We’re heading back to the Silicon Slopes of Salt Lake City to check out the latest in the technology learning space.

With a range of top speakers from Google, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Code.org, Oracle and GSK, Pluralsight LIVE takes place in the Utah capital from August 28th to the 30th. The event will also feature a start-up competition where companies will pitch their ideas in front of the Pluralsight community and investors for a chance of winning a $50,000 prize.

Pluralsight LIVE takes place in the Utah capital from August 28th to the 30th
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From my experience of attending last year, Pluralsight LIVE is a great event for anyone interested in technology and learning. And while there is a strong commercial element to the proceedings – this is, after all, a successful and profitable tech company which sells its product to some of the world’s biggest corporations – there is also a strong and genuine sense of mission, and a palpable desire to pay back some of that success by using that same technology to tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems.

#PluralsightLIVE will bring together a range of top speakers from Google, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Code.org, Oracle and GSK
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From my experience of attending last year, Pluralsight LIVE is a great event for anyone interested in technology and learning
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The conference is set in Salt Lake City, which I found to be a pleasant town which combines a welcoming atmosphere with the comforts and cultural options of a large metropolis, all set against the dramatic backdrop of the majestic mountains that surround it. The only downside is that I simply can’t help getting the entire soundtrack of the Book of Mormon stuck in my head as soon as I land, and find myself sometimes humming rather rude songs such as Hasa Diga Eebowai at the most inappropriate moments… Still, the locals are so friendly, and seem to have a sense of humour – the LDS actually bought advertising on the show’s playbill – so it might be all right after all.

As in 2017, this year’s #PluralsightLIVE will take place on the beautiful grounds of the @GrandAmerica hotel
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As in 2017, this year’s event will take place at the beautiful Grand America hotel, which is still on my favourite places to stay list (quite a feat considering they are up against the likes of The Palm in Dubai or the Hotel Miró where we stayed in the same room as some of the stars from Game of Thrones when they were filming near Bilbao) with its opulent-friendly atmosphere and service.

“Find inspiration to push the boundaries of technology and create a brighter future.”

Speaking of inspiration, it’s hard to imagine a tougher act to follow than last year’s amazing headliner Michelle Obama. However, as the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, bestselling author and one of the world’s best known and loved champions for education, 21-year-old Malala Yousafzai certainly does the job. Having seen some amazing examples of how learning technology and digital skills can empower girls (such as Kizcode, the social enterprise started by Mujde Esin that we featured here previously) I’m very much looking forward to finding out what role she believes they can play in advancing girl’s education and economic empowerment worldwide.

Having seen how projects like @kizcode empower girls through technology and education, I'm looking forward to hearing @malala 's take on digital skills and her mission to ensure school for every child.
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@Malala will be speaking at #PluralsightLIVE 2018
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So check out the full agenda here and do reach out on Twitter (hashtag #PluralsightLIVE) to @alicebonasio or @techtrends_tech if you’re going to be there too!

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Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Tech Trends at #PluralsightLIVE 2018 appeared first on Tech Trends.

Personalised healthcare is likely to transform the way we prevent and treat diseases in the future as IoT and Wearables become increasingly pervasive.

Personalised healthcare will transform how we prevent and treat diseases
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With smart monitoring devices already integrating seamlessly into our routines, companies are now looking at the best way to harness the wealth of data that they collect for research purposes.

Tech companies are looking to harness data for research purposes
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Personalised medicine was worth over $1 billion in 2014 and the market is expected to double by 2022
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Apple’s ResearchKit is one such initiative, giving researchers direct access to relevant data for their studies (daily step counts, heart rate, calorie use, etc.) and offering developers an open source framework that integrates seamlessly with HealthKit to allow them to create their own medical research apps.

Apple’s ResearchKit gives researchers direct access to relevant data for their studies
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In the two years since its launch, the kit has already proven useful for clinical trials, with hundreds of thousands of people contributing data for studies ranging from diabetes to epilepsy, melanoma, asthma and breast cancer.

Apple ResearchKit kit has already proven useful for clinical trials
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It’s surprising it took big pharma companies so long to get on board
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It’s somewhat surprising, then, that it has taken big pharma companies so long to get on board. Recently, however, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that it was launching a new research app on the platform to help monitor rheumatoid arthritis patients.

GSK’s PARADE (Patient Rheumatoid Arthritis Data from the Real World) study aims to tackle this debilitating disease by learning from patient insights and therapeutic goals. They are currently seeking volunteers (aged over 21 and diagnosed with RA) to monitor their health and share those insights into how RA affects their lives.

A GSK study will collect data from Rheumatoid Arthritis patients using iPhone sensors
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This data will be collected through a mixture of surveys and iPhone sensors which will track common RA symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain and overall mood. The study will not provide diagnosis or treatment, but will allow patients to view their own study data and learn more about their condition.

The PARADE study will track 300 patients over a three-month period
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The study will track 300 patients over a three-month period. GSK believes that collecting data from mobile devices in this way will in future help to alleviate the burden on patients by reducing the need for frequent doctor visits during clinical studies. More broadly, as sensors – and even implants – become increasingly sophisticated, doctors will be able to accurately monitor patient progress continuously and much more efficiently, with minimum intrusion upon their daily routine.

The prospects are exciting, not only from a quality of life perspective, but considering the personalized medicine market was valued at over USD 1 billion in 2014 and is expected to more than double by 2022.

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Will Apple’s ResearchKit Be a Game Changer for HealthTech? appeared first on Tech Trends.