IBM Donating Cooperative Web Technology That Enables Life Changing Healthcare Solutions

Developed in the IBM labs, Project Blue Spruce allows people to simultaneously interact and update content in real-time via a web browser on computers and the Apple iPad and includes video chat. For example, using Project Blue Spruce, a sales rep could in a browser conduct a video chat with a client while they complete an online sales form together.

Today, researchers for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are using the IBM code to help analyze health records of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPDGene).

"The online system we've been using on the COPDGene patients is exciting and extremely impressive," said James D. Crapo, MD and COPDGene executive committee member. "With the online collaboration capabilities we now have at our fingertips, we're in constant communication and are uncovering key trends that will help us to better understand the disease."