I’m curious. Always have been. The oddest things can make me
open Google and try to find out as much as I can about a new topic. For several
years, I’ve subscribed to Space.com, EarthSky News, and Life Science—online newsletters about space
and science (as if you couldn’t guess). So much info, so little time to read.
Recently, I found another newsletter called The Medical Futurist. That really
piqued my interest. When I’m writing sci-fi romances and my characters are ill
or injured in the future, I need to come up with some device that can heal them
instantly, or as close to instant as possible. Or, if my characters are on a
starship zooming through space for long periods of time, I have to figure out
how they are going to eat. Even in the future, fresh food spoils.
In The Medical Futurist, I’ve learned about all sorts of
down-the-road technology that is closer to reality than I thought. How about
food replicators? You remember those from Star
Trek and other science fiction films, don’t you? They must be fantasy or something way
in the future. But, hold on a minute. We’ve heard of 3-D printers. So why not use
them to create food? Since I’m not crazy about cooking but love to eat, I’m
very interested. A company in Barcelona manufactures a device called Foodini, a
3-D food printer using fresh ingredients. It’s supposed to make it easier to
eat healthy. The company estimates that in about 10-15 years everyone will have
the device on their kitchen counter. I’d give anything for one now so I don’t have
to think about what’s for dinner.
This week’s newsletter brought up a topic that is sure to
help those who travel a lot. Right now, in my not-too-small town (but not a big
city, either), my doctor is connected to the hospital, as are two urgent care
facilities. If I go to Emergency or Urgent Care, they can bring up my whole
medical history—the meds I take regularly, allergies, immunizations, etc. But,
what if I’m traveling out of state or even out of the country and have a
medical emergency? Not so easy to get the info the doctors need to treat me. In
an emergency, time is of the essence. The longer they wait for the info, the
greater the crisis.
Many of us wear a Fitbit or other fitness tracker that besides
reporting the number of steps we’ve taken, measures our heartrate, sleep
cycles, cardio fitness levels, etc. In the not-too-distant future, digital tattoos
on our skin will reveal our medical history. Doctors will be able to monitor
and diagnose critical health conditions like heart arrythmia, sleep disorders,
and brain activities without invasive procedures. Let’s say a person has a high
risk of stroke. The digital tattoo could send alerts and even call an ambulance
and relay medical data. I don’t know about you, but I’m fascinated by this.
When we were first married, we lived next door to a little
girl who had juvenile diabetes (type I diabetes). At that time, we were just
hearing about a revolutionary device—a pump that would deliver insulin as the
body needed it. Even though the pump is worn outside the body, it is connected
by a tube under the skin. Invasive. South Korean researchers have developed sensors
(worn on the skin like a tattoo) that measure the temperature and sweat of
people with type II diabetes, analyses the data, and, if necessary, delivers
insulin through a microneedle array. Less invasive than the pump.
As much as we love to watch and/or read science fiction, let’s
face it. We’re looking at our future. The more writers dream up ways to prevent
or cure illnesses, the more scientists will try to make it happen. I’m amazed
at what the future holds.
What other things might the medical future have in store?
