The Apple iPad is set to launch, and right now, most of the early reviews of the product have been positive. The NY Times has a fantastic piece looking at the iPad from two angles – An everyday user verse a more technically inclined user, and both have differing opinions on the eventual success of the iPad.
But what about a medical professional or a medical student. From the reviews I’ve read so far, the screen is gorgeous and easy to read, further giving traction to the idea of medical e-books or radiology viewing on the iPad. We’ve also made clear that handwriting software for the iPad is a necessity if broad implementation in the medical field is a goal.
We’ll be getting our hands on an iPad soon so we can show you how some of our favorite iPhone medical apps perform on the new platform.
Until then, we’d like to hear from you. Will you be buying the iPad, why or why not? What additional features do you want to see on the iPad – and do you think it can help with medical education or enhance the patient physician relationship?
![Thumbnail image for Top 5 Medical Apps for the Upcoming iPad [Health Care Professionals Edition]](http://cdn.imedicalapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/thumb.jpg)
Lack of multi-tasking is a no go for me. Once they get that, then I’ll think about it. I can’t imagine using a tablet and only being able to use one application at a time
I wish my med school would hook us up with the iPad. But, if medical textbooks come to the iPad at a cheaper price, THEN it might be worth it to actually get this. But until then, most of us are too broke for the iPad. I’ll definitely be getting one when I start residency in a few months though!
Multi-tasking is not a deal breaker for me. I just want to be able to read PDFs and powerpoints on it. If its a great table to read from, THEN i’ll consider buying it. Right now I am still waiting to use in in the Apple Store
If only iPAD had been around when I took my neurosurgical boards in Chicago. Although I had been studying intensively in preparation for the boards, I was still compulsive enough to drag two suitcases full of texts with me so I could do some last minute cramming. If I had had them all on the iPAD I could have saved my aching back AND lowered my stress. Medical texts on the iPAD alone would make it a must to have to go through med school and residency training.
Dr. Blacker – I definitely agree with this, and the below link gives home that medical textbooks are coming to the iPad. Unfortunately, as of now, there aren’t any texts available via Apple’s iBook store. My guess is medical texts will go around the iBook store, rather develop partnerships with e-book Apps, and go through them. If this is the case it would be unfortunate because the iBook stores intuitive layout to reading texts really is amazing.
/20…
There is a large gap between what many HOPE the iPad will do and what it actually CAN do. Tablet PCs have been on the market for many years and promised many of the same things. The limiting factor has been (and most likely will continue to be) software. In the US, the ARRA certification (via the HITECH stimulus) will be the badge that differentiates what healthcare facilities will actually support and purchase. I’ve listed another 10 reasons the current iPad will not be significantly deployed in healthcare if you have the time.
aycan measured the iPad display according to the DIN V 6868-57:2001-02 (Consistency and uniformity testing for medical displays).
The iPad exceeds the values for medical displays category A (suitable for all kind of medical images, except mammography).
1. Luminance (min): 1,88 cd/m2
2. Luminance (max): 363 cd/m2
3. Contrast ratio: 193:1
4. Ls: 0.33 cd/m2 (display turned off, luminance of the ambient light on the display)
The display seems very capable of displaying medical images. A portable device still has some challenges in terms of security.
Stephan Popp
aycan Digitalsysteme GmbH
http://www.aycan.de
Thank you for this information. It is remarkable that such a small portable device can produce detail at a level comparable to expensive, medical grade monitors.
Would you be interested in writing as guest blogger about mobile medical imaging ? It seems that Aycan has tremendous experience in this respect.