Intel To Take Wraps Off Digital Health PlansIntel To Take Wraps Off Digital Health Plans

Intel for the first time will detail plans for its new Digital Health unit at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF), which opens Aug. 23 in San Francisco.

Executives of the Santa Clara, Calif.-based chip giant also said President and CEO Paul Otellini would appear at the forum to outline Intel's Next-Generation Architecture, as well as showcase an updated technology road map that focuses on energy efficiency and broadband.

About 12,000 developers and industry analysts are slated to attend the twice-annual conference. Intel is expected to focus mostly on updates to existing technology and programs.

Intel formed its Digital Health Platforms Group in January and named company executive Louis Burns as its general manager. Since then, however, Intel executives have declined to discuss details about the strategy for the group.

"We're kind of looking at this as the unveiling of Intel's Digital Health strategy at IDF," said Rob Chapman, general manager of the conference. "This is the first time we'll talk about not only the problem statement, but also what our strategy is going to be in the health area. We think there is a very compelling value proposition here."

During past IDF conferences, Intel executives have briefly discussed concept models for the use of IP-based technology that connects health-care providers to homes, among other implementations.

Digital health is becoming an area of growing concern, not just in the health-care and high-tech sectors but also in Washington. Earlier this year, a bipartisan bill was proposed to provide government funding to help fuel a widescale transition of medical records into digital formats, and President Bush has made technical innovation a key part of his health-care agenda.