Photo Release -- IBM and LifeLearn Tap the Power of Watson to Transform the Veterinary Industry

GUELPH, Ontario and ARMONK, N.Y., Oct. 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeLearn Inc., a company devoted to mobilizing knowledge in the animal health industry, and IBM IBM today announced that beta clients including Animal Medical Center (AMC) in New York are tapping the power of Watson to transform how veterinarians access and interpret unlimited amounts of structured and unstructured information.

LifeLearn Sofie, powered by IBM Watson, processes language naturally. Veterinarians simply ask Sofie a question as they would ask another colleague in the room and, in mere seconds, she uses the cognitive computing capabilities of IBM Watson to scan through hundreds of thousands of pages of medical resources to return relevant, objective, and evidence-based treatment options tailored to that specific patient.

A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=28227

Veterinarians are challenged to assess patients that cannot verbalize their symptoms, to customize treatment options, and to stay current with best practices and expanding medical references amidst their growing day-to-day practice duties. Fueled by IBM Watson technology via the cloud, LifeLearn Sofie^TM was created to leverage the collective intelligence of leading content providers such as the American Animal Hospital Association and Western Veterinary Conference, as well as industry leading practices such as The Animal Medical Center in New York City and the Ontario Veterinary Group and Associate Veterinary Clinics. This platform is designed and trained by veterinarians to provide the support veterinarians need to improve patient care.

LifeLearn Sofie, powered by IBM Watson, processes language naturally. Veterinarians simply ask Sofie a question as they would ask another colleague in the room and, in mere seconds, she uses the cognitive computing capabilities of IBM Watson to scan through hundreds of thousands of pages of medical resources to return relevant, objective, and evidence-based treatment options tailored to that specific patient. Sofie will integrate seamlessly within the practice to empower veterinarians and enrich their bond with clients and patients.

LifeLearn Sofie Un Boxing Video

"NY's Animal Medical Center (AMC) provides some of the most complex diagnoses and medical treatments available within veterinary medicine. For over 100 years, The AMC has embraced its role as a progressive leader in animal health care and education. Powered by IBM Watson, LifeLearn Sofie presents a paradigm shift in how practices will incorporate advanced technology into their daily activities, and we see great potential in its application toward improved patient outcomes," said Richard E. Goldstein, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), DECVIM-CA, Chief Medical Officer, The Animal Medical Center.

IBM also announced today accelerated adoption of Watson's cognitive capabilities globally. Today's news reinforces IBM's strategy to fuel an ecosystem of innovators who will help make cognitive the new standard of computing.

"IBM is receiving an outpouring of interest from partners in Watson's cognitive capabilities and supporting industry-changing use cases around the globe," said Stephen Gold, Vice President, IBM Watson Group. "We are thrilled to be working with some of the industry's best and brightest entrepreneurs and established organizations."

Organizations that are interested in collaborating with IBM to develop Watson-powered applications can visit www.ibm.com/watsonecosystem to learn more.

IBM Watson: Pioneering a New Era of Computing

IBM Watson represents a new era of computing, in which apps and systems interact with human users more naturally, augment our knowledge with Big Data insights, and learn to improve how they assist us. 

Fueled by innovation from a mission to transform industries and professions, Watson is uniquely positioned at the forefront of the new era of computing, evidenced by an unmatched demonstration of what cognitive systems can bring to transform decision-making. IBM is delivering a range of cloud-based products and services to clients in industries such as banking, healthcare, insurance, retail and education. 

In January, 2014, IBM launched the IBM Watson Group, a new business unit dedicated to the development and commercialization of cloud-delivered cognitive advisors. The move signifies a strategic shift by IBM to accelerate into the marketplace a new class of software, services and apps that think, improve by learning, and discover insights from massive amounts of Big Data.

IBM is investing more than $1 billion into the Watson Group, focusing on research, development and bringing cloud-delivered cognitive applications and services to market. This includes $100 million earmarked for direct investment to support IBM's ecosystem of start-ups and businesses building cognitive apps made with Watson. Currently more than 3,300 organizations and entrepreneurial individuals have shared their ideas for creating cognitive apps that redefine how businesses and consumers make decisions.

For more information on IBM Watson, please visit: www.ibmwatson.com.

For more insights on this story and more, visit the IBM Watson press kit.

To join the social discussion about Watson, include the hashtag #ibmwatson. Follow Watson on Facebook and see Watson on YouTube and Flickr.

About LifeLearn

Founded in 1994, LifeLearn delivers knowledge mobilization solutions for the animal health industry. From online practice marketing tools and client education resources to interactive digital applications, LifeLearn empowers its clients to reach beyond traditional boundaries – to turn knowledge into action.

For more information about LifeLearn Sofie, visit Sofie.LifeLearn.com.