Reviving a medical wearable computer for teaching purposes.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Mobile Health Technology
• Computer Science Applications

Background:

• The initial medical wearable computer design in 1978 utilized early CMOS microprocessor technology.
• The original device aimed to assist health-conscious consumers with various health management functions.
• The project was shelved in 1992 due to lack of funding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To redesign and implement a 1978 medical wearable computer concept using modern smartphone technology.
• To leverage student capstone projects for practical application of computer science principles in healthcare.
• To create a functional iPhone application based on the original device's features.

Main Methods:

• A university computing department initiated a collaboration for a student capstone project.
• Students utilized the Apple Xcode Developer Kit to convert the original design to an iPhone application.
• The project involved integrating features such as a body mass index calculator and an emergency alert system.

Main Results:

• The student team successfully developed an iPhone-based medical application.
• The application included features like a body mass index calculator, medication reminders, and an emergency alert system.
• The final implementation was demonstrated on an iPhone 4.

Conclusions:

• The project successfully modernized a pioneering medical wearable computer concept for contemporary mobile platforms.
• The iPhone application demonstrates the feasibility of integrating comprehensive health management tools into a smartphone.
• This work highlights the potential of academic projects to bridge historical technological concepts with current mobile health innovations.