Comments on: Skin Scan wants to fight cancer using iPhones and big data http://gigaom.com/2012/02/03/skin-scan-wants-to-fight-cancer-using-iphones-and-big-data/ Sat, 25 May 2013 08:22:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Josh http://gigaom.com/2012/02/03/skin-scan-wants-to-fight-cancer-using-iphones-and-big-data/#comment-817448 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:27:26 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=479982#comment-817448 This was done already by a medical company in Australia almost ten years ago. The problem is that it is well known you are going to get limited success with standard images. Even with 5 years of research we never got better than a junior doctor at detecting Melanoma. The concern about this kind of application is that Melanoma can be deadly and that it requires a trained medical professional. Would you risk your life to an application on an iPhone? Has this software been certified by the FDA in America or CE Marked in the EU? Selling medical software without this is illegal.

It took 5 years of intense research by top mathematicians and world class dermatologists on a 40K device and they couldn’t do it reliably. I don’t see how this kind of application will fare any better.

Do the right thing and seek a medical professional.

]]> By: Amber http://gigaom.com/2012/02/03/skin-scan-wants-to-fight-cancer-using-iphones-and-big-data/#comment-806088 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:18:37 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=479982#comment-806088 Checkout http://www.moledetective.com. This app works much better.

]]> By: Janet Fogarty http://gigaom.com/2012/02/03/skin-scan-wants-to-fight-cancer-using-iphones-and-big-data/#comment-805744 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:54:45 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=479982#comment-805744 I was going to download it and promote this but the most recent reviews on iTunes show that it isn’t working well enough yet. Hoping they are fixing the bugs? I couldn’t find anything addressing this on their site or blog.

]]> By: ardalahmet http://gigaom.com/2012/02/03/skin-scan-wants-to-fight-cancer-using-iphones-and-big-data/#comment-805241 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:28:02 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=479982#comment-805241 Good point. Looking at what they aim, going free and expanding to other platforms is the way to go. Interesting idea though..

]]> By: Tom http://gigaom.com/2012/02/03/skin-scan-wants-to-fight-cancer-using-iphones-and-big-data/#comment-805229 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:00:08 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=479982#comment-805229 At $5, they’re really hurting the chances of this app being much of a success. They’d do themselves a huge favor by dropping the price drastically or going free – if they truly want to gain a database that will be statistically significant and meaningful, and not just trying to make a quick buck. The reviews don’t look all that positive, however.

]]> By: TheBathroomStall http://gigaom.com/2012/02/03/skin-scan-wants-to-fight-cancer-using-iphones-and-big-data/#comment-805135 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:13:43 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=479982#comment-805135 This is pretty cool. I would use this – it would probably cut down on how much I waste my doctor’s time because I convince myself I’ve got skin cancer.

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