Theorising Personal Medical Devices Symposium
THE CURIOUS MUSEUM OF MEDICAL DEVICES
Panel Discussion: Friday 19th September, 11:30-1:30
To extend discussions and the multidisciplinary aspects of our work, we have invited a panel of people who work in different aspects of personal medical devices to consider these from the perspectives of computer science, engineering and design, product development, philosophy and a clinical perspective. Amongst other aspects of their work, panellists will put forward technologies that they wish to submit to the Curious Museum of Medical Devices.
Inspired by Radio 4’s Museum of Curiosity, the Curious Museum of Medical Devices will be a virtual, online collection of personal medical devices chosen and described by contributors from a wide range of backgrounds and academic disciplines. A strong emphasis is placed on the personal, both in terms of the devices themselves and in terms of each contributor’s reasons for wishing to include the device in the Curious Museum. As long as they are attached to, carried by, worn on, or otherwise interact with individuals, the devices can be of any kind whatsoever – past or present (or future!), small or large (within reason), automated or ‘dumb’, simple or complex. They don’t even have to be ostensibly ‘medical’ devices as long as a rationale can be made for their serving medical ends. The main purpose of the Museum is not only to gather and curate a collection of diverse and interesting medical devices, but also to facilitate discussion and engagement across disciplines and backgrounds.
Participating on the panel are:
- Julian Bradwell, UK Managing Director, Proteus Digital Health
- Suresh Gupta, Senior Consultant, Cambridge Consultants
- Michael Hauskeller, Professor of Philosophy, Exeter University
- Neal Lathia, Senior Research Associate, Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge
- Zoe Stewart, Research Associate, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Cambridge
- Simon Cohn (chair), Reader in Anthropology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
The Museum is open for submissions from those beyond the panel and we would be interested in hearing suggestions. If you wish to put forward an entry to the Museum, please send a picture (if possible), and a brief note of around 300 words stating:
- Why you are putting forward this device over others
- Why this device is significant for you and for your field
- How this device might serve as a portal through which to explore wider themes and issues
Please send your submissions to Conor Farrington (cjtf2@medschl.cam.ac.uk) or Rebecca Lynch (rl476@medschl.cam.ac.uk).