Philips, Intel design PDA for medics
By Tony Smith
28th February 2007
Philips and Intel are to develop a tablet computer for doctors and
nurses, in the process creating what they claim is a new category
of device: the Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA). Presumably,
Portable Doctor's Assistant* is already taken...
The MCA is built around a 10.4in, 1024 × 768 touch-screen display.
An internal investigation reveals Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless
connectivity, along with the ability to read barcodes and RFID
tags. There's a digital camera too, for snapping symptoms.
First Doctor: "This patient's picture - is that a
sub-dermal haematoma, d'you think?"
Second Doctor: "No, just a particularly greasy
fingerprint."
Ideal for our superbug-infested era, the MCA is a sealed unit,
allowing it to be regularly dunked in disinfectant.
Philips also said the unit sports a "ground-breaking" hand grip on
the back to allow medical staff to hold the device for long hours
on the tracks. It's engineered for both right- and left-handed
users.
At this stage, the MCA is more concept than finished product, but
Intel and Philips said their efforts had been based on extensive
research carried out with physicians and ward-workers. Production
is set for Q4, with clinical trials to follow in due course,
presumably.