Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas of Telemedicine are researching implants for cell phones that could potentially save lives, cut jobs, save money and administer medicine, all via cyber space. Currently there are applications for phones that allow people to manage their weight (i-phone apps), track their heart rates, check blood pressure and even keep a person on and track their route while jogging (Nokia N79 Active). There are even applications that allow people to compare their results with others. However, soon there will be an application that will allow people to send this information directly to their doctor by linking their phones with medical devices such as blood pressure medicine cuffs, heart rate monitors and glucose monitors all via Bluetooth. This program is called “The Health on The Go” and is now being tested on Blackberrys . These devices can send the information directly to the persons primary care physician to have the results looked over. “The Health on The Go” can potentially remind a person to check their stats and alert them when their levels are too low. “Researchers at the University of Texas are developing implantable sensors that use short-range radio chips to constantly beam vital signs to your phone.”
The current heart rate monitor/cellphone combination is called the N79 Active manufactured by Nokia. The cost for a Nokia N79 Active, according to the popular science website, runs for around $530 dollars which includes the heart rate monitor that needs to be strapped to the users chest. However, when I researched the Nokia website there was no sign of a heart rate monitor and phone package. The price of the phone with a Nokia phone care package was 338.99, just the phone alone is 289.00 which is the current sale price, the original price is 346.00. Nokia makes the cellphone and a company called Polar, out of Finland, makes the heart rate monitor. Polar has been making heart rate monitors for athletes since 1982. On January 14th 2009 Nokia announced this new cellphone (N79 Active) and that it would soon be shipping with the Polar heart rate belt called the WearLink. Not only does the WearLink measure and track ones heart rate, it measures speed, distance, altitude and route and once this information is saved onto the N79 Active it can be sent to anyone, anywhere, instantly. I found a promotional video on youtube for the product that shows it actually being used (a little dramatized obviously) but interesting none-the-less.
I found this article from the popular science website and as I stated above a team of researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas of Telemedicine is currently developing this project. I was drawn to this article because of the title, the title is “New Cellphones Monitor Your Health, And May Soon Deliver Medicine,” after reading the article I realized that I really wanted to share it because I feel that it is relevant to our times. Technology is slowly consuming our lives and we are becoming all too dependent on it. Soon this device could take jobs away from people, such as nurses, but it could potentially create jobs for the people who will to manufacture the device. This device will not be useful to everyone, it will only be useful to people with medical conditions such as diabetes or to people who like to check their stats often. Both devices are very expensive and are still being researched and improved upon. Techniques the scientists used to explain the theory were simple words and clearly stating the point of the device as well as how it works. What makes it science to me is the simple fact that researchers are creating something that will transfer information from human bodies to somewhere in cyber space and the users will have to do virtually nothing to obtain or transfer that information to their desired location whether it be their doctor, significant other or friend.
Borel, Brooke. "New Cellphones Monitor Your Health, And May Soon Deliver Medicine." Popular Science. 21 09 2009. Popular Science, Web. 13 Oct 2009.
Nokia, "High-end handset from Nokia meets wireless heart monitor from Polar." Nokia. 14 01 2009. Nokia, Web. 14 Oct 2009.
Nokiausa.com
Conversation, Nokia. "Nokia N79 Active Promo video with cool parkour." YouTube. 14 01 2009.YouTube,Web.14 Oct 2009.
No comments:
Post a Comment