Why the Apple iPad will change the face of healthcare
“An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way rapidly winning over and converting its opponents; it rarely happens that Saul becomes Paul. What does happen is that its opponents gradually die out and that the growing generation is familiarized with the idea from the beginning.”
- Max Planck
The Philosophy of Physics, 1936
Much has been said in the short time since the much-hyped launch of Apple’s new iPad. Most of the analysis from the Geek-aratti seems to suggest disappointment and underwhelmed comments such as “it’s nothing new” & “Apple has failed to deliver on the hype”. From jokes linking it’s name to feminine hygiene products to rants about it’s lack of features being an Apple-led planned obsolescence conspiracy.
Of all the criticisms, the one that perplexes me the most is the one claiming that because the iPad is purely an oversized iPod touch it has nothing new to offer.
However, in the healthcare setting, and no doubt numerous other settings also, those added inches make a significant difference. With a larger screen the ease of use and stylish user interface previously associated with the iPhone will pave the way to long awaited change in the use of such devices in healthcare settings. Previous iterations have failed for various reasons, including cost, weight and poor interoperability.
The indicative cost of the iPad at less than $1000 will address some cost issues. It’s typically Apple-elegant form and weight of less than a kilo should overcome the bulkiness and clunkiness objections.
Without question, iPad apps accompanying the myriad of iphone apps will quickly come out of the woodwork over the next 6-12 months. Many of these apps will no doubt service the healthcare sector.
Accompanying these predictions of software apps should also spawn a whole range of hardware modifications, new accessories and devices for the conduct of all manner of investigations, assessments and communications either plugged directly into the iPad or via bluetooth.
In view of the sorts of healthcare environments these devices will find themselves I certainly hope robust protective casings that can be easily sanitised will be developed as well as harnesses or adaptor kits that will allow easy portability, accessibility and use of both hands to type.
For change to occur and mass adoption to take place, timing is everything and with e-Health being on the forefront of many health reform agendas globally you can’t help but think the iPad (despite it’s flaws) is positioned perfectly to act as a timely change agent in an industry that has never fully embraced tablet technology before.
This final point is the most important reason why I believe the iPad is such an important development for the healthcare sector. It is this point which appears to be under-recognised or missing in most commentary I have seen thus far.
Tablet computing in healthcare will happen, it’s a matter of whether the iPad will be the device to herald in a new era of adoption of the technology or whether it will be another more fully featured device. One can only hope that Google’s undoubted response won’t be called the “Paddle One”.