Google Makes Health Portal More Accessible, Microsoft Talks HealthVault's Progress
This story was written by Tameka Kee.
Google (NSDQ: GOOG) and Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) launched their competing health information storage platforms, Google Health and Microsoft HealthVault, amidst a slew of hype earlier this year, and even tried to entice users by agreeing to third-party online privacy standards in June. This week, they're trying to jumpstart the hype again with more details about their products.
Google has built accessibility features into its health records platform, angling for Web users with sight and hearing problems. The company rolled out a new version of Google Health that it says works better for users of screen readers, self-voicing browsers and browser add-ons (like the open source Fire Vox).
Meanwhile, Keith Toussaint, senior product manager for Microsoft HealthVault, dug into some of the progress the company has made with its healthcare information and records platform, in an interview with Diabetes Mine:
User adoption (or lack thereof): When asked about user uptake, Toussaint said that the HealthVault team hadn't faced any "big surprises," and that they knew it was a long-haul play. "We knew going in that introducing a new type of consumer health solution is a long-term endeavor ... We're still in the early phases of developing the HealthVault ecosystem but we're making great progress."
On competing with Google: Of course there's competition, but right now it's not for advertisers, or even users. It's for developers. "Sure, a big part of it is a race to find the best developers ... We're all trying to build a set of capabilities that's valuable to people." But Toussaint acknowledged that there were some developers and organizations, like the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), for example, that would want to partner with both companies (via Boston.com). Ultimately, he says that choosing between the two will be like a choice between Coke and Pepsimore a matter of taste than any real difference in features or functionality.
HealthVault partners: In addition to BIDMC, there are institutions like Oakland-based based Kaiser Permanente, as well as manufacturers of various health devices like Polar (heart rate monitors) and Tanita (weight scales). Users can synch their devices to the HealthVault Connection Center and update info about their weight, blood pressure, glucose levels automatically.
By Tameka Kee