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Researchers in South Korea are exploring innovative ways to use capacitive touch screens to create what is being dubbed the iPhone doctor.
Using government findings, researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have used the capacitive technology to detect biomolecules.
The touch screens work by reacting to the small electrical signals given off by a finger, and the biomolecules associated with disease that are located in blood or saliva give off similar signals, Reuters reported.
Lab tests have proven the technique to be almost 100 per cent accurate and as effective as current medical equipment, although there is a significant level of work still to be done.
Researcher Won Byoung-Yeon told the news agency: "Currently, we've reached the level where we can detect certain biomolecules' existence or concentration, but we can't define what the biomolecule is.
"Therefore, we're producing a film covered in a substance which can selectively react to certain biomolecules so that we can determine what those biomolecules are."
It's thought the technology could be used to create a non-invasive screening device, similar to the tricorder from Star Trek. The X Prize foundation is currently offering $10,000 (£6,300) to anyone who creates such a device.
Posted on 03/02/2012 in Touch.
