Are Smartphones Just Tricorders in Disguise?

In remote corners of the world, medical diagnostics are difficult tasks. Now a new kit that runs off a smartphone is bringing medicine to often overlooked regions.

Peek is a new device developed by a team of researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.  And honestly, it looks like an early prototype of a tricorder from Star Trek. 

Peek is an eye-testing system that consist of a single piece of hardware that plugs into the data port of a smartphone. This portable opthamologist’s office can test for acuity, contrast sensitivity, cataracts, image grading and a number of other conditions.

And while medical testing in remote areas is great, delivering the correct treatment would be even better.  To facilitate this process, Peek also geo-tags each patient’s home in Google Maps.  With that information, distant doctors can prescribe a course of action for local physicians to administer.

The Peek system is currently undergoing trials in a 5,000 person region of Kenya.  If all goes according to plan the Peek system could prove to be the first step towards a true medical tricorder.