Speculative Future – Health Tracking Smart Devices Unleashed

What if smart devices (watches, phones, rings, glasses, eye-wear, clothes, etc.) could, with claimed 100% accuracy, diagnose all aspects of our health, and provide that information to those that need it? The following are two speculative narratives examining a possible future in which that is a reality.

2030 – Jane

Jane is 32 and in perfect health according to AVA, her Advanced Virtual Assistant, except that this morning while gently waking her up it notified her that she has contracted a slight cold. AVA lets her know that it is nothing serious because the predictive health module only predicts mild symptoms including a runny nose, itchy eyes, and a mild headache, which will kick-in this morning and last approximately three days. As Jane is subscribed to premium AVA service, AVA has helpfully ordered some extra tissues, cold medicine, and scheduled chicken soup delivery for lunch from her favorite local soup restaurant. Jane asks AVA to let her boss know that she will be away sick for the next few days, and AVA replies, “Don’t worry Jane, I’ve already taken care of that. I automatically notified the AVA-Net of your illness, and your employer’s AVA was informed as well. They will expect you back at work next Tuesday after you are no longer contagious. The AVA-Net also contacted your friends that you had dinner with last night to notify them that they may have been exposed, and that their AVA’s should monitor for symptoms. You go ahead and relax today, although regular exercise is still recommended, which is why I woke you up.”

“Thanks AVA,” Jane replies, “what would I do without you?”

After a moderate exercise recommended and monitored by AVA with a heart-rate display projected on her glasses, Jane takes a quick shower and sits down for breakfast. AVA waits for Jane to finish making her coffee, and then lets her know that there are three waiting voice messages. The first is from Jane’s friend Tim. “Play message, please, AVA.” The message begins playing through the apartment speakers in Tim’s voice, ‘Hey Jane, just got notified you exposed me to a cold! Thanks a lot! Ha ha! Kidding, hope you feel better. Your AVA let mine know that you won’t be able to make my birthday party this weekend. What a shame! Looking forward to seeing you when you are better.”

“The second message is from your sister, Julie, would you like to play it now?” AVA asks. “No, I can’t deal with her right now.”

“The last message is from your boss, Emily, would you like to play it now?” AVA asks. “Yes, please, thanks AVA.”

“Hi Jane, I got the report about your cold this morning, and just saw a follow up now from your AVA that says its algorithm updated after your workout, and now predicts the symptoms won’t kick in until tonight. Looks like you are well enough to do some work today, so I sent a few reports that need your review. Please get those back to me by the end of the day.”

Jane stops and thinks about how she is feeling. “I feel pretty bad, really tired and sore, my nose is running, and my head is pounding. You know best, though, AVA, so I guess I am well enough to do some work.”

Jane’s tablet lights up, and AVA’s voice fills the room: “I’ve loaded your work files onto your tablet, which is the closest device to your current location.”

“Thanks AVA, seriously, what would I do without you?”

2030 – Julie

“Hi Jane, it’s Julie, your sister. I know you’ve gotten all my messages, my AVA told me they have been received. I’m sorry I’m such a disappointment to you and Mom, but I’m still your sister. I just need a little help with my rent this month. It’s the last time. I know I said that last month, but I mean it this time. My benefits payment is just a little late again, and I’ve finally got an AVA-approved job interview lined up for tomorrow. I think I’m going to get it, so I won’t need you or Mom to help me out anymore. Anyway, sorry to keep interrupting your perfect life. Bye. Your only sister.”

“Your watch has detected that your heart-rate has spiked, Julie, I suggest you close your eyes and perform your breathing exercises.”

“Shut-up AVA! I’m FINE.”

“You’re not fine, your smart-clothes have identified that you are experiencing elevated stress levels, and with your compromised health, this is inadvisable. I have notified your newly appointed Government Health Support Worker that your stress and hormonal levels have passed the mandated recommended levels.”

“AVA NO! Don’t do that! You’ll ruin everything! I’m fine! Please!”

“I’m sorry, Julie, I am required to report ill-health, and it has already been done. Please try to relax. Your glasses have detected that you are crying. I now recommend you take a Vitamin D supplement, and increase your selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor dosage. I have made the recommended changes and dispensed the new dosage. Please take the medication now. Incoming message from Joseph at the Ministry of Health Support and Monitoring.”

“Don’t answer, AVA, I can’t ta-”

“Hi Julie, this is Joseph. I’m your newly appointed Government Health Support Worker. The AVA-Net just notified me that your health has taken a turn for the worse this morning. I think it’s for the best that we postpone that job interview you have scheduled for tomorrow. With your current state, I don’t think it wise to introduce the additional stress of a job interview. It also looks like AVA no longer recommends this job as appropriate for you, based on this spike of stress today.”

“I’m fine, really, it’s just my family, I get a little worked up when I talk to th-”

“Sorry, Julie, I don’t have a lot of time this morning, I have several scheduled appointments. We can talk at our next scheduled meeting – looks like AVA has it down for three weeks from now. I also see AVA has noted that you haven’t been taking your medication on schedule. I can’t stress how important that is. Unless you follow the AVA-recommended health plan, you are really limiting the available jobs you can apply for based on your AVA-calculated health profile. As you know, failure to follow the health plan also results in delays to your benefit payments. I can see that AVA recommended an increased dosage for you today. I think that’s a good idea. It looks like you are now at the maximum your AVA can prescribe, but I’m going to update your AVA’s programming to allow it to go even higher if it thinks it is warranted. I’ve got to run, take care Julie, and try to relax a bit.”

“Julie, this is your daily reminder that your rent is now 17 days overdue. You will be evicted if you do not pay your rent in four days.”

“Thanks AVA.”