To prepare my proposal and outline potential use-cases for the GSM shield in developing communities, I have been having working meeting with various researchers. I am specifically focusing on work that is currently underway, so that I/we do not have to start from scratch and there is current supporting field evidence. In this spirit, I met with Professor Jakita Thomas of Spelman College who is a researcher, teacher, innovator, singer/song writer and more! Professor Thomas and her team of student-researchers are working on mobile-technologies for health and wellness in developing and rural communities.
In the first suite of technologies, Thomas and her team are developing mobile apps for pre- and post-natal care in rural communities. Their aim is to decrease the likelihood of miscarriages and infant mortality. They have published their initial findings in the paper "Supporting greater access to pre- and post-natal information and services for women in rural Kenya."
I will list some of the key examples that Prof. Thomas is developing. The first example is when a pregnant woman in a rural area is experiencing unusual urination and she can sense that something is wrong. What is actually happening is that the woman is going into pre-mature labor, but she does not know. In this scenario the technology solution is to grant the woman access to a low-cost portable ultrasound. There is even an ultrasound that connects to a cellphone as shown here. The technology was developed by scientists at Washington University in St Louis.
The community hospotal or medical center may have one (or more) machine, but may not have an OBGYN. So the data from the ultrasound can be communicated/transmitted to a knowledgeable practitioner or doctor likely residing in a large city. The practitioner can look at it to determine that the woman is in premature labor. And from there, there are ways to remedy premature labor.
Another example that is being researched by Professor Thomas is methods for mobile technologies and low-cost ultrasound to be used to determine if a baby is breached. More specifically, when a woman is in labor and while in labor an ultrasound of her womb can be taken. The image can be compared to a database or the can be persons who are expert deciphers and it can be possible to determine if the baby is breached. Then a verbal message, text message, or some form of communication can be done to walk the local medical center/hospital through methods to address the breached baby.
Professor Thomas is also researching ways in which traditional story telling and social networks can be integrated to create novel community-sharing methods between new mothers. This story telling method would be used to convey information about child rearing between mothers. For example, a new mother may have questions about what to expect at a check-up or the new mother have trouble breast feeding where the child is not latching. To get information about these issues, the new mother can use her mobile phone to connect with and see pictures of mothers in her community and get information from the local community This helps in relating to other mothers as well as for the new mother to have access to information at any time which is important at night for safety and security. Voice recognition and kinnects are some technologies that could be leveraged.
The community hospotal or medical center may have one (or more) machine, but may not have an OBGYN. So the data from the ultrasound can be communicated/transmitted to a knowledgeable practitioner or doctor likely residing in a large city. The practitioner can look at it to determine that the woman is in premature labor. And from there, there are ways to remedy premature labor.
Another example that is being researched by Professor Thomas is methods for mobile technologies and low-cost ultrasound to be used to determine if a baby is breached. More specifically, when a woman is in labor and while in labor an ultrasound of her womb can be taken. The image can be compared to a database or the can be persons who are expert deciphers and it can be possible to determine if the baby is breached. Then a verbal message, text message, or some form of communication can be done to walk the local medical center/hospital through methods to address the breached baby.
Professor Thomas is also researching ways in which traditional story telling and social networks can be integrated to create novel community-sharing methods between new mothers. This story telling method would be used to convey information about child rearing between mothers. For example, a new mother may have questions about what to expect at a check-up or the new mother have trouble breast feeding where the child is not latching. To get information about these issues, the new mother can use her mobile phone to connect with and see pictures of mothers in her community and get information from the local community This helps in relating to other mothers as well as for the new mother to have access to information at any time which is important at night for safety and security. Voice recognition and kinnects are some technologies that could be leveraged.
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