Trading textbooks for electronics

September 21, 2009 -- A local university has turned to the iPod touch to teaching the healing touch.

Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions handed out hundreds of the iPod Touch to students today. But this was not part of some goodie bag to get the school year kicked off right.

"The medical profession is quickly becoming electronically dominating so a mechanic without a wrench can't fix the car how can I help someone without I guess my tool," said Sal Zullo.

The iPod Touch, at $189 each, will replace the large, bulky medical textbooks the students usually have to carry. Instead, all the information they need in an exam room will be available on the device, through a program called Skyscape. And it automatically updates the info through a wireless internet connection.

"Textbooks are so heavy and too look through the index takes too much time and you have to figure out exactly what you're looking for," said Adrianna Musallam.

The technology is not new the iPod has been around for eight years. Rather, what is going on here is humans using existing technology to make our lives easier particularly in an industry that relies on the latest medical data, and precision.

"It combines everything the students like to do in their lives with learning," said Dean Gloria Donnelly of the College of Nursing and Health Professions.

What would you choose, 25 pounds of heavy textbooks, or the same amount of information in a pocket-sized wireless device? Drexel says it's a no-brainer.

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science/technology, matt o'donnell

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