Medical mobile app
IBM announced that PLM, a Latin American healthcare sciences publisher, has launched a library of 35 mobile apps to deliver medical information on conditions such as cancer and heart disease. Healthcare providers using a mobile device can now access the most up-to-date information to deliver better patient care. Mobile device usage among medical professionals reportedly is growing rapidly, with many relying on smartphones and tablets to access the information they need at the point of care. In fact, some reports have suggested that nine in 10 healthcare providers will use smartphones in a professional capacity this year, and that the leading reason physicians use smartphones is to access drug information. PLM employed the IBM MobileFirst application development portfolio to help convert its medical reference guides into mobile apps.
Smarter smartphones?
In the not-so-distant future, technology may let parents use their cell phone to see that their child is at soccer practice or that the family dog is sneaking out the backyard, and caretakers will be notified by their smartphone if their Alzheimer’s patient wanders off. Iotera, which has released a tracking and sensing device called Iota, is running a Kickstarter campaign aimed at building the first free nationwide Internet of Things (IoT) wireless network. The Iota network reportedly will be built using small, customer installed wireless access points called Home Bases, with each Home Base attached to a window inside a home. A second device – the Iota – designed to attach to people or things to be monitored or tracked, reportedly can send its location to the nearest Home Base up to four miles away. Because the Iota can communicate with any nearby Home Base as well, it will be possible for an entire city to be covered.
Fitness smartband
ActvContent announced the launch of the Sync, an all-in-one health, safety and fitness smartband. Sync is a wearable device that comes in both adult and child sizes and connects via Bluetooth technology with the ActvContent Sync mobile app. It is available for both iOS and Android. Features like digital zone and locate actively monitor a child’s location and alert parents if their children wanders too far. Sleep Tracker and Fitness Tracker allow users to monitor their health and activity and set fitness goals. Sync’s Health Keeper feature stores guardian contact and critical health information securely accessible by caregivers, teachers and others in case of emergency. The smartband is available starting at $69 on Indiegogo.
Emergency assistance
Silent Beacon Inc. is looking to bring its wearable lifesaving device – the Silent Beacon – to consumers. Designed to provide immediate aid to those in need, the Bluetooth device allows users to instantly locate, track and communicate with loved ones who require emergency assistance. The Silent Beacon is expected to sell for $59.99 through www.silentbeacon.com and the company’s Indiegogo.com campaign.
3D earbuds
OwnPhones is working to complete its wireless 3D printed, personalized smart earbuds and an accompanying iOS mobile app. The earbuds – expected to retail from $299 to $449 – will also reportedly be wireless and able to cancel out surrounding noise. The OwnPhones mobile app is designed to turn a phone’s camera into a 3D scanner. By following a few steps, users can create a short video orbiting the phone around their ears. The OwnPhones servers can then convert the video into a 3D model of their ears, creating a custom ergonomic fit. Because the printer can assemble 3D objects out of various materials, OwnPhones will be able to match the cartilage in the user’s ear and build any set of OwnPhones earbuds, one-at-a-time.
Small and home office solution
Brother International Corporation, a business technology company, has introduced a line of monochrome laser printers and all-in-ones for the small office and home office market. The single-function printers feature a one-line LCD display that prompts users with instructions for connecting to a wireless network, as well as improves menu navigation. Brother has also made automatic duplex printing standard on every model, allowing for quick printing of multiple and multi-page documents. The new models support AirPrint™, Google Cloud Print™, the Brother™ iPrint&Scan mobile app, Wi-Fi Direct®, and Cortado Workplace. Mobile device printing will be available from a compatible Apple® iOS, Android™, Kindle Fire™, or Windows® Phone device.
New age projectors
Epson has introduced two new EX Pro series projectors, designed for meeting rooms with ambient light. The projectors are said to offer advanced connectivity options, including built-in wireless projection and Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL®) support, and deliver WXGA resolution for widescreen HD presentations. Additional features include 3,000 lumens of color light output and 3,000 lumens of white light output, and a Wi-Fi® module and quick-connect on-screen QR code feature for easier wireless setup. Epson’s free iProjection app4 is designed to enable users to present wirelessly from their mobile devices, while an HDMI™ port enables users to display content from MHL-enabled smartphones and tablets.
Staying connected
If anyone appreciates staying connected to others, sales reps do. And, nGen Works, a digital product company based in Jacksonville, Fla., is ready to make that happen. The company recently launched Beam, a free mobile communication app designed to start conversations through email, FaceTime, phone, text, and Twitter. The app is available for free, exclusively on the App Store. For more information, visit beam.ngenworks.com.
An app for customers
Who wouldn’t be interested in a good app? For your orthopedic customers, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons has released an Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC), along with a mobile app, for the treatment of pediatric elbow fractures. Supracondylar humerus fractures, which occur when a child extends his or her arm to break a fall, occur at or near the elbow and account for 10 percent of all fractures in children. The AAOS app provides a list of considerations, designed to help doctors determine if the hospital is equipped to perform the surgery, as well as links to nearly 3,200 possible patient injury scenarios. The user identifies the correct scenario, and the app shows the related treatments ranked for their appropriateness.