A pack of medical applications was just released for Android, and it set me a-thinkin’. Although our phones are far from tricorders at this point (but getting closer), Android has a bit more of a versatile position. A powerful smartphone OS and (possibly) a passable netbook or tablet one, it seems like it may be a really good fit for embedded systems. I don’t even want to think about the proprietary systems and decade-old OSes that hospitals are running their diagnostic and records-tracking programs on. With a modern, touchable, and inexpensive to run OS like Android, there could be a huge increase in standardization and interoperability.
Obviously it wouldn’t just be doctors carrying around G1s and stuff. But picture a hospital (or school, or what have you) where the embedded and use-limited devices integral to its functioning are all running Android in some form or another. It acquits itself equally well to a tablet as to a wall monitor as to a handset, and a few tweaks would make it eminently networkable. Of course, this is all pie in the sky, and one could say the same for any number of alternate OSes, not the least of which being Linux in some adaptable flavor. Still, it’s food for thought.
As for the medical applications, damn are they expensive! But they’re established, professional apps that also work on Blackberries and such, so the price is probably are justified.
[via MedGadget]
wtf?
Your forgot the body of the post!!!
This is all that I have: “A pack of medical applications was just released for Android, and it set me a-thinkin’. Although our phones are far from tricorders at this point (but getting closer), Android has a bit more of a versatile position. A powerful smartphone OS and (possibly) a passable netbook or tablet one, it seems like it may be a really good fit for embedded systems. I don’t even want to think about the proprietary systems and decade-old OSes that hospitals are running their diagnostic and records-tracking programs on. With a modern, touchable, and inexpensive to run OS like Android, there could be a huge increase in standardization and interoperability.”
Sorry, our excerpt system acted up.
Most of these aren’t for the general public (thus the high price tag).
This is very exciting. I wonder though how they will fair with those note-taking laptops. I mean it would be hard to type a long set of notes on the phone I would imagine.
There are several concerns on the medical front. One being HIPAA guidelines and the security of information on the phonne. The other is that companies like Kaiser and Intermountain Health have spent billions over the last few years creating systems that work with mobile terminals (not phones).
These companies are considered to be at the forefront of technology and have even won awards.
To us on the mobile front and in Silicon Valley, these as so antiquated–it’s unbelievable.
i need to download this app
Packaging fail, Chinese ppl over did it.
http://www.epiclosers.com/load/8-1-0-374
This is pretty huge. I was just chatting with my sister -who’s in medical school- the other day and she was saying that she was considering switching from Verizon over to AT&T because she needed a phone that could carry medical applications for when she is doing her rotations (she had the iPhone in mind). Looks like Android is even more well equipped and proven for this and they could really open up their own market of sort within the medical professional/ educational field.
I’m really not impressed with the medical applications on the android platform, at most there is 3 available and only 1 (Unbound) which appears to have any practical use. Compared to the iPhone that is shockingly bad, why is there such a huge shortage on the android market for good apps?