2014 The Next Big Thing: Microsoft’s Cortana vs Apple’s and Samsung’s Move on Health – by Jason L Ward

Here’s a question for Window’s Phone, Apple and Samsung fans.

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Are HEALTH and WELLNESS devices the “Next Big Thing” this year or can MICROSOFT’s CORTANA rule the mobile conversation in 2014?!?

The updates coming to Windows Phone this year via the 8.1 update are amazing and will bring the Windows Phone platform on par with iOS and Android. But to date the leaks from the 8.1 SDK haven’t revealed anything ground breaking or game changing. Except maybe the hints we have seen of Cortana. Microsoft has a vision of a digital assistant that surpasses everything we have seen so far. If Cortana is the realization of that vision “she” can be, and just may be Microsoft’s ace. Cortana very well may be an industry Game Changer!

I think that Microsoft has a chance to control the message around the artificailly intelligent Digital Assistant this year. Both Apple and Samsung are going all in with what they are trying to define as the “Next Big Thing” in MOBILE HEALTH and WELLNESS, while not focusing a great deal of attention on the digital assistants they have developed.

Microsoft’s CORTANA promises advances beyond both Siri and Google Now. If it is indeed the REVOLUTIONARY product Ballmer promised I think Microsoft has a real shot of ruling the mobile dialogue in 2014! If not they may miss the boat on the next big thing, “Mobile Health and Wellness”, since they have no horse in that race. They need to usurp this years mobile message with Cortana or they may be left behind.

What Do You Guys Think?

• Does Cortana have to be a Game Changer?
• Is providing a ” good enough” digital assistant enough for Microsoft to continue it’s upward trajectory in the face of Apple’s and Samsung’s health focused devices and paraphernalia that are being released this year?
• Is 2014 the year of “The Next Big Thing” – Health and Wellness Tech? Is Microsoft missing the boat yet again?

Sound off below!

Read the following posts for greater context:

Why Windows Phone 8.1, Particularly Cortana, Must Be Revolutionary- “A Cautionary Tale” | Tech Word – Wards Word on Tech

Microsoft promises that Cortana will be a truly advanced digital assistant that will be context aware, un-intrusive and support users across many devices – smartphones, tablets, PC’s and the Web. Cortana is an ambitious project by Microsoft and has the potential to transform the industry.

How Microsoft Could Beat Siri and Google Now: A Modern Microsoft Bob

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2045086/how-microsoft-could-beat-siri-and-google-now-a-modern-microsoft-bob.html