Keeper of the Book Elf, created it to replace Scott while he was away against Bernard's wishes. At first, the Toy Santa did his work pretty well. But as he understood everything about being Santa from the handbook, he went a little too far with the rules.

After confirming the nice-naughty list, he ruled that all children around the globe were naughty for one reason or the other. So he went all-out, building an army of toy soldiers and made it known that he would give all children a lump of coal.

When Scott came back to stop him, the Toy Santa flew in his sleigh. Scott followed him on Chet the Reindeer. The elves caught him and turned him into a small toy.

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Dancing Santa

Dancing Santa robots come in different shapes, sizes, and heights. They can sing, dance, and even offer holiday greetings. Unlike most of the Christmas robots listed above, the dancing Santa is friendly and is sure to make you smile.

Big Tex

Big Tex, a Texas State Fair icon, is one of the most iconic Christmas robot Santas of all time. But it met its untimely death after six decades of entertaining the locals and foreigners alike. Big Tex was a 52-ft-tall Santa made out of iron and paper-mache meant to attract shoppers and tourists to Kerens, TX. But it was destroyed after a purported electrical fire.

Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands is all about the power of Christmas. Edward, an artificial humanoid, is an unfinished creation with scissor blades instead of hands.

Turbo-Man from Jingle All the Way

Turbo Man, a red-and-gold rocker-powered robot, is the new and hottest toy in the US. Every father worth his son's adoration secured it early before it's sold out. But one workaholic dad forgot. So he tries to do everything within his power – beg, borrow, buy, or even steal one to make his 7-year-old Christmas dream come true. In the end, he turns himself into a Turbo Man – and the special effects are shockingly cheesy.

Turbo Man is a fictional superhero character, toy, and franchise within the Christmas film Jingle All the Way. It is one of the most sought-after toys that kids wanted under their Christmas tree.

Robots in WALL.E

WALL.E is the last robot left on the planet, programed to clean the Earth, one trash cube at a time. But he later grows conscience and becomes highly curious and inquisitive, and somewhat lonely. Along with WALL.E, there's also EVE the probe-doid, M-O the cleaner bot, and Auto. While not a movie centered on Christmas, the robots are sure to breathe the fresh air you need this holiday season.

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Aeolus robotics

Last but not least is the Aeolus robot. This is not a Christmas robot per se, but one that you can get for Christmas. It is an adorable, intelligent robot that can do a little bit of everything around the house. It can deliver food or even find lost items within the house. It uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to learn from people and their surroundings. It is designed to help enhance home safety and help move furniture, clean the house, and even mop floors. Imagine how handy this robot can be this Christmas – delivering presents around the house and cleaning after people. Besides, you could use some entertainment – much of which robots offer.

 

 

 

What are the Newest Hospital Technologies?

The healthcare industry is ripe for some major changes. From patient care and treatment to research and marketing, there are endless opportunities to use technology to deliver more accurate, efficient, and quick interventions at the right moment in a patient’s care. Here are some of the newest hospital technologies and their uses.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the newest hospital technologies today. It is becoming more sophisticated at doing what humans do, but in a precise, quick and affordable way. AI can help in medical diagnosis, mental and behavioral health, medical marketing, human resource management and more.

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Hospitals are now using AI in HR management to streamline workflows. This will allow health care providers to serve maximum patients on any given day without compromising quality. Hospitals are also integrating AI systems to the workflow and scheduling software to allow for real-time adjustments whenever appointments and cancelations come in.

In addition to optimizing workflows, AI is also helping in-clinic decision support systems. It uses electronic health data to get a decision-making outline for enhancing the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of different illnesses based on treatment history patterns, health, and demographics.

AI is also widely used in:

Robotic technology

Robotics, like AI, is quickly changing the healthcare landscape. While the history of robots in healthcare dates back to 1985, there have been massive improvements in the area. Thanks to advances in sensor and motion control technologies, robots are way more autonomous and precise than in the age of PUMA 200. They are not only capable of helping but performing complex surgeries themselves.

