Many has been the time I’ve heard someone say that they simply couldn’t live without their iPod. While the tiny music player has become a big part of people’s lives, it’s sometimes easy to forget that there are those out there who do depend on technology for their everyday health and well-being.
Amy Tenderich of the Diabetes Mine blog has penned an open letter to Steve Jobs, asking him to consider leading the way on bringing some of Apple’s legendary design to the clunky medical devices that so many rely on.
If insulin pumps or continuous monitors had the form of an iPod Nano, people wouldn’t have to wonder why we wear our “pagers” to our own weddings, or puzzle over that strange bulge under our clothes. If these devices wouldn’t start suddenly and incessantly beeping, strangers wouldn’t lecture us to turn off our “cell phones” at the movie theater.Tenderich suggests that Apple could sponsor a contest for the best-designed medical device, or perhaps offer a design course to engineers from medical technology companies. Apple definitely has a lot of expertise to bring to this field, and Steve himself has certainly had some interactions with medical technology. I for one would be stoked to see them run some sort of initiative along these lines.In short, medical device manufacturers are stuck in a bygone era; they continue to design these products in an engineering-driven, physician-centered bubble. They have not yet grasped the concept that medical devices are also life devices, and therefore need to feel good and look good for the patients using them 24/7, in addition to keeping us alive.
[hat tip: Thanks, Jason]
Sounds like a rather involved thing for Apple to get into. I can see them sponsoring and organizing some design initiative, but I don't know if they'd have the (justifiable) resources to do any engineering themselves.
Medical devices are a whole different ballgame. The reliability factor is a tad more of an issue than for a music player, and the regulatory overlay is huge.
The manufacturers, the customers (physician/nurse/patient) and the government agencies have been pursuing usability for years, we all know it is key to reducing mistakes. Is there room for improvement? Sure. But when I went to Apple before Newton was released and gave them a marketing plan to sell a half million Newtons into hospitals, at well above the consumer price, I was sent away because the opportunity was too small for Apple to consider.
Don't get me wrong, I love Apple, I am passionate about good medical devices.
As a diabetic, I think this is a great idea. Apple could even go one further and integrate the data from an insulin pump to display on your ipod via wifi, much like the Nike deal. They could then sell ipods and pumps together with a portion going to diabetes research much like the Product Red initiative.
It's probably all wishful thinking but hey, what the heck.
I wear a Minimed insulin pump and have actually wondered what if they could put an iPod's style into a new insulin pump. Being able to listen to some music at the same time on such a device would only be a plus.
Apple's Industrial design... isn't this Sir Jonathan Ive's Department? So many time copied, how come his work didn't inspire medical devices designer / engineers ??
I think this is both interesting and dangerous.
It's interesting that Apple is percieved to have this design prowess that it can so easily divert its expertise to other entirely different markets.
I guess it would be nice to have Apple make our device-driven lives that more pleasing, but it could also be dangerous as well as harmful to Apple financially.