Eye-Catching Adapter Makes Smartphone Ophthalmic Screener: Scientific American 60 second Tech

In Istanbul my Turkish students greatly enjoy learning about their smartphones so I try to bring actual technology news to our private English lessons. Smartphone technology may soon have new applications for eye health and care. My Turkish students do not differentiate between ophthalmologists, optometrists, and eye doctors so first we need to introduce some new vocabulary. Next, we listen to a science and technology podcast. Finally, we perform a speaking role play with questions for sales and marketing of the new technology.

Here are some of the new vocabulary in English and Turkish:

• ophthalmology: oftalmoloji
• ophthalmologist: göz doktoru
• optometrist: optometrist
• optometry: optometri
• eye drops: göz damlası
• dilate: genişletmek 
• selfie = a photo of oneself: kendini bir fotoğraf
• take a selfie: kendini bir fotoğraf çekmek
• snap a photo: bir fotoğraf çekmek 
• The eye drops dilate pupils. 
• The optometrist shines a light into the pupils to see the retina and lens.

Give a specific task before listening. Ask the questions for who, what, when, where, why, and how:

1. What can this technology do? 
2. Why could this technology be useful?
3. Who develops this technology?
4. Who can benefit from this technology?
5. How much does the technology cost?
6. Where can this technology be used?

Listen for the answers to the above questions. Listen to the Scientific American technology podcast on 60-second tech http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/ophthalmic-iphone-adapter/

Here are the answers to questions 1-6:

1. The adapter works with smartphones. The person can take a photograph of their own eyes and email the photo to the doctor. The adapter gives a high quality image of the lens and retina.
2. The adapters are inexpensive. The photo can warn a doctor about a serious problem with eye health. For example, the technology can track eye disease. The technology saves time and provides convenience because it's unnecessary to make a trip to the ophthalmologist. There is no need for eye drops.
3. Stanford University School of Medicine researchers are developing the adapters.
4. Everyone, especially people with health conditions such as diabetes.
5. $90
6. Everywhere, especially people in remote areas.

In additon, my student Y. would like to practice asking Situation Problem Implication Need (SPIN) questions for her profession in sales and marketing for technology. We imagine a seller and customer role play for the ophthalmic iphone adapter. The seller represents the Stanford researchers and developers of this new technology. The potential customer requers medical equipment for health clinics in remote locations of Africa.

Situation:

• How is the eye health of your community?
• Who are your ophthalmologists, optometrists, and eye doctors?
• Where are they located?
• Where are the health clinics?
• How do people access eye healthcare?
• How common is smartphone technology?

Problem:

• How is the eye health of people living in remote areas?
• Do people travel for eye exams?
• Do the doctors travel to health clinics?
• Are eye exams and eye drops expensive and time-consuming?

Implication:

• How do the doctors monitor the eye health of all their patients?
• How does the lack of regular tracking and monitoring impact eye health?
• How does limited access to healthcare providers impact the overall eye health?

Need:

• If people could take pictures of their own eyes themselves and send these images to the eye doctors, would either the patient or the doctor need to travel?
• Would this be helpful?
• Would this save time?
• Would this be convenient?
• Would this provide eye healthcare to more people?
• Would the eye doctors reach more patients in less time?
• If you had an adapter for each health clinic, how would this change eye health?