What is Digg?90 Comments
- manuelhp42, on 10/12/2007, -3/+25Amy's post getting picked up by TechCrunch means a lot: it's publicity the cause of diabetes can't buy. Way to go, Amy!!
http://manuelhp42.blogspot.com/2007/04/open-letter-to-steve-jobs-from-diabetic.html - wundagrrl, on 10/12/2007, -1/+21My sister is 11 and she has had type 1 diabetes for a while now. If she had some kick ass contraption for her insulin pump she would defiantly use it. Right now she is hesitant to use one because they look clunky and she doesn't want people to know.
- Sharkee, on 10/12/2007, -7/+26Yeah, I can't wait to see all those cool diabetic kids walking down the street with glossy white needle shaped devices.
- inkswamp, on 10/12/2007, -4/+22Good design is not about looks, and that's the problem. It seems people are obsessed with the looks aspect of design which is what it seems you are focusing on. Real design is about how something functions. Looks is secondary and Apple is good at both, particularly the functional part. My wife had diabetes and some of the equipment she has to deal with actually look very cool. There was a lot of thought put into making these things *not* look like medical devices. The gadget she uses to test her blood sugar actually looks a lot like a small-ish, attractive mp3 player.
However, they function like ***** and the usability sucks. The interfaces are about 15+ years behind current tech and some of the basic things just don't work well at all. The injector that she uses was designed very badly and trying to fit a new vial of insulin into it is next to impossible, like solving some kind of puzzle. The design on these things are horrible even though they look fine.
So, your comment is pointless. The gadgets look great already, but function like crap. That's the part of design that needs to be addressed. - redington, on 10/12/2007, -1/+19I have an iPod in one pocket and an insulin pump in the other. The usability and design of the pump is an embarrassment next to the iPod. I'd jump for joy for a click wheel and a simple lock mechanism on my pump. It would also be nice if my pump would communicate with my Mac to upload my readings and other measures rather than having to go through my old dilapidated PC laptop.
- dercksar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15I have a minimed 708 insulin pump and I would have to say that I would like a "makeover" for this beast that sits in my pocket all day. I think that it would be a good idea to at least see what other people could come up with as far as insulin pump design. Anything that makes it seem "less weird" would be a good thing to me.
- wageslaven, on 10/12/2007, -10/+23The World According to Digg: Apple can save LIVES! Some random blogger says "ipod" and digg cant get enough. Hi-larious.
- manningbc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11insulin pumps are around $5000.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14The insulin pump burns quickly throguh batteries so they want Apple to help out? Do they want it to burn through the batteries even faster?
- S1L3NTC, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13But would you only be able to use insulin bought from the iDiabetic store?
- takamalak, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10That's fine. Insulin pumps run about $4000-$5000.
- redington, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10If you think the poor can afford pumps now you are delusional. Even with insurance, the copay on my pump equaled my out of pocket maximum for the year. Not cheap.
- WiseWeasel, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Medical devices are a very tightly-regulated industry by the FDA, and I doubt Apple would want to invest the resources necessary to comply with the onerous regulations, not to mention the significant liability it would expose them to from malfunction and such. There's a reason only a few specialized companies make medical devices. It seems those companies could use some outside design help, however, which Apple is far from having a monopoly on...
- NSMike, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12And that's pretty amazing, considering the obesity problem in America.
- awsaws, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10I was gonna crack a joke at Apple (an insulin pump with non-replaceable batteries... etc...)
but then the comment by redington showed that the medical industry DOES NEED to learn a few lessons about user-friendliness... - ch4os1337, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11hay i think that would make being a diabetic suck less. im sure it would help them feel better, having a kickass looking ipod with a brand new kickass insulin pump. (no matter how funny it sounds)
- SultanTravi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9It's not just that.. it's the whole interface and style matter. I'm sure it's better to use a device that looks good, has a quality interface, and is up to par with modern small electronic devices. Plus, Apple is very skilled at shrinking things.
This could work out well for Apple--get them into a field that people hadn't even thought of them being in before. - MiddleOfNowhere, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8My best friend has type 1 diabetes. She loves and understands technology (configuring routers, setting up complex e-learning environments), but curses the medical devices she has to use every day.
When you have an iPod, great usability is, well, nice.
When you need to measure your blood sugar real quickly because you feel you might faint in a few seconds, it becomes a life-or-death issue.
I don’t see Apple as a company moving into the medical equipment business anytime soon. But if they could "lend" some of their knowledge about portable devices, GUIs etc. and maybe some code to an innovative startup - that would be a wonderful gift to the millions of diabetics out there *and* a great PR move.
