IBM also partnered with Actiance in this effort to focus specifically on compliance issues. As social media grows and becomes more valuable, businesses understand the necessity in utilizing it. However, there are valid concerns when it comes to security and compliance.

Schimmer told us that IBM Connections hopes to provide a solution to businesses facing this particular challenge.

Shortly after the show aired, IBM and Nuance Communications announced a joint effort to integrate IBM’s Watson computing system and Nuance’s speech recognition and Clinical Language Understanding (CLU) solutions together to assist healthcare professionals. IBM has been developing its impressive technology for the past 4 years. With the combination of IBM’s analytics technology, which can understand and process natural language, and Nuance’s voice and Clinical Language Solutions, which can recognize and comprehend what was said, the companies believe that they can transform the healthcare industry.

One of the biggest challenges for medical professionals is keeping up-to-date on the latest research. Since new studies and reference materials are released continuously, it is very difficult for physicians and nurses to keep up with the immense volume of information. Patients expect doctors to be current in their research so that they can receive the best care possible.

Dr. Nick van Terheyden, the Chief Medical Information Officer at Nuance, told WebProNews that the collaboration of IBM and Nuance would help those in the medical field become more efficient in everyday tasks.

“Watson brings that to the table. It says, ‘Let’s provide that information in a way, or in a form, that allows immediate access… in an appropriate way.’ Appropriate, in this instance, means delivering it so that it’s not overwhelming,” he said.

Dr. van Terheyden goes on to explain that “overwhelming,” in this sense, could be compared to searching on Google for information and receiving over 1 million results. Watson, on the other hand, takes the volumes of information and determines what is the most relevant response based on a current situation.

While the goal of the IBM/Nuance collaboration is to provide complimentary services to current medical practices, some people in the medical field have already expressed concern about the future of their jobs. Dr. van Terheyden told us that medical professionals would not be replaced because personal interaction was “essential” to the healthcare industry.

“It’s the combination of both Watson plus the clinician that brings the most strength,” he said.

IBM and Nuance have said that the first commercial offerings from this project could be available within the next 18-24 months. IBM has also indicated that the Watson supercomputing system could be used in the finance and telecom industries.

How much value do you think Watson will bring to the healthcare industry? Where do you see it being incorporated next?

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