Technological advancements are supposed to create massive improvements in efficiency — think about the wheel, which revolutionized transportation; the plow, which transformed agriculture; or the printing press, which democratized knowledge. Innovations like electricity, the steam engine, the telephone, and the internet have each delivered exponential gains, turning complex tasks into simple, scalable processes.
In the realm of healthcare, robotics has been introduced with the promise of enhancing precision and improving patient outcomes, particularly in orthopedic surgery. Robotic systems are designed to assist surgeons with tasks like knee and hip replacements, offering greater accuracy and potentially reducing complications.
But the question remains: Is this another true 10X leap forward, or just a way to grab access ?
While initial studies suggest faster recovery times and improved alignment, the cost and complexity of robotic systems still leave room for debate.
Could this technology become the “bicycle for the mind” that Steve Jobs spoke of, dramatically increasing surgical efficiency?
Or Could this be a business model play to build a moat around a customer and control access ?