Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

Using Google Squared for differential diagnosis

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

Google Squared is a search tool that helps you quickly build a collection of facts from the Web for any topic you specify.

  • Facts about your topic are organized as a table of items and attributes (we call them “Squares” for fun)
  • Customize these Squares to see just the items and attributes you’re interested in
  • See the websites that served as sources for the information in your Square
  • Save and share Squares with others

You Tube Video:


The power of Google Squared is in quickly looking up differential diagnosis. Just type the name of the name of the symptom and you get a list of differentials with other relevant data. However most “squares” with the description of individual diagnosis pulls information and links from wikipedia. The descriptions would have been more useful if they were from an authoritative source.

Here is a quick list of differentials that I have created using Google Squared:

Chest Pain

Cough

Headache

Shortness of Breath

More information on Google Squared: Google Help, Google Blog

Can Einstein and Darwin live again?

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

Using the hair of a woolly mammoth preserved in the Siberian tundra, scientists have reconstructed 80 percent of the mammoth genome, raising the possibility of one day resurrecting the beast.

If this is successful, genes for some of the most famous scientists in history can also be reverse-engineered. This technology therefore can allow Einstein, Darwin and other such prominent scientists to live again.

einstein.jpeg
Albert Einstein

darwin.jpeg
Charles Darwin

Wonder what will be their reaction to our modern world?

Reference: Wired Science

Photographs from Life photo archive

Voice search on Google app for iPhone

Sunday, November 16th, 2008

iPhone is an incredible device. The entire medical literature (available on the internet) is in your hand. However, typing those long medical terms can sometimes be a pain.

Enter Google app with voice search. Just say the term as if you are talking with the phone and the application recognizes the search and outputs the results.

[YouTube Video]


I wonder how well it would do if I searched for Bannayan-Zonana-Riley Syndrome!

(This app is yet to be released on the iTunes app store)

Update: November 17, 2008

Google search application has launched on the app store (iTunes Link).

Unfortunately, it did not work for Bannayan-Zonana Riley Syndrome. However, it was pretty good at recognizing most common diseases although it searched for “no motivation” a couple of times when I was searching for “adenoma sebaceum.” I did finally get it right.

Amazing!

Large Hadron Collider explained with videos

Sunday, September 14th, 2008

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is one of the world’s largest and most respected centres for scientific research. Its business is fundamental physics, finding out what the Universe is made of and how it works. At CERN, the world’s largest and most complex scientific instruments are used to study the basic constituents of matter — the fundamental particles. By studying what happens when these particles collide, physicists learn about the laws of Nature.

CERN in 3 minutes Video:


Overview of Large Hadron Collider project and its plans:


If you prefer - a rap version:


Can children teach themselves?

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

This video demonstrates the tremendous capability of children to learn and adapt when provided with the right tools and environment.

Speaking at LIFT 2007, Sugata Mitra talks about his Hole in the Wall project. Young kids in this project figured out how to use a PC on their own — and then taught other kids. He asks, what else can children teach themselves?