Background: Moderate to high intensity activity is an important component in weight loss. The ability to use free technology to monitor activity would provide a useful clinical tool.

Methods: Three popular pedometer mobile applications (“iSteps Lite”, “Pedometer Lite” and “Lyr Free”) were compared to a conventional pedometer. Outcome measures included step recording, speed estimate, distance recorded over a fixed distance and steps recorded during car travel.

Results: All devices show inaccuracy in step count and speed estimate at varying intensities of activity. For measurement of 100 steps at medium intensity activity, the range of recorded step counts detected at medium sensitivity was 69.3 to 101.3. Valid and reliable results for step count were seen with the control pedometer and with one program at moderate sensitivity settings for moderate and high intensity activity. The most accurate distance recorded and estimate of speed over a fixed distance was from a program with Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality.

Conclusion: It is possible to determine a step count as accurate as a control pedometer with careful selection of program and calibration. When exercising over a distance, a program with GPS functionality leads to the most accurate determination of speed estimate and distance recorded.

Key words: Pedometer, Accuracy, Mobile Phone, Weight Loss, Technology, Software

Background: Integration of information technology and the birth of e-health has been a phenomenon in the last few decades and currently it is thoroughly embraced. It has been a tampered concept in the past to use portable devices to access digital radiology. However necessary resolution and processing capabilities have not been available to meet the demands. With the integration of high-resolution tablet devices and easy access touch software, we are now at a point where this concept can finally become a reality. As part of this feasibility analysis we have conducted a small experiment to assess tablet devices and its ability to manipulate and gain measurements of complex high-resolutioncomputed tomography (CT)images.

Methods: A human skeleton foot was put through an advanced 320 slice dynamic CT scanner. The obtained DICOM data was manipulated and distance measurements were taken using Osirix software between 2 very distinguishable points. The same 2 points were identified on the skeleton and the distances were measured precisely using calipers.

Results: When measuring distances using defined anatomical landmarks on a real skeleton and the CT scan on the iPad, the measurements correlated to within 1mm, with a mean percentage error of 1.3%. The tablet device image processing capability was very user friendly and ergonomic. However the software processing capability of the tablet was limited to simple distance measurements. The processing speed was inferior to a laptop and 3D reconstructions were not possible with the current software.

Conclusion: Tablet devices have reached the complexity needed to be an excellent portable digital radiology access point. However at the moment this remains as a concept envisioned but not applied. This concept currently is limited by the processing capability and the software design of these devices. This is undoubtedly going to change with the further advancement of tablet technology and its software.

Background: Assessment of radiology is an integral part of fracture management in orthopaedic surgery.  Mobile multimedia messaging (MMS) can be utilised in the referral process of patients with fractures.  However, the reliability of using MMS in making management decisions in distal radius fractures has not been assessed.

Methods:Radiographs of 20 consecutive cases of distal radius fractures managed with closed reduction and plaster, and 20 cases managed with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) were analysed retrospectively by two blinded orthopaedic surgeons on a computer and anApple iPhone 3GS.  The inter- and intra-rater agreements were assessed.

Results: Inter-rater agreement between the MMS group and the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) group were consistent among the surgeons (K -0.55, 0.80, p<0.001).  However, the management decisions were different in seven cases (8.75%) in the study group.

Conclusion: MMS x-ray pictures can be useful in formulating management plans for patients with distal radius fractures.  With advancing technology smartphones will likely play a larger role in the communication process in delivering orthopaedic care.

Background: New developments in mobile technology have had a profound effect on medical care worldwide.1 In orthopaedic surgery a variety of implants and devices are used, and knowledge about their designs, specific features and surgical techniques is essential. The purpose of this study was to assess whether orthopaedic surgical technique guides are readily available in an electronic format.

Methods: A list of thirty-two orthopaedic device companies currently trading in Australia was generated through a structured internet search and by reviewing a tertiary hospital database. The Apple store was searched for iPhone or iPad surgical technique applications for each company. Company websites were searched for downloadable surgical technique guides. Companies without downloadable surgical technique guides or iPhone applications were contacted via email or telephone to ask whether such products were in development.

Results: Of the thirty-two orthopaedic device companies studied, twenty-two (68.8%) had surgical technique guides available for download on their websites. Four (12.5%) companies had an iPhone or iPad application available in the Apple store.

Conclusion: Although many orthopaedic device companies have downloadable surgical technique guides on their websites, only a few had iPhone or iPad applications for their products. Further development of such products may be beneficial for orthopaedic surgeons.

Background: To compare the use of a personal device such as an Apple iPhone 4 against formal clinical photography in monitoring skin lesions.

Methods: Clinical photography was used to photograph 10 skin lesions and these images were compared to photographs taken by an iPhone. These images were then reviewed by 5 different dermatologists to determine whether a discernible difference in image quality was apparent, and if sufficient detail was present to use the images taken from the iPhone in the clinical setting.

Results: All 5 dermatologists correctly identified all 10 skin lesions taken by clinical photography and those which were taken by the iPhone.  Forty seven of the 50 dermatologist responses indicated both photographs provided enough detail to be clinically useful, although only 9 of the 50 responses indicated the same detail was seen in both images.

Conclusion: Although the quality of images produced using clinical photography is superior to those produced by the iPhone, pictures taken by an iPhone may provide sufficient detail for clinical assessment of skin lesions.

Background: Mobile technology advancements have bought many benefits to professionals across all industries, particularly an increase in productivity. There is a paucity of information regarding the use of smartphone applications in medical research, particularly within the laboratory has not been examined.

Method: We performed a qualitative study on the use of smartphones in the laboratory. Medical researchers were surveyed regarding use of their smartphones in the laboratory, as well as the use of apps, or “applications”. We also performed analysis on available applications and current standing of smartphone integration with laboratory equipment.

Results: Survey responses indicated researchers to be more productive as a result of owning smartphones, however most did not utilise applications, and none utilised field-specific applications in the laboratory. Several issues preventing researchers from using their smartphones and applications in the laboratory were identified. These included occupational health and safety reasons, security, potential for distraction, absence of wireless connectivity, and a lack of awareness. Analysis of iPhone applications demonstrated availability of a range of reference and functional applications performing essential laboratory tasks.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that smartphones are currently not used to their full potential within the laboratory, and there are hurdles to overcome before wider use in the field of medical research. However as time and technology progresses further, and with increasing integration of smartphone technology with current laboratory equipment, researchers will embrace the smartphone as a cost-effective and timesaving device.