[Corbu]

Why the BlackBerry-NantHealth acquisition is a marriage made in heaven

Blackberry 10 hasn’t set off cash registers ringing in the consumer space because of perceived notions and inertia on behalf of the customers to switch devices based on the lack of app ecosystem. John Chen, the current BlackBerry CEO, understands this precarious situation and that’s why the focus is back on enterprise, where Blackberry is entrenched in its niche. It must be remembered that BlackBerry was an enterprise company before it became big in the consumer space too. And in order to put the company back on the road to profitability and resurgence, Chen is making inorganic acquisitions, one of them in recent past in NantHealth.

As a medical professional, I believe this is an acquisition made with tremendous foresight. To understand the acquisition in perspective, one needs to understand why Blackberry 10, based on QNX, is the ideal way out. A real time operating system is able to process multiple application requests by processing data as it comes in, with the level of consistency that concerns the amount of time that it takes to complete an application’s task. This comes with the guarantee of the software’s delivery of execution dedicated to a narrow set of applications. The minimal interrupt latency and several other algorithms that work in tandem by resource sharing characterize it. QNX is based on the microkernel operating system that has seen its deployment in mission-critical industries and scenarios- ranging from Air Traffic Control to nuclear power plant systems to car infotainment systems to critical medical technology like angiography and cardiac monitors, linear accelerators for cancer treatment and ECG machines, to name a few.

The present range of medical equipment is easily hackable--devices ranging from infusion pumps for administration of life saving drugs that can be overridden to deliver false dosages without leaving logs, defibrillators that are operated by insecure Bluetooth stacks delivering more than intended shocks, costly X-Ray equipment that can be left switched on intermittently to deliver low dose radiation and the worst, digital electronic medical records that can be easily manipulated to target individual patients. These devices can be programmed to wipe out logs by themselves in order to remove traces of fraudulent activity.

They are also marked by weak administrator passwords connected to internal networks vulnerable to determined hackers without any software firewalls.

Today's medical devices are also powered by disparate operating systems and technologies that have not seen any incremental improvement in the past few decades and are definitely not coded for the present day threats. Although most devices are governed by FDA Rules, these are arcane and archaic without clarity on how they need to evolve to regulate and securely patch the systems. Once you determine the sheer numbers and disparate devices, the enormity and complexity of the task sinks in.

There is a huge amount of data that is generated in the clinical, operational and financial environment which brings forth its own inter-related issues of cost and quality of health care delivery at various levels.

Various stake holders seek to define optimal patient outcomes based on prevailing standards of care, often in the absence of universally agreed cost models.

NantHealth acts as a middleware integrator through its Clinical Operating System that seeks to draw data from disparate sources like labs, patient accounting system, medical devices, wearable sensors and electronic patient health records. Add genomic data to the mix and you can integrate this deluge of information to be processed through clusters of supercomputers that gives a potent 360-degree view of patient management.

To put things in perspective, assume a cancer patient walks in to a networked hospital that has been able to leverage these emerging technologies. From registration to the doctor’s consultation, followed by lab investigations and imaging solutions, all needs to be easily managed from a central console with modules adapted to various departments. This coupled with the patient's genomic information--the basic blocks of DNA and the way genes have collaborated with the molecular outcomes of the cancer--are a powerful tool in the emerging field of molecular diagnosis of the disease. This molecular information needs to be crosschecked in real-time with the emergent published data on the best way to move forward.

This is the holy grail of personalised medicine, based on the best evidence, because no one has been able to come across with a working solution. It takes immense resources to combine these heterogeneous solutions making it very difficult, if not impossible.

How does the Blackberry acquisition help? John Chen has been making the right moves about moving towards a pure-play enterprise solution that has been traditional strength of BlackBerry. This has been the only mobile operating system in the world to have the stringent FIPS Certification making it the default choice of standard enterprise mobility. As mentioned above, the insecurity of networked medical devices is a ticking time bomb. Although there is no proof of concept that any one has been insane enough to hack a hospital's system, it is not beyond the realm of possibility and it is an eminently scary one.

Therefore, an overarching security solution needs to be developed on an urgent basis and there is some noise in regulatory circles that the gorilla is stirring up from its slumber after becoming aware of these threats. Blackberry can easily extend its expertise in state-of-the-art encryption and secure protocols in order to ward off such threats. This is John Chen’s brilliant move to step up its game in a niche and highly regulated area that has huge potential for growth in the near future--though its exact contours need to be defined.

There are also persistent rumours about having a definitive mobile device from BlackBerry tailored to the medical community--but the exact production values are not known, as it is likely to be in the concept stage. This device is supposed to make medical images better viewable offline or online, making medical professionals more productive.

