Technology is everywhere! I’m using it right now to complete my assignment! It’s great, and it saves lives! ( http://www.tomsguide.com/us/twitter-toilet-yodobashi-tweet-japanese,news-6780.html haha, just kidding! ) Technology is used daily by surgeons, doctors, nurses and has saved many lives. Doctors don’t have x-ray vision, so they need technology to help them.
From Stethoscopes to Magnetic Resonance Imaging, they assist doctors to understand our internal body system because everyone’s body works differently. Let’s not forget about the Computerized Axial Tomography Scan, blood pressure reading devices, heart/pulse rate monitors, endoscopes, thermometers, x-ray machines and the list just goes on and on. They’re crucial to the diagnosis and follow up of medical treatments. Without technology, there’s no way anyone could figure out the cause of diseases/sickness. Yearly full body scans can help humans be aware of their health, and it could prevent long-term illnesses if problems are detected early. Most of the time people think that they’re strong, fit, healthy, and have the (mental) and physical ability of a 15 year old, but in reality, their internal mechanisms may be rusting, and they discover it when it’s too late. Normally, we can’t look at a person and sentence them to cancer or kidney failure, etc. This is where technology kicks in, it’s vital to our understanding of what’s happening inside us.
Insulin’s a hormone produced in the pancreas, which helps the body store/use the blood sugar from food. People with type 1 diabetes’s body can’t produce insulin and those with type 2 either don’t have enough insulin produced or have insulin resistance. In 1992, Frederick Banting and Charles Best at the University of Toronto
Technology moves forward with each era getting better. It continues to help human beings discover cures to new diseases that keep coming. It also helps find more efficient, less painful ways of treatments.
Check this out! http://www.technologyreview.com/Biotech/17470/ Swallowable Sensors are sensors that’re ingested, and as it goes along the digestive system, gathering information, then sends it to a transmitter. This is a big step forward, because previously, they would use invasive and unpleasant ways to study the digestive system, but this method, is convenient and hassle-free. 
With technology, this is happening too! http://www.scienceahead.com/entry/top-10-artificial-technologies-ready-to-create-a-real-human-being/ They’ve made artificial body parts which work with our bodies, functioning inside us, and they’ve use the artificial heart in dying patients to give them hope, as it keeps them alive temporarily while seeking for a heart donor. Technology is unpredictable and surprising. Technology brings us places where our grandparents would have never thought to have happened! Technology improves and enhances medical procedures and gives us the ability to understand the human body and the internal systems. We all love technology, don’t we?
References
"Insulin Discovered, 1922." About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2010.
<http://history1900s.about.com/b/2008/01/17/insulin-discovered-in-1922.htm>.
<http://history1900s.about.com/b/2008/01/17/insulin-discovered-in-1922.htm>.
"Insulin Discovered, 1922." About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2010.
<http://history1900s.about.com/b/2008/01/17/insulin-discovered-in-1922.htm>.
<http://history1900s.about.com/b/2008/01/17/insulin-discovered-in-1922.htm>.
"Top 10 Artificial Technologies Ready to creath a Real Human Being." Science ahead. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2010. <http://www.scienceahead.com/entry/top-10-artificial-technologies-ready-to-create-a-real-human-being/>.
"What are the different types of hospital equipment." Wisegeek. N.p., n.d. Web.
8 Dec. 2010. <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-hospital-equipment.htm>.
8 Dec. 2010. <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-hospital-equipment.htm>.
Comments on other blogs
I am really intrigued with the Swallowable Sensors. You just ingest it and it can obtain a variety of information within the body. What a technology! It's hassle-free too! It's interesting to see new and innovative technologies like these that are making it easier to detect a certain virus or illness in a certain area of our body.
ReplyDeleteClaudia, so do I, the Swallowable Sensors is so fabulous.
ReplyDeleteTechnology did help us a lot,
Also talking about insulin, as i know it is produced in the islets of Langerhans, an endocrine glands on the pancrease, so the protein in nature of insulin was synthesis is a good leap in the medical industry, as known the protein is one of the known complex structure, with the success of protein synthesizing there will be more essential hormones synthesized in laboratory.