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The integration of robots into healthcare operations offers a range of benefits:

Robots are widely used in orthopedics and surgery. In 2019, a surgeon leveraged robotics and 5G internet to perform remote surgery on the brain of a Parkinson’s patient who was nearly 1,900 miles away.

This new technology plays a vital role in creating new care models for the growing senior population. It also solves the challenge of delivering quality solutions to new and underserved markets. In both cases, robotics helps facilities to cut down costs. And the best part is that the current robotic systems are pretty impressive. Surgeons can do more operations in comparable time as before, but with higher success rates.

Blockchain

Blockchain is one of the newest and most important technologies in the world. It is a time-stamped series of unchangeable records of information managed by a network of computers instead of a centralized authority.

Blockchain has extensive uses and applications in healthcare:

Ledger technology can also help manage and prevent future pandemics. This is especially critical, considering how COVID-19 has put the healthcare system to its greatest test of the century. Healthcare systems have had a challenge storing and circulating data in real-time. But now, the CDC in collaboration with IBM and WHO is set to use blockchain to monitor, store, and distribute sensitive data in real-time to facilities for effective and uniform management of the virus.

Other common uses of blockchain technology in healthcare include ownership and security of digital assets, fixing digital display advertising and changing data collections.

Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)

IoMT refers to all medical devices and applications that can connect to the health care data technology system using the internet. The technology facilitates the transition from reactive-to-preventative patient-oriented care.

The IoMT sector is fast-growing and has multiple innovations underway. From patient diagnostic machines to smart monitors, radical solutions are being created to take care of the health care challenges.

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According to Deloitte, the IoMT market is projected to hit the $158.1 billion mark in 2022. Some common uses of IoMT include:

Virtual reality and Augmented Reality 

From improving the patient experience to changing the way medical students learn, these new technologies transform the way things are done in hospitals. Virtual and augmented reality technologies have the potential to make surgical planning easier. Even the most experienced surgeon may come across surprises when performing surgery. But virtual reality and augmented reality may make those instances less common.

The ability to see the inside of the human body in VR is useful to patients and doctors alike. VR allows surgeons to educate patients about their surgical plan. This enhances the understanding of treatment, leading to more patient satisfaction.

Additionally, VR has the unique ability to transport patients to an entirely different place. So, doctors use it to create robust simulations of scenarios where psychological difficulties happen. This cuts out the need for therapists to accompany patients on a trip to a tall building or market place for real-life situations. Other AR/VR uses include:

Personalized mobile applications

Mobile apps are not only great for patient engagement but monitoring and treatment as well. There are vast patient scenarios that use mobile apps in 2020. For instance, one can schedule appointments, check-in, upload medical records, or even get test results through apps.

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Apps help hospitals reduce operational costs, thanks to their ability to relieve some pressure on caregivers, receptionist duties and waiting times. Other common uses of apps include communication and healthcare marketing – helping hospitals get in front of customers. And with the widespread use of mobile devices, app use is only set to increase in the coming years.

Precision medicine

Precision medicine is a new hospital technology that allows doctors to select therapies and medicines to treat patients based on their medical and genetic make-up. Personalization makes treatment more effective. It attacks problem areas (like tumors) based on the patient’s specific proteins and genes. This makes it easy for cancer to be destroyed by treatment.

Other than cancer treatment, precision medicine is also effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It uses the same mechanism to destroy RA's vulnerable genes, weakening the disease and reducing symptoms.

3D printing

3D printers are among the newest technologies on the market today. Experts use these printers to create implants and joints used in surgeries. 3D prosthetics are especially popular, thanks to their unprecedented levels of comfort and mobility. These solutions are usually highly personalized, thus match up the patient’s exact measurements. Other uses of 3D printing in healthcare include printing pills containing multiple drugs and even creating human cells and tissue.

 

10 New Medical Technologies for 2020

The medical industry has grappled with inefficient processes, rising healthcare costs, poor quality of care, poor healthcare access and lack of patient-specific treatment for far too long. But the consistent advances in medical technologies have created huge shifts in the way solutions are rendered.

Today, physicians are able to diagnose and treat patients better. Patients, on the other hand, can access quality, affordable and timely care, sometimes, from the comfort of their own homes.

