[OLPC library] OLPC+MATLAB+Greene DNA Chip = Disease Tricorder for developing world

Mon Jan 28 11:00:04 EST 2008

OLPC + MATLAB - Tricorder for developing world

Could Matlab create Greene Chip DNA microarray software to run on OLPC? 
http://www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu/news/Lipkin_GreeneChip.html
http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/loadFile.do?objectId=2573
http://laptop.org/
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080121100909.htm

If the MATLAB software could run on OLPC it could be used to monitor disease in the field.
I worked with AIDS patients and child nutrition programs while in the Peace Corps.
We saw kids die every week from RSV and dehydration caused by diarrhea.
We did not know what antibiotic to give.
OLPC could use MATLAB software to integrate DNA array results to diagnosis.
An expert system similar to Mycin could then be used to diagnose disease in the field via the web.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycin

Henry Brown
henry.brown at state.nm.us
cell 795-3680
office 505 827-2509

________________________________

From: arjunsarwal at gmail.com on behalf of Arjun Sarwal
Sent: Fri 1/25/2008 4:23 PM
To: library at lists.laptop.org; devel at lists.laptop.org
Subject: 'OLPC-Health' takes off !!

Hi all,

There has been a lot of interest from various groups to develop/explore medical applications around the XO laptop. While a number of people/groups have already undertaken efforts in a number of areas, there are also many more people interested in volunteering and helping out. 

While people have put in great efforts into many projects, our efforts would be much more effective once we get a little organized amongst ourselves so that we can co-ordinate on our projects, avoid duplication of efforts, and discuss with people with field experience to comment and feedback on our efforts.

The reach of our efforts and projects is promising and the potential to impact kids and communities around the world is huge --  all this is possible due to the scale and reach of XO deployments.

One can broadly break down efforts into the following three areas -

(1) "Content" 
Creating a Library/repository of information that would be shipped on the XO laptop as part of the default software on it. This would be a ready reference for preliminary diagnosis of diseases and a reference for symptoms. This would also include general information on an array of topics such as hygiene, nutrition, balanced diets, etc. 

(2) "Hardware"
Developing and using hardware peripherals that connect to the XO laptop. These include, but are not limited to the build-in camera (with the possibility of add-on optical elements; an EKG; and a pulse oxymeter.

(3) "Software"
Developing software that asks the user a series of questions and helps in a preliminary diagnosis. Links to useful websites and online portals. 

David Greisen, Seth Woodworth, Pascal Scheffers, Benjamin Schwartz are some of the people that have been working on "Content"

Ian Daniher, Rafael Ortiz, IMSA OLPC chapter participants (Scott Swanson, Kevin, April Hope) are some of the people working on "Hardware"

Please add onto this list and let everyone know what you've been working upon.

David Greisen and Mika Matsuzaki are co-ordinating efforts on the "content" related projects. 
Ian Daniher and Kevin(IMSA) are co-ordinating efforts on "hardware" projects
We still need volunteers to co-ordinate efforts on the "software" projects

Apart from that, we need to setup an advisory board comprising of Doctors, field workers, medical professionals etc. to guide the efforts in all three areas.

How you can start participating in the "OLPC Health" efforts --

(1) Send an email to library mailing list[1] with a short introduction of yourself.

If you'd like to head/undertake projects, please put up project proposals and let all know that you're looking for participants/volunteers/developers

If you'd like to volunteer in projects, please mention your area of experience and/or what areas you'd be interested to volunteer in.

(2) Categorize the list of volunteers on the wiki page http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Health and add your name into the appropriate category. Please create other categories if content, hardware, software don't seem to represent the efforts very well.

(3) Help the "OLPC Health" team connect with field workers, MDs , Doctors, Physicians towards the formation of an advisory group

(4)  There is a conference call that we have on the 10th of February. Please propose agenda items! 
For people in Boston/Cambridge area -- please help  me organize the call/meeting !

That was a long email! Thank you for your patience in reading through it.

best,
Arjun Sarwal

ps - please avoid ccing the devel mailing list further. Let's continue this discussion only on the library mailing list[1]. 
pps - join library mailing list[1]

[1] Library mailing list - http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/library

---
Arjun Sarwal
<arjun at laptop.org>

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