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This and very advanced sonogram technology that is coming are going to dramatically lower the cost and improve the capability of sonogram technology to the point it might be far better than even MRIs at a very small fraction of the cost. Medical will be the next mega market for semis both worn and in discrete devices. It's just human nature, people will pay up to stay alive and healthy.
Just one more example of how fast the market for semis in medical is moving. This particular device will probably see very widespread use and maybe become a device that's worn for extended times and be linked to a smart phone for even further functionality.
It's amazing that the stethoscope has not already been digitized before now. This is a promising use of semiconductor technology to improve heart diagnosis.
Dan, I feel almost everyone, including the readers here, are grossly underestimating the breadth and depth of where the semiconductors and related spin off technologies are going to grow. I see many semi fab technologies be scaled up to much larger form factors for micro devices and micro 3D printing.
The Worldwide Semiconductor Trade Statistics group reports that the total semi market was $336 billion in 2014, up 9.9% from 2013. For 2015 they predict growth of 4.9% to $352 billion, and up 3.1% again in 2016 to $363 billion.
Dan, I do think there may be a drop next year in the growth rate, but then an upward trend in growth for a number of years. I'm including areas like batteries, super caps, solar, robotics, display, medical, 3D printing, manipulation of materials on the nano level and other areas that use semi and semi related technologies. I feel many of the technologies in the semi sector have a number of spin off uses that almost fall into the area of unintended consequences. AMAT is an ideal example of a company that could develop additional revenue streams outside the traditional markets they serve. AMAT is what I consider in an ideal position to mine their IP for additional uses. Solar coupled with storage and medical are the next two hot areas. This I feel is going to average a ten percent growth rate plus that will accelerate over the years. Mems are an ideal example of the semi area that is growing faster than the semi market, but are based on semi technology. Companies that really mine and leverage their technology are going to be the real winners. This is what I mean by increasing breadth and depth in the semi and semi technology sector. Imagine the money involved in kicking over the electric utilities that use their corresponding governments to take advantage of their monopoly for extracting money. Our local utility is among the worst. It's a safe bet semi technology will far outpace the global economic growth rate very substantially.
This is sort of off topic. I just had an interesting discussion with my general practioner physician
during my recent physical. He knows I am a computer EDA software person. He basically said
that he does not believe in digital medicine. He called the new electronics "test tube" medicine
and thinks that AI and especially IBM's Big Blue computer are aimed at eliminating GPs.
I think he would say that current stethoscopes are much better at allowing physicians to apply
their medical intuition.
People in general don't like competition. A physician augmented by technology will be far more productive and provide vastly improved quality. The medical profession in the US provides 35th in quality and 4X the price of other industrialized countries. This is so bad it borders on criminal when we pay over three trillion for what should cost a trillion. There is more corruption in US medical than any other organization on earth. Many in medical are just protecting themselves to the detriment of all and the very health of the US economy. Medical debt in around a 100 trillion, medicare is the largest single debt item. Check out usdebtclock.org
I find it fascinating that your doctor would not use a digital attachment to a stethoscope to get a better diagnosis, in less time, at a lower cost, with a lower chance for a lawsuit.
Dan, I have suggested advanced surgical techniques used in other countries on tens of thousands of surgeries and where the information was available and got the people wouldn't go for that here, meaning the medical people wouldn't even try it here.