According to industry analysts, increased accessibility of care is one of the most tangible ways medical technology has changed healthcare. But still, areas like patient care, research, education, and disease control are also seeing massive transformation, thanks to technology.

Healthcare is ever-changing and we expect to see further evolutions in the coming years. But here are 10 new medical technologies for 2020.

1. 5G capability 

5G is a new medical technology trend that’s set to transform medicine and healthcare delivery. Although still in its infancy, 5G is set to transform the healthcare sector by boosting capacity and speed while reducing latency. 5G networks will facilitate telemedicine initiatives, support remote patient monitoring tools, transmit large medical images, and enable more sophisticated uses of Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. Additionally, it will allow for faster communication and downloads on smartphones and tablets used in healthcare settings. Ericsson predicts a $76 billion revenue opportunity in 2026 for those addressing healthcare changes with 5G networks.

2. 3D printing

3D printing is a way of converting virtual 3D models into real-time 3D objects. This medical technology is widely used in the manufacturing of medical devices like prosthetic limbs, orthopedic and dental implants, medicine educational models, and surgical instruments. Additionally, 3D bioprinting is used to develop personalized and precision pharmaceuticals as well as living human tissue or cells for use in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Patient-specific 3D printed models are becoming increasingly useful in today’s practice of customized treatments and precision medicine – which explains its uptake. The healthcare 3D printing market is estimated to surpass the $5.5billion mark by 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.5% within that time.

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3. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI-powered medical technologies are quickly transforming into applicable solutions in the healthcare sector. Deep learning algorithms can handle the increasing amounts of data delivered by smartphones, implants, wearable devices, and other mobile tracking sensors in vast areas of medicine. At the moment, experts are using AI to detect epilepsy seizures, atrial fibrillation, hypoglycemia, as well as diagnose diseases based on medical imaging or histopathological tests. AI and machine learning will play an even bigger role in the coming years, helping healthcare experts with everything from note-taking to oncology screenings. In fact, it is projected to grow from $4.9 billion to 45.2 billion from 2020-2026 at a CAGR of 44.9%.

4. Surgical Robots

Surgical robots are computer-controlled, self-powered devices that can be programed to help in the manipulation and positioning of surgical instruments. Surgeons use robotic surgery because it offers greater visualization and precision. It gives them better flexibility, control, and accuracy. Unlike traditional surgery with incisions, robotic surgery allows for shorter hospitalization, minimal scarring, reduced pain and discomfort, and faster recovery times. In 2019, the surgical robot market was valued at $4.97 billion, but it’s projected to record a CAGR of 21.9% from 2020-2025 (forecast period).

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5. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in healthcare

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in the healthcare market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 30.2% over the period 2018-2023, according to a new Market Research Future report. These new medical technologies for 2020 offer feasible solutions to many challenges in the healthcare industry, including patient diagnosis, medical student training, surgery assistance, and body mapping. AR & VR are broadly used to improve surgical processes, treat neurological and psychiatric conditions, and also as part of hospice care.

6. Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)

IoMT is a group of medical devices and applications connected to healthcare IT systems through online computer networks. The medical devices “things,” which are internet-enabled, allow machine-to-machine communication, that’s the basis of IoMT technology. In 2016, IoMT revenues amounted to $24 billion globally, with the number estimated to rise to over $135 billion by 2025. IoMT not only makes patient care personalized and cost-effective, it also decreases hospital admissions since medical professionals can monitor and even treat patients remotely. The rise of implantable and wearable devices in healthcare has made preventative care accessible to patients around the globe. Please check this website to learn more about IoT.

7. Cloud computing 

The cloud provides on-demand computing by leveraging cutting-edge technology to access, deploy, and use network data, resources, and applications. The broad adoption of cloud computing in the medical sector goes beyond storing data in the cloud. Healthcare professionals are now using this medical technology to optimize workflows, gain efficiencies, offer customized solutions, and lower the cost associated with service delivery. Driven by the increasing adoption of IoT and big data analytics, research shows that the industry is expected to reach $35.0 billion by 2022.

