Scanadu, the company that’s been promising to release a “medical tricorder” for the last few years, has now resorted to an Indiegogo crowdsourcing campaign to raise additional funds. Just to recap, Scanadu initially came on the scene promoting an electronic “tattoo” of the future that would stay on a person’s skin and provide real-time information on the body’s vital signs. Prior they have released a pretty incredible video showing a parent scanning his child with a proximity sensor, ala-Leonard “Bones” McCoy, and receiving diagnostic advice right from a smartphone. There was also urinalysis featured in the same video. Another video just came out promising that the upcoming Scout device will be able to measure ECG and heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, respiratory rate, and pulse oximetry, all by pressing it against the temple for ten seconds. Scanadu has been featured by TIME, Forbes, CNBC, USA TODAY, TechCrunch, and many others.
In 2011 Scanadu raised $2 million to build their medical tricorder. Last year Scanadu promised that three new devices will make it to market this year. Now Scanadu is raising funds with the promise that those offering to help through Indiegogo will have a chance to get a device that will “emulate an Emergency Room in your pocket” before everyone else, this time estimated for release March 2014.
Color us skeptical, as the company has been promoting their future without showing anybody what their technology can actually do today. Fantastic videos and coverage in major newspapers does not negate the fact that seemingly no independent party has seen a Scanadu device do any of the incredible things that are promised.
Nevertheless, you can head over to Indiegogo right now and contribute $199 to get yourself on the (at least) 10-month long waiting list for its promised upcoming Scout device.
Indiegogo Campaign: Scanadu Scout, the first Medical Tricorder…
More information: Scanadu website…
Flashbacks: Interview with Scanadu’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Alan Greene, Scanadu Announces Upcoming Line of Home Diagnostic Devices
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