Actually i do have a mad idea on the micro technology, what if human have the nanotech helping in any surgery it would be cool, yet it is so much crazy which wont be possible in the few centuries .
Dora,
ReplyDeletealways love your blogs. The links you included were great, rather than just explaining it! So Insulin is one of the first things you think of when you hear "Canada" and "Medical," but the Swallowable Sensors are amazing! That's something i've never even heard of! I also like that you added brief references to all our other great inventions/innovations/discoveries. :)
I love how the technologies you've mentioned created great impact in handful of lives and making difference everyday! Swallowable Sensors caught my attention the most. It amuses me how doctors are able to create such great devices. Our lives are made easier because of such great minds. I agree with you when you said technology is unpredictable and surprising because it truly is. I think that humans have the ability to develop even greater technology. I wonder what sort of instruments we would obtain 50 years from now. and yes! I do love technology too.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is unpredictable and surprising! i like how im living the dream of my ancestors. Technology in the medical field is growing and getting better. We are now, understanding how the body systems work because of technology. Technology is great and i think we should continue to figure out more ways to figure out complications not resolved like cancer.
ReplyDeleteHi Dora,
ReplyDeleteGreat Blog! I mostly agree with your title! It's true that we can't live without technology. It's shocking how we are able to live with technology right now because in the past there were not much technology at all. Imagine how people survived in the past? Well, if I was one of them in the past I don't think I would be able to live. It's very interesting to see many new technologies being made because it makes it easier for us to develop a better understanding and have such great creativity!
Adding to the awe that's already pretty apparent from your commenters: the Swallowable Sensors are pretty cool! I read the article you linked along with it and to be sure, they're undoubtedly awesome and will do a lot of good for human health. However, one depressing piece of information caught my eye: "Each capsule will cost $500, and the entire system, including a docking station and software, costs $20,000"; just thought it was a sad little reminder of the duality of medical advances and financial expense. No way the average man can afford to spend that much, especially on a technology that, so far, primarily analyzes rather than cures.
ReplyDeleteBrightening this comment up, I also researched CT scans; aren't they amazing? As you said, it's vital to understanding our own bodies and health. Diagnoses are more accurate than ever before, and it's all thanks to breakthroughs like these. I also checked out the artificial body parts you linked to! I've heard of artificial limbs before, but never hearts or wombs. It's all so brilliant (and admittedly a little creepy).
All in all, a great blog post with a lot of exciting technologies presented; none so impressive as the first you mentioned though ("Man in Toilet Tweets for Toilet Paper Delivery Help" - that's golden).
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Inggrid
http://ih8biology.tumblr.com
hey Dora
ReplyDeleteyour blog was very interesting, i felt that your views were dipicted very well even your tittle went straight to the point. Technology has gone a long way and i agree with the fact that we need technology . With all these great advancements we're only going to move forward, i looked at the artificial body parts link and it was truly amazing to see all the great things we are now capable of doing, nevertheless it does raise the questions: when is it enough? as technology advances can it become a moral issue? ... the problem is we cannot stop technology from progressing, we can only hope that it doesnt get misused, regardless your blog was very well put. very good job :)
Great job Dora!
ReplyDeleteI learned a lot of new things from reading your blog. I can definitely say that I'm proud to be a Torontonian after reading that the insulin used to treat diabetes originated at the University of Ontario. This one small feat has obviously saved the lives of not just Canadians, but people all over the world living with diabetes. I also found your facts about Swallowable Sensors really fascinating,I've never heard anything like it. I absolutely agree with the fact that it would be difficult to live without technology. I wouldn't be able to leave this comment on your blog without it :)
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ReplyDeleteGreat job Dora! Your blog was extremely interesting to read, especially with the technology you mentioned. I found the Swallowable Sensors very interesting and appears to be very practical. Patients just swallow the pill and it collects information. There are so many things scientists can learn when using this method. The sensor is extremely small and can travel into tight spaces in the body and view things that the imagining technology we have today can't. Doctors rely on technology everyday to monitor the body, and the advances in technology are vital in regards to finding cures for diseases. I really enjoyed reading your blog, it was very informative and easy to understand, good job!
