What is Cybernetics?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, cybernetics is “the science of communication and control theory that is concerned especially with the comparative study of automatic control systems (such as the nervous system and brain and mechanical-electrical communication systems).”
What does that really mean? And, what is Rotera doing in the space?
The way that we view cybernetics is a world where every single human has an AI counterpart that is there to assist them to make their work higher quality and faster. Using cybernetics themes, a software system is able to sense what a person is doing and know when they might need some data point to help them complete the task or when they might want to send a message to someone, hail a car share, get a status check, set a reminder, etc. Cybernetics is a control loop and in our case, a person is doing something on their computer that is sensed and sends a message to an external entity that finds some relevant information and then returns that back to the person who does something with it, completing the loop.
Why does this matter?
Today, an average healthcare worker may access 5 or 6 different software systems, dozens of websites, numerous spreadsheets, multiple SharePoint sites, etc., on a daily basis to obtain data points, update content, and just do what is necessary to care for their patient population. Even though interoperability and data exchange is improving there will always be gaps and needs for external sources. Even if a user was just working in a single EMR all day toggling between screens, running reports, and searching for past data can still be inefficient. Taking patient data out of the equation, administrative staff need content from payers, government agencies, outsourcing companies, and business partners in a constant stream…and how they get to it is overly complex. Everything about working in healthcare is complicated and existing systems (i.e. the EMR) have not made us more efficient. You hear about physician burnout? The EMR created that problem. It’s time to bring some joy back to our healthcare workers by simplifying their day to day.
This is why Olive created Olive Helps and it is why Rotera is dedicated to creating solutions that allow us to connect through APIs and other means to put as much information as possible in a single location. When we build Loops, we are enabling humans to gather data from 100’s of locations all in one single application and without remembering passwords or URLs or document locations or a page in a book.
The iPhone changed the way we think about accessing information - we have apps on one device that give us access to a world of knowledge. That said, smart phones even fall short here - there isn’t a master app for your smartphone that can collect all that relevant knowledge in one place - you have to remember what app you want to use for what purpose and have to be intent upon using that app. With Loops, we basically have a master app - one app, Olive Helps, interacting with 100’s of Loops in one place. Moreover, with sensor technology we can whisper to you when you might want to take a look at something, so you don’t even have to think “I need to search for A, in B application, to find C data, to do D job.” The Loops let you know when you need something and then you act on it.
I hope this helps paint a bit of a picture about how cybernetics can help humans be more powerful in all the great work we do everyday. This is a world where man and machine live in harmony, no hostile takeover. I hope you’ll join me on this revolution….or is it evolution?
