There are currently three major trends in medical technology: Data, data and more data. There is data collected at the individual level that can be aggregated into data about populations. There are also numerous ways in which this data can be analysed, studied and used to benefit people.

By 2030, devices such as smartphones, wearables and the Internet of Things (IoT) are expected to be integral parts of our everyday lives. Never before in the history of medical research will so much information about individuals be collected and eventually aggregated into an unprecedented amount of Big Data.

Predicting future health outcomes
Some of this data is based on specific lifestyles, such as how much exercise we do or which bars and restaurants we frequent. Some of this data is collected by devices that monitor things like our heart rate and blood pressure.

When these data are linked together, they provide an extraordinary state description of a person's health and, given the right interpretation, help predict health outcomes. Since data without the proper interpretation has little meaning, we will also use tools that allow us to perform novel data analyses.

Using this data, doctors will be able to monitor the health of their patients. As a result, annual health checks will no longer be necessary. As soon as a problem occurs, doctors will be notified automatically. If a doctor advises their patient to change their diet or exercise more and they do not comply, this behaviour can also be recorded. Such features will help promote prevention as well as greater acceptance of healthcare systems.

Predictive medicine will be supported by analysing data from entire populations, as researchers have increased access to data generated by millions of people spanning most of their lives. This is leading to a significant increase in sample sizes.

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