We’ve seen some truly great accessories for the iPhone this year and the SkyLight should should certainly be counted among them. The SkyLight is a sleek, easy to use adapter that can connect an iPhone to a microscope. In an effort to overcome the global shortage in trained healthcare workers, SkyLight’s creators hope to connect doctors and nurses to patients in developing nations and rural areas.
By holding an iPhone steady over the eyepiece where an image is formed, SkyLight makes it incredibly easy to take pictures and video through the microscope. Once recorded, the pictures and videos are then saved on the phone and can be emailed to doctors, shared on social media sites, or saved for later use. Another interesting idea is that with the use of FaceTime doctors can examine samples remotely and provide immediate feedback.
While working on a low-cost microscope for developing countries, SkyLight’s inventor, Andy Miller, saw a need for a device that could help overcome a global shortage in trained healthcare workers. Hoping to revolutionize telemedicine by bringing together two previously disparate but widely available technologies, SkyLight plans to implement the new technology in developing areas of Africa as well as empower students in classrooms across the country who will find the SkyLight setup to be more intuitive than old fashioned microscopes.
If you’re interested in helping the cause, SkyLight is currently looking for backers on KickStarter and only need $5000 more to reach their production goal of $15000.
[via KickStarter]