Help
Post your comments for How the iPad helps scientists do their jobs here
How the iPad helps scientists do their jobs
#2
mblaydoe 
- Member
-
- Group: Macworld Insiders
- Posts: 150
- Joined: 14-September 11
Posted 09 July 2012 - 05:44 AM
Noooo! This cannot be! The great and powerful Wizard of Microsoft, Steve Monkeyboy Ballmer says iPads are for consumers! How dare you contradict the holy PC pundits who have declared that iPads cannot be used for work!
They have no attached keyboard! There is no stylus! Where the heck do you plug in the mouse! It doesn't run Excel! This can't be happening!
They have no attached keyboard! There is no stylus! Where the heck do you plug in the mouse! It doesn't run Excel! This can't be happening!
#3
CorentinCrasMeneur
- Newbie
-
- Group: New Members
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 09-July 12
Posted 09 July 2012 - 06:28 AM
I use Papers for iOS for my biliographic references (http://www.mekentosj.com/papers/touch).
FileMaker for data acquisition
NotesPlus for note taking at scientific meetings (http://notesplusapp.com)
PCalc for a lot of my calculations (http://www.pcalc.com/iphone/index.html)
Solutions to calculate dillutions (http://itunes.apple....d292225228?mt=8)
There are a number of great tools for researchers using iPads/iPhones out there...
FileMaker for data acquisition
NotesPlus for note taking at scientific meetings (http://notesplusapp.com)
PCalc for a lot of my calculations (http://www.pcalc.com/iphone/index.html)
Solutions to calculate dillutions (http://itunes.apple....d292225228?mt=8)
There are a number of great tools for researchers using iPads/iPhones out there...
#4
leicaman
- Veteran
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 2,872
- Joined: 04-December 03
Posted 09 July 2012 - 07:55 AM
I created an app with Filemaker Pro 12 Advanced for our research department to conduct surveys comparing 14 items a page for three pages, for a survey of consumer's preferences on an iPad. At the end of the day, they push a button and an Excel spreadsheet is mailed to the person collating the data. It will save countless hours, and pencils, allowing them to avoid using pencils and paper for data collection, and hand entering the data into spreadsheets.
It took me three days to develop the app, in amongst other duties at work.
It took me three days to develop the app, in amongst other duties at work.
This post has been edited by leicaman: 09 July 2012 - 07:56 AM
Eric
Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
#5
WayneLinder
- Newbie
-
- Group: New Members
- Posts: 3
- Joined: 11-October 11
Posted 09 July 2012 - 09:07 AM
My wife uses about four of them for a multisite pediatric research project. She had a custom app written that accepts patient responses, and guides them through completing a graphic survey. She also uses it for interviews (Dictamus) genograms (OmniGraffle), and even as a tool to increase retention (after the survey, the patient is allowed to use Photobooth and a variety of free games). She is discovering more and more ways to use the iPad as a research tool.
#6
JaniceDennison
- Newbie
-
- Group: New Members
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 09-July 12
Posted 09 July 2012 - 10:33 AM
These are great examples of scientists using the iPad for their work, thank you for sharing! I have found that adoption among clinical researchers is much higher than academic or contract labs, but they are definitely trending that way. Here are a few other examples: http://irisnote.com/ipads-in-the-lab/ and http://www.labmanage...Go--Go-Gadgets.
#7
Brismartin
- Newbie
-
- Group: New Members
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 09-July 12
Posted 09 July 2012 - 03:33 PM
One of the things not mentioned here is lab safety. Especially PC2 guidelines which are more or less the standard lab configuration in biotech/biochem. This makes it impractical to take tablets (or laptops too for that matter) in and out of wet labs. The OH&S rules won't allow it.
#8
dmsilev
- Newbie
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 5
- Joined: 21-April 10
Posted 09 July 2012 - 03:35 PM
For my work, the iPad is a good reading tool (a previous commenter mentioned Papers, which is a great tool for academics), but doesn't have the software which I need for data acquisition and analysis. And unless Apple changes their App Store policies, that's not going to change, since the sorts of processes I need involve custom scripts inside an environment for both acquisition and analysis. Until something with the sophistication and flexibility of LabView (instrument control and data acquisition) or Igor Pro (data analysis and presentation) is available for iOS, I'm keeping my Mac...
iPad is a wonderful device for attending conferences though. All-day battery and roughly 1/4th the weight of my 15" MBP make it a godsend.
iPad is a wonderful device for attending conferences though. All-day battery and roughly 1/4th the weight of my 15" MBP make it a godsend.
#9
trichardlin
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 216
- Joined: 19-September 08
Posted 09 July 2012 - 04:18 PM
Brismartin, on 09 July 2012 - 03:33 PM, said:
One of the things not mentioned here is lab safety. Especially PC2 guidelines which are more or less the standard lab configuration in biotech/biochem. This makes it impractical to take tablets (or laptops too for that matter) in and out of wet labs. The OH&S rules won't allow it.
If you sync everything via some kind of cloud service, then there is no need to take things in and out of a PC2 facility.
#10
trichardlin
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 216
- Joined: 19-September 08
Posted 09 July 2012 - 04:21 PM
Does anyone know how to type numeric data easily on an iPad? I would love to be able to bring up a numeric keypad in a Filemaker database on an iPad.
