Could Google Glass revolutionise healthcare?

The Google Glass - the wearable computer device - could potentially save lives especially in isolated or far-flung locations, say scientists. The app could also help researchers track the spread of diseases around the world.

By: Agencies | | Published: March 3, 2014 10:04 am

A new Google Glass app is here that can take picture of a diagnostic test strip, sends the data to a computer which rapidly sends back a diagnostic report to the patient. The Google Glass – the wearable computer device – could potentially save lives especially in isolated or far-flung locations, say scientists. The app could also help researchers track the spread of diseases around the world. Also Read - Healthcare in the times of COVID-19 and beyond: Touchless patient monitoring

Also Read - Radio surgery treatment gives a new lease of life to a 55-year old

‘It’s very important to detect emerging public health threats early, before an epidemic arises and many lives are lost,’ said Aydogan Ozca from University of California, Los Angeles. ‘With our Google Glass app and our remote computing and data analysis power, we can deliver a one-two punch – provide quantified biomedical test results for individual patients and analyse all those data to determine whether an outbreak is imminent,’ he explained. (Read: Surgeon live-streams operation through Google Glass) Also Read - 'Smart Health' app to soon help in tracking diabetes in rural India

The app uses Google Glass’ built-in camera to take a picture of a diagnostic test. The wearable computer transmits images of these test strips with their custom-created Quick-Response (known as ‘QR’) code identifiers to more powerful computers in other parts of the world for analysis. Then, a quantified diagnostic result is beamed back to the Google Glass user. If the user is in a remote area without WiFi, then he or she can connect Glass to a smart phone to transmit the data along with geographical information for disease tracking, said the study that appeared in the journal ACS Nano, a publication of the American Chemical Society. (Read: Google Glass the surgeon’s new best friend?)

Google Glass is a pair of eyeglasses without the lenses but with a small rectangular transparent screen near the right eye that functions as a tiny computer screen. A mouse is built into the right arm of the frame.

Source: IANS

For more articles on healthcare, check out our healthcare section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.

Published : March 3, 2014 10:04 am

Read Disclaimer

AAP questions health secretary's transfer

Satyamev Jayate 2, episode 1 review – did Nirbhaya rape case really bring about a change?

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com

+91 – 22 – 6697 1234

91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

We respect your privacy

AAP questions health secretary's transfer

Satyamev Jayate 2, episode 1 review – did Nirbhaya rape case really bring about a change?

About The health Site

Useful Links