Steve, are you listening? You don’t want Bill to grab all the headlines about saving lives, or do you? - Miche1987, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Just shows where the priorities of (many) Digg users lie.
- PresidentSoup, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5The thing I first thought of when I read this was....
"When you're in Hollywood and you're a comedian, everybody wants you to do other things. All right, you're a stand-up comedian, can you write us a script? That's not fair. That's like if I worked hard to become a cook, and I'm a really good cook, they'd say, "OK, you're a cook. Can you farm?""
~ Mitch Hedberg - Kink, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7I'm a diabetic. I have no problems with the current devices I can get for free. I would not be prepared to pay £lots for a live-saving piece of equipment with a half-eaten apple on it.
EDIT: perhaps I should add that I use a pen rather than a pump. Why can't everyone else? - thecosas, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4@nsmike
The vast majority of insulin pump users have type 1 diabetes, which has nothing to do with obesity. Unfortunately for those of us with type 1 diabetes, we only account for 10% of all diabetics. - TheUngod, on 10/12/2007, -10/+13Apple doesn't make devices so much for funcionality or decent cost. They sell so many items because of the cool factor. You can't bring that trend into a field where things NEED to work perfectly. How about having an exploding battery in your pacemaker? A screen that breaks in a tester for your blood sugar? A leaky colostomy bag? But hey, at least you'd look super cool with it all.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -13/+16Apple fanboys are virgins.
- redington, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@tMac
I just found out that my health insurance company will cover the new continuous blood glucose monitoring system. I'm hopeful it will help (I'm Type I, have had it for 25 years).
The point here, it seems people are missing, is not for Apple to actually help. The point is that these things are still bulkier than they need to be, that the interfaces are less than perfect, not all that intuitive, not very attractive, and not all that easy to integrate with other computer equipment. Apple designs are sleek, the interfaces are simple and intuitive, and the applications and devices work well together. Of course it makes sense to point to them as a model. Granted, if my pump scratched/cracked as easily as an iPod, I'd be in serious trouble. - Miche1987, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7iPod vs. Insulin Pump?
Around these parts, the iPod already won. - glucoseboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3takamalak said:
What, you mean like the cell phone industry?
The regulations that cell phone companies (and for that matter all consumer electronics) are nothing compared to the regulations that the drug and medical device industries have to work under.
Case in point: exploding laptop batteries... So, after all the reports of defective laptop batteries actually catching fire and recall of millions of units, what is going on with Sony from a regulatory point of view....... fines? sanctions?
Are the factories where those batteries were made still operational? (yes)
If you manufacture a drug or medical device and there is a problem discovered with your product as a result of a manufacturing problem, the FDA will come with Federal Marshals and literally put a padlocked chain around your factory door. You are shut down completely until you can resolve this problem. If you make other products in that same factory (most do), too bad all your business comes to a screeching halt.
creating a better interface/insulin pump is a significant need, but it would be fool-hardy for apple to step into that field. More likely, Medtronic or whatever pump company should hire formal Apple software folks as interface consultants.
I - takamalak, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7You're an idiot. Have you ever even seen an insulin pump in real life? Ever see someone use one? See the interface? If not (it's obvious you haven't), then you have no idea how badly a better interface is needed. The last thing a person needs who has very low blood sugar is a complicated interface even if they have been using it for years.
- haggie, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6Look hip while falling into a diabetic coma when you iInsulin battery craps out...
- Ibox, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Not a completely retarded idea, but she shouldn't go crying to apple, she needs to complain to the company that makes the pump. Mr. Jobs can't just walk in to some random company, and say hey your product looks like s*it let me help.
- imacashew, on 10/12/2007, -5/+7jeez....apple is OBVIOUSLY the most qualified corporation to design the worlds best insulin device. And they would be TOTALLY interested in it since diabetes is such a cool FAD. Any company who can make catchy commercials and trendy overpriced electronics should without a doubt step into the medical supply market...they'd make a FORTUNE!!!
I feel for those with diabetes, really. Of course it would be great if they had more user friendly tools to keep themselves healthy....but anyone who thinks Apple is the type of company that is going to do something about it has a lot more problems than blood sugar.
This article is still a smart move though, hopefully it will inspire COMPANIES THAT GIVE A RAT'S ASS about those in need to take a second look at their designs. It doesn't take a genius....or a capitolistic corporation. - CrimsonBlur, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5This wouldn't be such a stupid idea if the woman that wrote the article understood what goes into creating an insulin pump vs. an iPod. iPods are not essential to your physical well-being, let alone saving your life. If your insulin pump gets hit or falls and is damaged, it's a considerably more dangerous proposition than if your iPod falls on the ground and the screen goes black. The materials required to manufacture a device that relies almost exclusively on reliability and functionality are completely different than that of a consumer electronics device, not to mention all of the extra testing that has to go into creating a design that won't be broken. How much do you really think Apple tested the new iPod design against damage? Do you really think a company that released a product that scratches in the first couple hours after you buy it should be designing essential medical equipment?
