WebOS Gets Surprise Second Life in Healthcare

“Andrew B. Holbrook, a Stanford University Department of
Radiology research associate, developed a WebOS application that
operates an MRI scanner and allows radiologists and other medical
personnel to view images captured by the MRI machine on a TouchPad
tablet.

“Holbrook designed an app allowing HP’s TouchPad to operate an
MRI machine from inside the scanning room, then interface with a PC
server located elsewhere. The computers traditionally used to
control MRI scanners are cumbersome and costly because they need
special modification to reduce metal parts, which react to the MRI
machine’s magnetic field and pose safety risks.

“HP’s tablet, because it is constructed mainly of plastic and
the metal parts it does contain can be removed without damaging
functionality, proved uniquely suited for use inside the MRI’s
magnetized chamber.”

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