Advanced Search

The story appears on

Page A11

July 11, 2019

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

Home 禄 World

Medical tips from Alexa: NHS turns to Amazon

Source: AFP | 00:05 UTC+8 July 11, 2019 | Print Edition

鈥淎lexa, what are the symptoms of flu?鈥

The United Kingdom government said yesterday that Britons will be able to get an answer to this and other simple medical questions from the National Health Service using their Amazon smart speakers.

The state-run health system鈥檚 tie-up with the California-based technology giant drew praise from overworked doctors and professionals weary of bad medical advice proliferating online.

But privacy campaigners expressed alarm over the possibility of Amazon storing medical data and then using it to sell targeted ads.

鈥淭echnology like this is a great example of how people can access reliable, world-leading NHS advice from the comfort of their home, reducing the pressure on our hardworking GPs and pharmacists,鈥 Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in a statement.

Amazon said it began updating its Echo smart speakers to search NHS websites for medical answers earlier this week.

The UK health department said it expected half of all symptom checks and other medical queries to be made through voice-assisted technology by next year.

It added that the new and more reliable service would be especially helpful to the elderly and the blind.

Health professionals also welcomed the government鈥檚 embrace of shifting consumer habits and the growing dominance of voice services.

鈥淗owever, it is vital that independent research is done to ensure that the advice given is safe,鈥 Royal College of GPs chairwoman Helen Stokes-Lampard said.

World
锘

 

Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

娌叕缃戝畨澶 31010602000204鍙

Email this to your friend


锘