Millions of selfies get uploaded to social media every week and it's a practice that has been embraced by people of all ages.
Most often when people take selfies they are just going to post them to their social media accounts, but researchers at the University of Washington think that selfies might be helpful in a different way.
They suggest that selfies might help to save lives by enabling early detection of illnesses like pancreatic cancer and liver disorders.
For pancreatic cancer, researchers say that one of the early indicators that someone has the illness is that you will see yellowing of their eyes or skin, jaundice, and it's often unnoticeable to the naked eye until it's progressed much further.
But researchers in Washington are working on a project that might help people to achieve early detection by using a 3D printed box and a smartphone.
The smartphone app that they've been working on, called BiliScreen, is going to enable the user to detect for jaundice in the eyes and it only requires a smartphone (with a camera and flash), the app, and the 3D printed box (printed attachment).
The app uses computer vision algorithms to assess the health of the eye. Thus far, researchers working on the app say that they've been successful roughly 89 percent of the time when they've sought to accurately assess the elevated bilirubin levels; associated with eye health.
They say that for right now the research has shown promise and they are hoping to improve on current market standards when it comes to screening and treatment for these types of illness.
In the future, the technology that they are working on might be used to help detect a wide range of diseases.
So far, they've conducted a trial with only 70 participants but the technology did show promise and had a performance of bout 90 percent accuracy. The researchers are currently working on conducting a larger study with more participants and the app surrounding their technology is expected to be detailed and presented at the 2017 Ubicomp conference in September.
This isn't the first time that researchers have sought to use smartphones to try and enable consumers to test for something in the comfort of their home either.
There are many apps available on the market today that are trying to assist with medical diagnosis. Smartphone apps today on the market are being used to assist with diagnosing blood pressure, glucose levels, kidney function, heart rhythm, ultrasounds, and more. Market analysts say that the smartphone technology is helping us to turn our phones into mobile clinics and thus boosting convenience for consumers.
For those who are able to successfully use this sort of technology for early detection, it could mean the difference in saving their life.
Pics:
Pixabay
redcarpetrefs via redcarpetrefs.com/cinematic-selfies/
3D print
The information that is posted above is not intended or implied to ever be used as any substitute for professional medical advice, or diagnosis or treatment. The above is posted for informational purposes only.
Sources:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3619679/What-vain-bunch-really-24-billion-selfies-uploaded-Google-year.html
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20170829/Smartphone-app-could-be-used-to-screen-for-pancreatic-cancer.aspx
http://ubicomp.org/ubicomp2017/index.html
https://3dprint.com/185957/pancreatic-cancer-detection-app/
http://kuow.org/post/take-selfie-help-screen-yourself-cancer
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/Apps-help-in-medical-diagnosis/article17059603.ece
https://www.ft.com/content/1efb95ba-d852-11e6-944b-e7eb37a6aa8e
https://www.wired.com/2013/02/smartphone-becomes-smart-lab/