Medical equipment isn't stylish for the same reason NASA isn't using the latest, most cutting edge computer technology available for every mission. - meatmcguffin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+21: Apple designs for look 1st and function 5th.
Don't be so stupid/fanboyish. Both those things are not mutually exclusive and Apple knows this. Give one example where Apple has sacrificed functionality for looks and i'll give you a hundred where they havn't. I''ll start you off :
Apple computers have power connectors that can't pull a laptop off a desk, no ports on the back of the laptops -only on the side - so they're easy to get at, inbuilt charge tester on the battery, rounded corners on laptops so you can't catch clothing, backlit keyboard which dims depending on the brightness of the environment, magnetic latches with no breakable parts, slot loading dvd drives without breakable caddies, ports ordered by how frequently they're used so you don't end up with a mess of cables on one side, the built in camera has a light which always comes on to warn you when the camera is operational, you can run laptops without batteries in them (still non standard in the industry), automatic screen dimming depending on ambient conditions and every computer they make still looks ***** awesome.
The iPod has one single scroll wheel and a hold switch and every other manufacturer is still struggling to beat the power this simplicity brings to MP3 players. *And* it looks great.
So again, when has functionality ever been sacrificed for looks? - takamalak, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5@WiseWeasel said: "Medical devices are a very tightly-regulated industry by the FDA, and I doubt Apple would want to invest the resources necessary to comply with the onerous regulations, not to mention the significant liability it would expose them to from malfunction and such."
What, you mean like the cell phone industry? - meatmcguffin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Not too sure many companies would turn down interface help from what is essentially the most experienced interface-specialised company in the World.
- Dayyve, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I would rather Apple design a shiny white pancreas once we finally get some serious stem cell research going in this country.
- lunasunshine, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2type 1 or type 2? BIG difference.
- Ibox, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2RIP
- xoineg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2we'll call it the iPump
- takamalak, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Shut the ***** up you piece of *****. You've never been in a situation where someone's life depended on a complete stranger administering a bolus to someone with a 800+ blood sugar level and not knowing how to do it on an archaic interface. SO SHUT YOUR ***** NECK HOLE, YOU ***** ***** SLOB.
- manuelhp42, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1The story continues: http://digg.com/gadgets/iPod_v_Insulin_Pump_Part_2
- TheUngod, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5Can't wait to see the "I'm an iCondom" "and I'm a Trojan" commercials
- spankaccount, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Trial lawyers make it extremely expensive to make medical devices. A better solution would be to ask Apple to make some sort of donation based on the sales of an Apple product. This way Apple is able to shield itself from lawyers and still provide help where its needed. -My two cents...
- gauthierm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If you check your blood sugar at least once a day you're unlikely to go into a diabetic coma.
- gauthierm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I don't find my glucometer to be of poor design. I don't even have to press any buttons to use it.
- KickyG, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i have two siblings with type 1 diabetes, so this story means alot to me. my sister has a insulin pump, and it is very clunky. it has a small screen, a difficult interface, and it uses up alot of batteries. it cost my parents thousands of dollars. i'm pretty sure that a smaller, more usable, and more energy efficient model could be made. that would make alot of lives easier. but insulin pumps are relatively young, so give em some time, and they'll start getting better.
- gauthierm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm type 1 and also use free devices and pens instead of a pump. I'm be prepared to pay more for better devices but what I have now works great, so why bother? The only reason for me to change devices (pens to pumps or a new glucometer) is if the new device saves me significant time through the day.
- fritzbrown, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1No, not at all like the cell phone industry.
The interface on these devices may not be the easiest to use but they are not always designed for ease of use. They are designed to make sure the user doesn't harm themselves. The "weird alarm sounds" she mentions are telling the user something is wrong and needs to be corrected immediately. The design may not be perfect but it has come a long way in the past decade.
But, if any manufacturer can come up with a better design that will pass the FDA approval process, more power to them. - thecosas, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1from the article:
She isn’t asking for Apple to actually get into the medical device business. Instead, she’s asking Steve Jobs to help jumpstart a little creativity in the space. - anthropocentric, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Minimed should go talk to the folks at ambientdevices.com - they've got great engineers with a passion for creating usable products (hardware) and they own a part of the wireless spectrum in this country (formerly used for pagers) to communicate data from their devices to the web (and vice versa, which seems to be a common feature request).
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