1. HOW TECHNOLOGY CHANGED OUR MEDICINE
Dr.T.V.Rao MDTechnology has undoubtedly changed every aspect of our lives, especially over the last
two hundred years, and in no Profession is that more evident than the field of medicine. Still No other
symbol identifies a doctor more than a stethoscope. For centuries physicians relied on percussion and
auscultation – listening to chest sounds and heartbeats by pressing the ear to the chest – to assess cardiac
health. Invented by Rene Laennecin 1816, the stethoscope was groundbreaking because it led to better
descriptions of heart sounds and improved ability to distinguish among various murmurs and rhythmic
disturbances, as well as respiratory and gastrointestinal functions. The stethoscope has become the
singular symbol of physicians and has become one of the most trusted tools that physicians use for
physical diagnosis. Much of the fundamentals of training our students remain with Teachers and how they
are taught, I always believed, that in the past that Teacher is a learned man and communicate many
matters to the students, and however the matters have changed since the beginning of the 21st Century.In
the 21st century, technology has changed the ways in which we communicate and go about our lives.
Very few educators would disagree with the idea that technology has dramatically changed the teaching
and learning process. I realized now I cannot be an efficient teacher unless I am well communicated in the
matters I teach in Medicine and Microbiology, it made me to realize that the students of Today are your
partners in learning and just your pupil do not appreciate whatever you teach, without we being well
communicated. Today the Students' sense of audience is completely different. In the present contest, it's
thechanging WORLDwith Blogging, Twitter, Facebook, and other online platforms changed our notion
of audience. Being a Teacher of Medical education, just look at your text books ( Hard copies ) they do
claim they are not only ones to give you peer reviewed knowledge, and advises you to learn from many,
as popular text books are interactive Textbooks, just appreciate textbooks are completely changing. It is
no longer limited to merely text and pictures. Today’s textbooks often have web-based sites that include
assessments, animations, additional materials, videos, and other materials to support the learning of new
content. With even the little children are encouraged to learn through net books, mini laptop PC’s and
tablets, eBooks are on the Rise, Speaking of textbooks, eBooks are becoming more prevalent in schools
with the advancements of e-readers and tablet computers. I think in the near future that students won’t
carry around big bulky backpacks filled with heavy textbooks. Just spend little time we can get many econtent’s free as a matter of change of the many authors as they test their knowledge how good it is with
on line with reviews and comments, then only they dare to public Hard copies. Go back to matters few
decades back we are keen to take down the notes of our teachers however today rarely anybody does
it,but we don’t pass notes in class anymore. Students text one another instead. It's just another funny way
how technology has changed education.Disappearance of the Chalk Board Much attention has been
placed on interactive gaming as a powerful platform for student learning. Every day, new programs and
web-based tools are teaching our students content that was once paper or chalkboard based. In the past I
was carrying my heavy personal computer but iPad is A Game Changer,iPads are such adaptable and
powerful tools for teaching and learning. There are so many applications but I think the most powerful
and exciting aspect is the enhancement of learning experiences for students with special needs, slow
learners particularly those on the autism spectrum. We all have children we are not only teachers by
profession but we are all biologically teachers to our children Technology facilitates our ability to extend
classroom community by using web-based platforms like Edmodo. Teachers and students can use this
platform to discuss homework, post assignments, and interact with peers as they work on projects.We the
seniors still use librariestoday, we find few people in our age old libraries with Rise of Web-Based tools
2. and matters, but so much of our research and learning is now more web-based. What used to take hours
in the library to find, we find instantaneously. As a result, we need to sort through huge amounts of
information efficiently. We know how to get and use information. I would argue that because it takes less
time to find information, we spend more time digesting, thinking, and learning about new information.
Life has a matter of sharing your thoughts knowledge and research ideas as both students and teachers can
use their mobile devices or desktops to share ideas. Students can collaborate on projects and teachers can
lead discussions using text or Skype. Teachers can access teacher-sharing sites to contribute to forums
where educational topics are discussed. They can search for lesson plans or even browse for classroom
ideas on websites like Pinterest that has a big teacher following.Applications are changing education
forever! Students and teachers can download useful apps to their smartphones that allow them to
organize notes, use digital flashcards and other study aids, make calculations, create digital art, build
digital models, find references, and the list goes on and on. There are powerful apps created for every
academic discipline and students that tap into them find that their educational experience is
enriched.Clearly, technology boasts an astounding array of tools that can promote and enhance learning.
As instructors and students move further into the digital age, they will likely find even more ways
technology can make learning an extraordinary experience. Instructors can find new ways to use
technology in the classroom each week simply by keeping up with technology news and sharing ideas
about technology on online forum.Every day scientists, physicians and innovators continue to develop
new devices, drugs and procedures that allow people to live longer healthier lives. The use of technology
is expending into the business of healthcare, with the widespread adoption of electronic medical records,
use of mobile devices and telemedicine, and the electronic exchange of health information. With
everything else, medical technology is going smaller – nanotechnology is being developed in everything
from drugs to implants to surgical tools. As we look to the future of medicine and remark on the
innovations being discovered today, it is important to recognize and pay homage to the forward-thinkers
that paved the way for modern medicine. Today our lives are linked with Technology it matters how
much your life is linked with technology makes the difference in the Changing cyber world.
(Ref- Changing Technologies in Medicine)
Dr.T.V.Rao MD Professor of Microbiology – Freelance writer