News roundup

Google project glass is augmented reality the way it was meant to be

Sometimes a futuristic promotional video actually shows you something that you could actually use in your own life. This is one of those times. The Google Glass project is essentially the marriage of Google’s cloud services such as calendars, chat, maps, etc. with augmented reality glasses.

Agile diagnosis service launches for HCPs

A new, VC-backed, service is launching with a website and mobile option to help physicians make diagnoses based on best practices. This represents an alternative way to generate best practices from the established associations, expect a backlash from those groups.

New dads are big social media users too

Dads have been getting a lot more respect lately, ever since Huggies’ #poopstorm fiasco. This report from eMarketer shows that they are more active on social media than other men.

Mobile devices may be creating “distracted doctors” argues Kaiser report

This story looks at the flip-side of the mobile productivity argument: the problems with being distracted while practicing medicine. The article links to some studies that purport to show an increase in distraction and clinical errors for physicians who have smartphones with alerts turned on. The article discusses the issue in a balanced way and is worth a look.

TRUSTe launches mobile ad privacy tool

Like the self-regulatory program for online ads, this effort from TRUSTe, an internet security certificate vendor, is an industry option that might forego governmental interference. This tool essentially gives mobile users the ability to opt-out of tracking on their devices, but only from cooperating advertisers. It remains to be seen if this initiative gains traction.

Industry abuzz over FTC’s indictment of “data-brokers”

The FTC has released it’s Final Commission Report on Protecting Consumer Privacy to mixed reviews. The report is very positive about the industry’s work to create the self-regulatory body for behavioral advertising but comes down hard on a group it calls “data brokers”. The article seems to imply that data brokers could be anyone, but the FTC document has a term for “first-parties” as well, and this would seem to be any company that is dealing with its own data.

Check the article and FTC site and decide for yourself.

As smartphones become health aids, ads may follow

This article discusses the split between younger demographics using their mobile devices to search for and consume health information versus their older parents who are using desktop and laptop technologies to do the same thing. The two groups have different health concerns that they target, and this can result in different advertising approaches for different pharma brands.

In related news, MobiHealthNews has a summary article all about mobile ads. Read this for a “state of the nation” on mobile advertising.

48% of HCPs use social media for professional networking

A new study on how HCPs use social media in their jobs.

• 48% use SM for professional purposes
• 41% of physicians cited use of mobile devices or tablets for healthcare-related content or jobs in 2011
• Facebook was once again chosen by 3 out of 4 healthcare professionals surveyed as their most favored site for career-seeking opportunities

New generation of drugs calls for new generation of media

As small-molecule blockbusters go off-patent the industry is trending toward specialty biologics. These drugs have smaller audiences that are easier to find online than in mass-media. Digital is the cornerstone for these campaigns.

Boehringer Ingelheim hands off the keys to Drive4COPD

After creating the Drive4COPD and “learning a lot about social media”, Boehringer is handing it over to the COPD Foundation with annual funding.

In related news, as reported last week in Klick Wire, Roche has a site called Diabetes Nest that is based on tweets. This MM&M article talks about the algorithm that decides which tweets to include.

Everyday Health focuses on video on YouTube

Everyday Health is launching the channel with 10 hours of new programming, and the company plans to add 90 minutes of new content every week. While the team behind the project describes the new channel in both broadcast and internet terms, all said the YouTube platform offers flexibility that standard broadcast does not — if audiences aren’t interested, Everyday Health can retool content until they are.

With online doctor quiz, edugaming dons lab coat

Gamification meets HCP CME. The Cleveland Clinic and MDLinx site is using gamification tactics to bring CME to a wider audience.

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