Narratek


Human and Synthetic Intelligence — Working Together to Improve the Quality and Cost Effectiveness of Healthcare

About Narratek


Narratek is a healthcare innovation and advisory company led by Joe Weber. After more than five decades in medical research, hospital administration, management consulting, and as a medtech executive, he is now involved with multiple ventures designed to deliver meaningful improvements in healthcare. Joe's focus is on AI, medical devices, and clinical documentation.
  • Current initiatives include:
  • • Chest-worn device for continuous monitoring of ECG plus other physiology and mobility data • Device for rapid, noninvasive measurement of blood biomarkers • AI for revenue-cycle management, ambient clinical scribing, voice agents, and other healthcare applications • AI guidance app that encourages healthier behaviors via predictive technology • Unique pressure-sensing fabric for smart beds and other applications
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  • Joe is the inventor of predictive typing, US Patent No. 5,305,205, awarded in 1994, which introduced probabilistic word prediction -- an early foundation for today’s generative AI systems.
View Joe's LinkedIn Profile
Read the story of predictive typing’s recognition as one of 56 landmark Massachusetts innovations

Read Joe's article, AI's Name is Artificial. It should be Synthetic.

Get in Touch

Email joe@narratek.com

Whether you’d like to learn more about one of my ventures, explore consulting assistance, or simply discuss where healthcare is headed in the Age of AI, I’d be pleased to communicate with you.

The Invention of Predictive Typing — Smartype

Joe and Maria Weber invented predictive typing and developed Smartype, the first predictive-typing system, in the 1980s. Their U.S. Patent No. 5,305,205 was filed in 1990 and issued in 1994. Smartype introduced probabilistic word-prediction concepts that anticipated capabilities now familiar in modern text-generation systems and generative AI.
Smartype is an intelligent speedtyping system, which substantially increases the speed and accuracy of medical transcription and other typing tasks. As the user types, it searches its extensive relevant vocabulary and instantly displays the most likely words compatible with the entered keystrokes. The top (most frequent) choice can be entered into the text by just pressing the spacebar. It can save 70% of a typist's keystrokes, which dramatically increases productivity. Smartype automatically provides correctly spelled and capitalized terminology and includes shortcuts for common editing tasks. Users can customize it with their own words, phrases, abbreviations, and vocabularies -- allowing Smartype to fully adapt to individual specialties and working styles.
Smartype for Windows is now available as a free download Download Smartype
After typing the letter e, "examination" can be inserted into the text by just hitting the spacebar.
Joe serves on the Atlanta Board of World Pediatrics, an extraordinary nonprofit that helps children around the world gain access to specialized surgical and medical care that would otherwise be unavailable to them. He contributes his experience in healthcare innovation, marketing, AI, and strategic partnerships to help broaden awareness, expand healthcare services, strengthen engagement with the local medical community, and support World Pediatrics’ mission of bringing life-changing care to more children across the globe.
Learn more about World Pediatrics

World Pediatrics --- Atlanta Board of Directors