#11
Jasonmwa
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 317
- Joined: 15-November 10
Posted 09 July 2012 - 05:55 PM
trichardlin, on 09 July 2012 - 04:21 PM, said:
Does anyone know how to type numeric data easily on an iPad? I would love to be able to bring up a numeric keypad in a Filemaker database on an iPad.
I remember when Jobs unveiled the iPhone one of the biggest achievements Apple has attained was that it didn't have "keys stuck in plastic," that the touchscreen buttons could be changed to fit the needed use for them. Five years later and the keyboard hasn't changed. Imagine swiping to the left and a number pad sliding into place. Some apps may have their own (thinking, only one on my iPhone is the calculator, also, the calc app for my iPad) but having a device-wide number pad just seems to make sense. The only other changes I know of are emoticon layouts available in the app store. Besides thumbs up and puppy faces, however, I've not seen any other available installable software keyboards. Shame.
#12
RicD
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 33
- Joined: 18-May 09
Posted 09 July 2012 - 06:23 PM
"...The iPad does all of that for Grant, who utilizes apps like GPS Status, River Reader, and Smart Ruler to find his way around and take measurements in the field...."
Utilize huh? The memo that states, "we will now utilize utilize rather than utilizing use" was not sent to me. Folks it is use not utilize. One that uses utilize sounds pompous, displaying a lack understanding word meanings. Ah, utilize has become mainstream, no it has become used for that which it was not intended by those that regurgitate that which they read. Similar to the man that 12 noon blows the horn. Asked how he knows it is 12 noon he says he matches his watch with the watch maker, ask the watch maker how he knows it is noon he says he sets his clock by the man blowing the horn. There is a difference between use and utilize.
Cordially,
Utilize huh? The memo that states, "we will now utilize utilize rather than utilizing use" was not sent to me. Folks it is use not utilize. One that uses utilize sounds pompous, displaying a lack understanding word meanings. Ah, utilize has become mainstream, no it has become used for that which it was not intended by those that regurgitate that which they read. Similar to the man that 12 noon blows the horn. Asked how he knows it is 12 noon he says he matches his watch with the watch maker, ask the watch maker how he knows it is noon he says he sets his clock by the man blowing the horn. There is a difference between use and utilize.
Cordially,
#13
seanlowcay
- Newbie
-
- Group: New Members
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 09-July 12
Posted 09 July 2012 - 09:49 PM
RicD, on 09 July 2012 - 06:23 PM, said:
"...The iPad does all of that for Grant, who utilizes apps like GPS Status, River Reader, and Smart Ruler to find his way around and take measurements in the field...."
Utilize huh? The memo that states, "we will now utilize utilize rather than utilizing use" was not sent to me. Folks it is use not utilize. One that uses utilize sounds pompous, displaying a lack understanding word meanings. Ah, utilize has become mainstream, no it has become used for that which it was not intended by those that regurgitate that which they read. Similar to the man that 12 noon blows the horn. Asked how he knows it is 12 noon he says he matches his watch with the watch maker, ask the watch maker how he knows it is noon he says he sets his clock by the man blowing the horn. There is a difference between use and utilize.
Cordially,
Utilize huh? The memo that states, "we will now utilize utilize rather than utilizing use" was not sent to me. Folks it is use not utilize. One that uses utilize sounds pompous, displaying a lack understanding word meanings. Ah, utilize has become mainstream, no it has become used for that which it was not intended by those that regurgitate that which they read. Similar to the man that 12 noon blows the horn. Asked how he knows it is 12 noon he says he matches his watch with the watch maker, ask the watch maker how he knows it is noon he says he sets his clock by the man blowing the horn. There is a difference between use and utilize.
Cordially,
utilize |ˈyoōtlˌīz|
verb [ trans. ]
make practical and effective use of : vitamin C helps your body utilize the iron present in your diet.
"...The iPad does all of that for Grant, who [makes practical and effective use of] apps like GPS Status, River Reader,"
It seems the sentence still parses.
#14
sjordi
- Newbie
-
- Group: New Members
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 10-July 12
Posted 10 July 2012 - 12:13 AM
Well,
I'm a volcanologist and software developper. I'm currently porting my monitoring software to the iPad for that exact reason: light, lasts 10 hours. Once you climb a full day to reach the observation point, you're happy not to have a bulky laptop on your back! Trust me.
Also, my guess is that the iPad is less prone to failure because of the ash dust.
Definitely a plus for field scientists. No questions about that.
The only drawback could be on site data acquisition. How do you hook it up to the hardware? No RS232. But more and more devices are now connected to some kind of TCP/IP protocol and send data over the internet where you can fetch them. That should solve the problem.
I'm a volcanologist and software developper. I'm currently porting my monitoring software to the iPad for that exact reason: light, lasts 10 hours. Once you climb a full day to reach the observation point, you're happy not to have a bulky laptop on your back! Trust me.
Also, my guess is that the iPad is less prone to failure because of the ash dust.
Definitely a plus for field scientists. No questions about that.
The only drawback could be on site data acquisition. How do you hook it up to the hardware? No RS232. But more and more devices are now connected to some kind of TCP/IP protocol and send data over the internet where you can fetch them. That should solve the problem.