8. Telemedicine

Telemedicine involves the use of digital data and communication technologies like smartphones, wearables, and computers to access healthcare solutions remotely and manage health conditions. This medical technology is widely embraced for a range of reasons, including making health care accessible in remote areas and making services more convenient and readily available for those with limited time, mobility, or transport options. M-health also improves communication and coordination of care among doctors and patients and offers support for self-management of healthcare. According to the Market Research Future analysis, the global telemedicine market is estimated to reach $16.17 billion, with a 22.74% CAGR from 2017-2024.

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9. Chatbots

Chatbots have become prevalent in recent years, mostly because of dramatic technological advances in machine learning and natural language processing. Today’s bots are more responsive, smarter, and more useful, and the best is yet to come. Chatbots mimic spoken or written human speech to simulate interaction or conversation with a real person. These powerful tools can take care of client engagement, lead generation, dispatching information on drugs and medications, and even help with medical equipment. In the face of the Coronavirus, chatbots have been a natural choice for disseminating critical health information to vast populations.

10. Predictive analytics

Predictive analytics is a medical technology that uses past data to make future predictions, customizing patient care. An experienced medical expert can use a person’s demographic, recent medical history, and behaviors to predict the future. For instance, they can identify patients with an increased risk of developing a condition and address the precursors before it’s late. The predictive model also allows providers to react quickly to changes in the patient’s vital and detect deterioration at an early stage before the symptoms are apparent. The global predictive analytics market was worth $2.2 billion in 2018 and is estimated to reach $8.46 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 21.2%, according to Allied Market Research.

Technologies That Will Revolutionize Healthcare

Technology is transforming medicine everywhere, from the patient’s home to the operating room. Patients are now able to access quality and timely care without having to leave their homes. Doctors, too, can diagnose, treat, and monitor patients in a way that was never thought possible thanks to technologies that will revolutionize healthcare. 

According to one survey, doctors are increasingly using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for clinical decision support, population health, and disease management. The study further revealed that in 5 years, the value of VR in healthcare and medicine would grow over 30X, from $8.8 million in 2017 to $285 million in 2022. 

With that in mind, let’s now look at some of the technologies that will revolutionize healthcare in the coming days.

Artificial Intelligence

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Artificial intelligence is already being used by doctors and hospitals around the world for disease diagnosis, detection and prevention.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is getting increasingly sophisticated at replicating what humans do, only faster, cheaper, and more efficiently. The applications for AI in healthcare are vast. One of the biggest potential benefits of AI in healthcare is to help individuals stay healthy, so they don't need a medical caregiver, or at least not as often. AI, along with the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), encourages healthier behaviors in people and help with proactive management of a healthy lifestyle.

AI is widely used for the early detection of diseases like cancer. AI-powered systems evaluate thousands of pathology images from different cancers for an accurate diagnosis. They then suggest the most suitable anti-cancer drug combination. In imaging diagnostics, AI allows radiologists to identify details (like cancer cells) that wouldn't be visible to the human eye.

Beyond diagnosis, AI allows doctors to better coordinate treatment plans, take a more holistic approach for disease management and assist patients to better manage and adhere to their long-term treatment plans. It improves the ability of medical professionals to better understand the daily patterns and needs of their patients to provide better guidance, feedback and support.

The best opportunities for AI in the coming years are hybrid models, where doctors are supported in diagnosis, risk factor identification and treatment planning, but retain the primary responsibility for patient care. This will lead to speedy adoption by medical professionals.

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality 

Augmented reality (AR) involves the use of displays, cameras, and sensors to transmit digital data to the real world. It starts with a real-life view of something and then projects 3D images onto the screen. Virtual reality (VR), on the other hand, creates an immersive simulated environment through expensive technology like headsets and motion sensors.

VR has changed the way students get medical training. It allows the creation of realistic simulation systems and safe environments where surgeons can acquire more experience without risking the life of a patient. Besides, the ability to stream operations in real-time allows students to learn, irrespective of their physical location.

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Virtual reality and augmented reality are going to revolutionize the way we train and educate a future generation of doctors and medical scientists.

