As
a child I used to visit my mother on a Monday evening. Not so much out of a
sense of filial duty as for the fact that she had the only colour telly in the
family, and Monday night was “Star Trek”
night.
I
was fascinated how Doctor McCoy could wave a tricorder about and diagnose all
sorts of diseases and conditions. Over the years I went on to get Star Trek
tattoos, founded a Star Trek fan club and I’ve come to consider my role in
healthcare to be akin to Dr McCoy’s tricorder.
There
is now a competition to actually make a
tricorder. The winning team will “develop
a Tricorder device that will accurately diagnose 13 health conditions (12
diseases and the absence of conditions) and capture five real-time health vital
signs, independent of a health care worker or facility, and in a way that
provides a compelling consumer experience.”
On
the one hand part of me is impressed. My mobile phone is effectively Captain
Kirk’s communicator. But tricorders…. The bit that worries me is the “independent of a health care worker or
facility” bit. Will I finally be superceded by a tricorder?
I
doubt it, but will follow progress with interest
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