How Android Is Making Its Mark in Medical and Health Technology
Mobile devices aren't just changing the way we communicate -- they're currently changing the face of health care, too. Recent developments in smart technology, from phones to home automation, have made it easy for people to track and monitor every aspect of their daily health and fitness routines. In addition, open-source software for Android and Apple devices has made it possible for health care professionals and medical researchers to use technology to help them study everything from asthma to autism.
You've probably heard quite a bit about Apple's medical tech accomplishments, but you may not know that Android is quickly catching up in terms of health research and development. As a result of some revolutionary efforts in the field, Android users can and should expect a notable shift toward more comprehensive medical tech integration in the coming years.
Android's Big Move
When Deborah Estrin, a computer science professor at Cornell Tech and a professor of public health at Weill Cornell Medical College, learned about software that would allow researchers to develop apps to track the health and fitness habits of people across the country, she couldn't wait to get in on the action. However, the initial software was only compatible with Apple products.
That left too many people out of the equation for Estrin. "You can't just do research studies on people who can afford iPhones," Estrin told The New York Times. To bridge the gap, she set out to bring the same capabilities to the Android market.
Her project, ResearchStack, is an open-source software framework that will provide medical researchers and other health care professionals with a means to develop apps that assist in health research and data collection on Android devices. The system also seeks to make it easier for developers to adapt existing iOS research apps for use on Android. ResearchStack is now public and available for interested developers to begin using. All code is available on Github to help drive community support.
Medical Tech Applications
Estrin isn't wasting any time in delving into practical medical tech applications. One of the first apps to go live on ResearchStack will be Mole Mapper, an app that's part of a melanoma study at Oregon Health & Science University.
Mole Mapper was originally developed by a cancer biologist to help his wife monitor suspect moles between dermatologist visits. After some development, the app now allows users to take pictures of moles, map them onto body zones, and monitor changes over time. The images can also be shared with researchers through the app, once consent is granted.
App development on ResearchStack isn't the only way that Android is meeting the demand for medical and health care tech, though. Google Fit is an Android health platform that uses sensors in smartphones and other mobile devices to automatically track physical activity. Everything from walking to biking gets captured, and users can track fitness and weight loss progress with the app.
There are also a number of activity trackers, workout guides, nutrition and sleep monitors, and exercise gamification apps available for Android devices. And the best part is, many of these health and fitness apps can be downloaded for free, making them accessible to a wide range of users.
What It All Means
Technology is making it easier for researchers and health care professionals to expand their knowledge and understanding of disease and dysfunction. Thanks to pioneering advocates like Estrin, health apps and medical research studies are being made available to the broadest number of people possible. And the more use and feedback these inaugural efforts get, the better their development will become.
The commitment to bring the latest and greatest health-related technology to Android users will help researchers collect the most data possible and avoid the potential pitfall of a socioeconomic bias based on the type of smart tech a person can afford. When health and wellness technology is available on all platforms, everyone wins. If you're interested in making use of some of this innovative new health tech, search for available health tracking apps on your smartphone to get started.