In addition to learning, augmented reality plays a critical part in the efficient detection, prevention, and treatment of different diseases. With AR, a physician can look through layers of a patient's body – assess their organs, veins, and lesions without penetration. Both AR and VR can offer models for planning surgery and playing out different scenarios to maximize sequence and prepare alternative actions for any situation. Just recently, scientists at Cambridge built a VR 3D model of cancer, offering a new way to look at the disease. This system allows multiple users to examine the tumor, no matter where they are in the world.

The remarkable progress in AR/VR in the last few years is the result of decades of research and development in software, computing, graphics processing, AI, and the internet. In 2020, these technologies are widely embraced for their ability to manage pain and PTSD, motivate a healthy lifestyle, enhance medical training, improve surgery processes, and improve post-surgery recovery.

3D Printing

Different areas within the healthcare industry are benefiting from 3D printing, including dental and orthopedics. This technology is providing new and exciting ways to deliver personalized treatment and create better-performing medical devices.

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3D printing is a valuable tool to help hospitals and doctors prepare for surgery and other medical procedures with accuracy and precision.

Today, 3D printing is widely used to create personalized surgical tools and true-to-form organs, using a patient's medical imaging. Plus, with the affordability of desktop 3D printers and the accessibility of medical CAD/CAM software, more hospitals are implementing 3D printing labs. It's in these labs that doctors create accurate 3D-printed models to help in pre-surgical planning. The anatomical models assist surgeons to assess the treatment decisions better and plan operations more accurately.

3D printing is also influencing how surgical tools are created. Instruments like scalpel handles, hemostats, forceps, and clamps can be made using 3D printers. Customized tools facilitate speedy and less traumatic procedures, improve the surgeon's agility, and drive better surgery outcomes. It also creates dental products faster and cheaply and allows specialized care through customized implants and instruments

Today, 3D printing is facilitating surgical teams both outside (anatomical models) and inside (surgical tools) the theaters. Projections show that medical 3D printing will become the backbone of the industry. In 2020, top labs and hospitals are adopting the technology as part of their practices and research efforts, a validation of its value for medical applications.

Robotics 

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Robotics have been used by hospitals for decades. With emerging technological advances in AI and IoT, robotics faces a bright future in the medical field.

Healthcare robotics technologies are changing the healthcare landscape for the better. They are not only relieving healthcare providers from repetitive tasks, but they are also making medical procedures safer and affordable for patients. Robots currently work alongside surgeons during surgery, but they could also operate by themselves. The sales of surgical robots are expected to double this year to $6.4 billion.

Robotic medical assistants track patients' vital signs and statistics and notify caregivers when they need to step in. This allows nurses to care for multiple patients at one go. The assistants also automatically key data into the patient electronic medical record. Other uses of robotic technologies include disinfecting patient rooms, collecting, transporting, analyzing and storing samples, preparing and dispensing medication in labs and so on. Robots are also used in rehabs, in labs and hospitals for repetitive tasks, in physical therapy and a multitude of other areas of health care.

Although robotic technology is expensive, its use is revolutionizing healthcare in many ways and will continue to do so. Da Vinci Surgical system is the most common surgical robot today – though it was launched about 15 years ago.

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Many advances in technology are revolutionizing the healthcare industry, with new applications virtually every day. With technologies of the future, anything is possible.

Internet of Things (wearable devices)

Our list of healthcare technologies wouldn't be complete without us mentioning the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT is a network of physical devices that use the internet to allow the exchange of data. This technology has opened up a whole new world of possibilities within the medical industry. When connected online, ordinary devices can gather critical data, provide additional insight into trends and symptoms, allow virtual care and give patients more control over their medical treatment and care. This tech is also a great idea for nursing homes and senior living communities.

Real-time monitoring through connected devices can save lives in case of a medical emergency like an asthma attack, diabetes, heart failure, etc. Real-time tracking means a smart medical device being linked to a smartphone app. Connected devices gather invaluable data and use the internet to send the information to a doctor. These devices collect and send health data like blood sugar levels, blood pressure, weight, oxygen levels, and ECGs.

IoT allows medical professionals to gather an enormous amount of data about a patient's condition, which would otherwise take many years to collect manually. This data can be used for different studies that would support research and also improve service deliverability and data privacy.