TopDoc Pre-Proposal

Levi Adair

Dunni Adenuga

Brooke Bullek

Bobby Cao

Jason Corriveau

TopDoc

Background

Medical education involves repetition of concepts over years until it becomes second nature, just like a language. In medical school, doctors must memorize thousands of terms. These range from bones to arteries, and other systems in the body. Many times, medical students have to rely on using flash cards or other conventional methods of doing drills in order to memorize all of these new terms. However, all of these methods have their weaknesses. People can lose flashcards or write them incorrectly, they also can forget to study on their busy days. In order to have students and doctors in the field brush up on their medical knowledge or even learn new concepts, a mobile application could be used.Instead of books and tedious readings, an application can utilize puzzles, games, and quizzes to promote fun and interactive learning. Overall, a mobile app can significantly improve the convenience and effectiveness of medical education.

 

Executive Summary

A mobile application can be useful because many people have smart phones and use them frequently. If someone wants to learn,  they can open the application whenever they are free. Interactive games, puzzles and quizzes would be used as study tools. After the user takes the quiz, we can implement an algorithm based on their score to tell user they should learn more in a particular area. This application could also be tailored to specific fields; because of this a neurosurgeon would not have to waste time studying bones in the hand. Further, the application needs to be able to customize the learning for each individual; each doctor will need to review different subjects at varying amounts. In addition to the learning aspect of the application, we could also implement a search function. The search would be used for doctors to look up concepts that they need quick information on. Instead of having to look through Google search results or use a book, the terms could all be logged in the application. This application can be done in either Android via Android SDKs and the use of Java, IOS via IOS SDKs and Swift, or both.

 

Goals

• Creation of games
• Creation of puzzles
• Creation of quizzes
• Implement an algorithm to track user learning and show where they need improvement.
• Have an intuitive and fun application

 

Viability Analysis

The most difficult part of developing this application is that we are not experts in the medical field. So we will need a database of medical concepts and facts. We will also need a third party to verify our information because there could be issues with incorrect or incomplete information. Another difficulty is  just how to apply medical concepts into a game and puzzle since that will require a lot of thinking and creativity. Lastly, we will have difficulties creating algorithms that decide what information people should study and the frequency they should study.

 

Risks and Rewards

A risk is that since this application is created by purely computer science students, we do not really know  how deep we want the users to know the concept. Further, our lack of medical knowledge will provide some challenge in identifying the most important topics for different doctors to review. Also, there is a risk for having incorrect information or having information misinterpreted and of course for a person practicing in the field this possibly can mean major harm to others. However, the reward is this can be a great application that millions of people in the medical field can utilize to learn or brush up in medical concepts during their free time and on the go. Of course this will mean better doctors, which can result in more lives being saved.

 

Closing

Learning medical concepts can be a chore, with a mobile application learn concepts can be intuitive and fun. Also interactive learning promotes deeper understanding of a concept as well. Millions of people in the medical field can use this and in turn become better in their field.