Medical records, along with internet video, is emerging as a major source of data. The major difference, though, is that analysis of medical data can produce a breakthrough in treatment methods, which, in combination with DNA analysis, may lead to a revolution in health care. IBM is taking a position in the forefront of this slow-developing tsunami:

IBM said Wednesday that it has agreed to buy Initiate Systems, a privately held company that makes software designed to help health care companies manage and share information.

The buyout of Initiate marks IBM's 30th acquisition in the area of information and analytics. Over the past couple of years, Big Blue has been on a roll picking up new companies and ended 2009 with several businesses in its shopping cart.

tags: health, information, cloud, infrastructure, service, tool