ReplyDeleteHey Dora, nice blog! Yes, it is true, we can't live without technology. Technology is being used everywhere we go. Its not only used to make life easier, but technology can save many lives. Technology is like a doctors best friend because with technology doctors are able to understand our internal body systems which benefits us in many ways. I also learned many new things from your blog, especially details about Swallowable Sensors. I find that really cool! Good job!
ReplyDeleteGreat BioBlog Dora! As technology changes, humans also change. As humans, we gain so much from technology, because it helps us in so many ways; it's important to us. I don't think we would be where we are today if we didn't have the help of technology. The discovery of something as simple as the stethoscope has made a huge impact on our lives! In fact, technology makes an impact on lives because it saves lives. Look at insulin for example! There's a world of possibilities with technology that'll help us in the future.
ReplyDeleteHey Dora! I really enjoyed reading your blog! It was very informative and intriguing. Clearly, technology has done it again. It has proved that technology can be a great thing. By the ability of changing lives, the evolution of technology has really made a difference. Technology becomes more amusing every decade. Swallowable Sensors now? Wow. I find that really interesting. I also really like how, now because of the new things researchers know, the technology today is less uncomfortable for patients. The sensors are easier to use compared to video camera's and stuff, so I like how the advancement of technology is both easier for the doctors, as well as the patients. When you really think about how much technology has changed over the years, it is fascinating! Thank you so much for the great read!
ReplyDeleteTaylor Lecours
Wong
Section: 03
Wow, the smart pill thing is so cool! I can't believe that something as simple as swallowing a pill can gather the information needed to study what's happening in your digestive system. Technology is sure getting more efficient and complex, but in the end, it is such a beneficial thing to the world.
ReplyDeleteHey Dora! I really liked your blog and I liked the way you organized your ideas. You started by talking very generally about the importance of technology in health care and then went in to detail about Canadian contributions, such as the invention of Insulin, ( which I mentioned in my blog as well). I also found it cool how you posted links within your blog so if I wanted more information I could simply click. Additionally you were able to write your blog in a more casual fun way which always makes reading for enjoyable. Overall great blog!
ReplyDeleteI find the swallowable sensors an extremely great invention. It is much more pleasant having to swallow a pill rather than having a camera with a long extension enter my system via my mouth. It all sounded as if we are really taking big steps, but then I saw the price, $500? The final expenses really do affect whether or not people can receive comfortable health care. I find the rest of the blog very informative as well, but the pill really stood out to me. It's good to see that we are progressing though. Thank you for writing such an interesting piece !
ReplyDeletehey Dora, great blog I found it really interesting. I had never heard of the swallowable sensors before. I think they could really be a very valuable tool in helping people keep track of their health. The electronic body parts, like the electronic heart, is something I haven't heard about either. The amount of people who would be saved by being given more time to wait for a organ donor would be astounding. One part of your blog that I found really unique and different was the links that you attached in your writing. They kept the reader interested in what you were saying. Really great job on the blog Dora!
ReplyDeleteHey, Dora, great post. All of the technologies you bring up are intriguing.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that insulin works on both humans and dogs shows helps remind us, once again, that we are all mammals. Although it was a fantastic discovery, of course, and made by Canadians, as well.
Those swallowable sensors seem like a great idea; it really is amazing how far miniaturization technology has come. I can see a lot of potential for them, as well. Needless to say, it's easy to get a good look inside someone's digestive system if you have them swallow a pill loaded with sensors.
Artificial organs are also great. We really have a shortage of organ donors, so any way to help those in need of a transplant is good. Hopefully, researchers will eventually develop artificial organs that may remain in the body for the rest of the recipient's life.
It is quite curious how the most radical of ideas could become actual reality. If we were to take a step back in time and mention the wonders of the X-Ray, like you mentioned in your blog, to a group of unsuspecting civilians, we would be hung for blasphemy. In all seriousness, technology, from the small swallow-able sensors to the big MRI scan, benefit the overall well being of humans. I was surprised to find out that technologies were being developed in order replace hearts, because I had always known of the prosthetic limbs. It just goes to show you that humans have so far as to be able to replicate the complexities of the heart, it is truly amazing.
ReplyDelete