What were the two necessary technological components that had to mature simultaneously for remote diagnostics to become truly viable?
The sensor and the network
The full viability of remote diagnostics hinged on the parallel maturity of two core technological pillars: the sensor and the network infrastructure. Early on, sensors capable of capturing biological data might have existed, but the corresponding network (be it early telephony or data lines) lacked the speed or reliability needed for effective data transmission. Later, as network speeds improved substantially, the limiting factor shifted to the sensors themselves, specifically requiring their miniaturization and sufficient power efficiency to operate wirelessly outside a controlled hospital environment for extended durations. Only when both components—the reliable data collector and the fast, stable transmission pathway—converged did remote diagnostics become a practical reality.