It's easy to see Blackberry in the centre of action as it happens. Real-time QNX that leverages the raw processing power of quad core processors, an operating system with its unique layered gestural interface and unparalleled security--you have a potent mix to build a sell-out device for the medical sector that values such an alternative in existence. This is exactly what Blackberry needs to leverage its strength in a domain that naturally belongs to it.

Dr Abhishek Puri is a cancer specialist based in Singapore who keenly follows technology.

[Superfly_FR]

SF...you're an honorary Canadian now so we might as well share this little Canadian treasure with you:

2XThanks : definitely a great drummer and impressive solo & honored to be our "Cousins'" friend !

Also, I tend to love groovay-ier rythms ... meet my "hero(es)" :



Have a SupaWeekend, gang !

[Bacon Munchers]

2XThanks : definitely a great drummer and impressive solo & honored to be our "Cousins'" friend !

Also, I tend to love groovay-ier rythms ... meet my "hero(es)" :



Have a SupaWeekend, gang !

I'll second that:

[Bacon Munchers]

I'll second that:

Well, that didn't work. I just blew the punch-line!

[sidhuk]

BBC News - States favours Sure over own company for staff phones

[sidhuk]

since CJ got an android. here is heads up that dont get caught budy. LoL
Snacks for your mind: Exploring limits of covert data collection on Android: apps can take photos with your phone without you knowing.

[cjcampbell]

I ain't using the Android beyond work man. Lol. With that said, here's a little diddy y'all might dig lol



Posted via CB10

[Corbu]

Also, I tend to love groovay-ier rythms ... meet my "hero(es)" :


Have a SupaWeekend, gang !

Outstanding Clyde Stubblefield. Thank you SuperFly!

How about this, for more CS?

[Corbu]

[Corbu]

Slightly OT, but for the sake of information:

Eric Topol and Patrick Soon-Shiong will headline the 8th Annual Health 2.0 Fall Conference 2014 Sept. 21-24 in Santa Clara, CA. Every year Health 2.0 hosts over 2,000 entrepreneurs, health industry leaders, physicians, patients to showcase the very latest in health technology. Keynote speakers Dr. Eric Topol, Chief Academic Officer of Scripps Health and Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Founder & CEO of NantHealth will be joined by over 150 technology demos and more than 200 other speakers including Rajni Aneja (Humana), Jonathan Bush (athenahealth), patient advocate Donna Cryer, (Cryer Health), Brian Klepper (National Business Coalition on Health), Girish Kumar (eClinicalWorks ) Mike and Albert Lee (myfitnesspal), Rick Valencia (Qualcomm Life), and many more.

With over 80 speakers, 30 engaging panels, workshops, thought-provoking discussions, and 150 LIVE product demos, the most innovative health tech breakthroughs will be showcased on the Health 2.0 stage. In addition to sessions on Patient Engagement, the Health Interface Layer, Wearables, and The New Marketplace, attendee favorites 3 CEOs, The Unmentionables, and Launch! are back.

Health 2.0 Fall Conference 2014 - Health 2.0 Events and Conferences

[95aero]

Today I like my Sunday Paper even more. :-))


Posted via CB10

[95aero]

sorry, here's the detail ;-)


Posted via CB10

[JLagoon]

I would love to get the opinion of Morgan and JL with respect to the volume now at about 129M for May, the lowest since it hit about 1.5B last Feb, and a similar pattern occurred in 2002, and again in Jan 2012, when the volume subsequently spiked. Also the options market with a increase in activity around the 7.50 for June weekly's prior to earnings mostly at the bid indicating selling calls, and a increase in the 7 puts, slightly bearish, at the time the stock is at super low volumes. With the code conference next week, any thoughts?

Hi kadakn01:

Although there might be volume similarity in 2002 and January 2012, I think, the current play is quite different. To me, TA appears to show that there is not much buying or selling pressure. Both are quite equal in strength. The good thing so far is that Blackberry has released good news more frequently, and the SP hasn't broken line E. Line E is the fifth long term uptrend line that has been a pretty valid support line. This also shows that the inverse head and shoulders pattern is still intact, and we are waiting for its resolution.

On the daily chart, the SP is approaching the short term downtrend line (red line). This is the same green line on Morgan's chart. Closing above $7.30 in the next one or two trading days would break this line. Hopefully, it would not break it with a lukewarm close. And don't forget that we still have the downtrend parallel channel that started from Summer of 2013 (pink line).

