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EPI Life First ECG Mobile Phone

The EPI Life mobile phone is much better than the iPhone - because the EPI Life cell phone is the first handset with a built-in electrocardiogram (ECG) function linked 24 hours per day to servers monitored continuously by a team of cardiologists.


(EPI Life ECG-equipped mobile phone)

It takes 30 seconds to complete a reading, which can be sent back to the firm via GPRS anywhere in the world. The collected data is analyzed by a team of 10 cardiologists round-the-clock for life-threatening conditions, and an appropriate emergency response will be rendered by its call center. This includes private ambulance service, expedited patient admission into any of its three partnering local hospitals, and on-call doctors.

Alas, the EPI Life phone is only available in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong for S$498 (US$361.73) for now. However, Ephone International, a Singapore firm, is offering the technology to other mobile phone manufacturers.

Just imagine announcing THAT functionality at conference full of aging Apple fanboys. Are you listening, Steve Jobs?

This pocket-sized ECG device plus communicator may have you thinking about Star Trek; take a look at this page with over 200 science-fictional medical technologies and tell me if you find a better reference.

Update: I forgot about a better reference for this idea from The Fountains of Paradise, a classic 1978 novel by the incomparable Arthur C. Clarke. In the novel, Morgan is having chest pains and visits his physician, Dr. Sen:

"Well, there's no great harm done - if you follow instructions from now on. Mine and CORA's." "CORA's?"

"Coronary alarm."

He fumbled around in his desk, and produced a large holopad. "Take your choice - here are the standard models..."

Morgan triggered the images, and regarded them with distaste.

"Where do I have to carry the thing?" he asked. "Or do you want to implant it?"

"That isn't necessary, at least for the present... And it won't bother you unless it's needed."

"And then?"

"Listen."

The doctor threw one of the numerous switches on his desk console, and a sweet mezzo-soprano voice remarked in a conversational tone: "I think you should sit down and rest for about ten minutes... Please take one of the red pills immediately... I have called the ambulance..."

Thanks, squishyheadboy. End update.

Via cnet asia.

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