Major technological advances are what define our generation and sets benchmarks for future generations to build on or set new ones. And if the latest gadgets making the news are anything to go by, there's much to be excited about.
Sadly, much of this breakthrough technology is still in development and it will take a while to be available to the general public.
This timeline between demand and supply becomes even more relevant and significant when you consider health-related gadgets that aim to either significantly improve quality of life or make treatment that requires sufficient training as easy to administer as child's play... okay maybe not that easy, but you get the drift.
Here's a list of the coolest health gadgets we want to see available everywhere sooner rather than later....
GOOGLE CONTACT LENS
What it is: Wearable tech is the new now. What this tiny device aims to do is help diabetics easily measure glucose levels, using human tears. How it works is, a chip and sensor is embedded between two layers of lens and a tiny pinhole lets your tears reach the glucose sensor measure levels every second. How it helps you is, it does away with the need for painful pricks to draw blood each time you need to check your sugar levels.
Announced: January 16, 2014
Current Status: By late-March 2015, Google was granted a patent for this gadget. But most experts predict that it will be some time before it gets to a store near you
COMFORTABLY NUMB'S CANNISTER
What it is: Rice University's freshman engineering design team Comfortably Numb's 3-D printed device aims to make injections pain free. Their device numbs skin before an injection is administerd by producing a rapid chemical reaction to cool the patient’s skin. Current solutions take about an hour to come into effect. This one makes it happen in seconds and works best when injections have to be given on sensitive areas like the face or groin
Announced: April 2015
Current Status: A functioning prototype is in place. The numbing effect will last 60 seconds. The device will allow chemicals to reach the skin to produce a rapid endothermic reaction. Estimated cost per device will be $2, should it go into production. Right now, CN is in process of applying for a provisional patent
MC10's BIOSTAMP
What it is: Think of it as a temporary tattoo that monitors your health. An electronic mesh, it's stretchy, adheres to skin, monitorying hydration, heart rate, strain and temperature. Think about it as doing away with being tied down by monitors. Imagine not being tethered to a bed! In time, with addition of power sources and communication systems, you can then connect it to your phone and then send the results to your doctor. Anywhere. Anytime.
Announced: As early as mid-2013
Current Status: Last heard, still in active development, but still a while away from being easily
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