And as Morgan said, "what can't go down usually has to go up,". The question of why a stock doesn't go down is as valid as the question of why it doesn't go up. Based on the indicators on the chart, I interpret them as a boiling kettle ready to whistle. I really wonder what John Chen has in store for us on June 12, and on June 27. Personally, I hope to see an increase in service revenue. Blackberry did sign a good of number of clients in the past 3 months. It has issued 800,000 BES10 licenses. These numbers should mean something, shouldn't they? Plus the Z3 seems to be doing quite good in Indonesia. Hey, if the phones are sold at profit, even in low volume, it is still a profit, right?

Daily chart:


From previous post:

[Shanerredflag]

Nico wins back to back Monaco GP.

Posted via a Device with Z and a 30

[Corbu]

Checkered flag!

Attachment 273528

[rampagingpanda]

Hi kadakn01:

Although there might be volume similarity in 2002 and January 2012, I think, the current play is quite different. To me, TA appears to show that there is not much buying or selling pressure. Both are quite equal in strength. The good thing so far is that Blackberry has released good news more frequently, and the SP hasn't broken line E. Line E is the fifth long term uptrend line that has been a pretty valid support line. This also shows that the inverse head and shoulders pattern is still intact, and we are waiting for its resolution.

On the daily chart, the SP is approaching the short term downtrend line (red line). This is the same green line on Morgan's chart. Closing above $7.30 in the next one or two trading days would break this line. Hopefully, it would not break it with a lukewarm close. And don't forget that we still have the downtrend parallel channel that started from Summer of 2013 (pink line).

And as Morgan said, "what can't go down usually has to go up,". The question of why a stock doesn't go down is as valid as the question of why it doesn't go up. Based on the indicators on the chart, I interpret them as a boiling kettle ready to whistle. I really wonder what John Chen has in store for us on June 12, and on June 27. Personally, I hope to see an increase in service revenue. Blackberry did sign a good of number of clients in the past 3 months. It has issued 800,000 BES10 licenses. These numbers should mean something, shouldn't they? Plus the Z3 seems to be doing quite good in Indonesia. Hey, if the phones are sold at profit, even in low volume, it is still a profit, right?

Daily chart:


From previous post:

Hey JLagoon, quick question: What's happening on June 12th and 27th? I thought Q1 ER was set for the 19th?

[Superfly_FR]

sorry, here's the detail ;-)


Posted via CB10

Did I hear a voice stating F1 sponsorship was worthless ?
Thanks for sharing

[Shanerredflag]

OT, for the Facebook crowd :
Buried under all those privacy upgrade announcements is a new potential concern, as Facebook can now listen to what?s happening around you. The mobile app will soon be able to activate your smartphone microphone so it can hear your environment and determine what you?re doing ? if you have the optional feature turned on.

Whether you?re listening to Justin Bieber in the car or watching True Detective on the couch at home, the Shazam-like feature will detect what you?re doing, in hopes that you?ll share those details with your Facebook friends. Facebook is billing the new feature as a way to ?share and discover music, TV and movies? without having to type it all out.

And while Facebook says it doesn?t store the actual sound, a spokesperson for the company recently told the International Business Times that the audio data will be collected and aggregated.

That means that while Facebook can?t hear you, it will have records of what you like doing.

From CTV News.

Facebook, explained: 4 privacy changes you need to know about #CTVNews
http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/faceb...bout-1.1837422



Posted via a Device with Z and a 30

[Kid Vibe]

Yoooooooooooooooooooooo!

Hope all is well in the BB world... Speaking of phones I will need a new one, my windows phone is a piece of ****. Always was a piece of ****...

[Shanerredflag]

Yoooooooooooooooooooooo!

Hope all is well in the BB world... Speaking of phones I will need a new one, my windows phone is a piece of ****. Always was a piece of ****...

Z30...just sayin.

Posted via a Device with Z and a 30

[sidhuk]

I agree. Not sure why this is not a concern?
http://utbblogs.com/blackberryworks/...oure-about-to/

Posted using Z30. Best of the best Smart phone in the world.

[Shanerredflag]

OT..
Edmonton Oil Kings are Memorial Cup Champions




Posted via a Device with Z and a 30

[Bacon Munchers]

Yoooooooooooooooooooooo!

Hope all is well in the BB world... Speaking of phones I will need a new one, my windows phone is a piece of ****. Always was a piece of ****...

Guinea Pig the Windermere for us!
That is, if you are down with keyboard phones.

[Bacon Munchers]

OT while we await the next pop this week:



BBM anyone?
http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...rnment-snowden


It ticks me off that none of these reporter buffoons have the moxi to mention BBM, nit to mention eBBM.

[Shanerredflag]

OT while we await the next pop this week:



BBM anyone?
http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...rnment-snowden


It ticks me off that none of these reporter buffoons have the moxi to mention BBM, nit to mention eBBM.

I like the Facebook part...buffoon for sure.

Posted via a Device with Z and a 30