Gadgets, Bias, and Healthcare Equality

Dive into the fascinating world of medical devices with a twist! This article from MIT uncovers how a simple $20 pulse oximeter became a lifesaver during the Covid-19 crisis. Inside the historic MIT Museum, students are not just learning; they're building these gadgets themselves! Led by award-winning Professor Amy Moran-Thomas, they're exploring the hidden social assumptions baked into health tech. From DIY kits to challenging biases in medical technology, this class is on a mission to make healthcare equitable for all. Ready to see how a tiny device can spark big questions?

Unveiling the Hidden Stories of Medical Marvels

Imagine a world where a simple device you can buy at your local drugstore not only helps monitor your health but also opens up a universe of questions about society, technology, and ethics. This is not a scene from a futuristic novel; it's the reality of medical devices like the fingertip pulse oximeter. In the midst of a global crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, these devices became lifelines, determining who received critical care. But have you ever stopped to think about the stories these devices tell beyond their medical use? They carry within them assumptions about who we are and how we live our lives, influenced by our society's values, biases, and historical decisions. Exploring these stories helps us understand not just the science behind the devices, but also the societal implications of their design and use. This journey into the social lives of medical objects can reveal fascinating insights about our world and ourselves, making us question and, hopefully, inspiring us to innovate for a more inclusive future.