A “Star Trek” tricorder, left, and at right an image from a medical scanner of a simulated breast tumor displayed on a cell phone screen. Medical scanners plugged into cell phones could help detect cancer and other disorders. Credit for scanner image: Boris Rubinsky et al

The times I saw Star Trek shows, I’m always wondering about the details of the Star Trek Tricorder.

I mean it looks so cool, with the accompanying sound effects via the TV and looks great with the ‘Away Team’, using it to evaluate the surroundings or people

Yes that might be science-fiction, but in actual fact, it has just been invented. It seems doctors find their diagnosis items bulky, so the ideal solution is to reduce the size and components and fit it into a palm

It is reported inventors has made a portable scanner that can be used to plug into your usual normal handphones. The raw data would then be deciphered on a remote processors.

The handphones act as a transmitter and receiver for the scanner and remote processors. The interpreted data would then can be viewed on the cellphone screen

Such ‘Tricorder’ could do wonders as such ultrasound scanners which can cost up to $70000, can be reduced to $1000 or less. That would mean lesser financial impact on hospitals and patients.

The only ‘problem’ I foresee is that after this more people would start acting like doctors and nurses. Hahaha, no harm into role-playing right, as long its confined to your chambers

via source