How can the iPad be any good for dentistry? I dunno exactly – but I searched around a bit to see what I could find. First I will give my own impression of this device – what I like and don’t like…
I bought the iPad 32GB with 3G wireless and a subscription from Rogers Wireless….
First off – I already am fond of my iPod and use this as an entertainment device while I work out and while I travel. 90% of the time, I listen to music on the device, but when I am on a plane I like to watch different ‘podcasts’ that I download from itunes. I am also fond of playing Scrabble, mind games, or trivia games like Cash Cab.
So I wondered what I would use an iPad for?
Here are the reasons I gave myself for buying the iPad…..
-Wireless 3G with a reasonable subscription ($35/month for 500BG at Rogers wireless) so I now have the ability to surf the internet using either the built in Wi-fi or the 3G. I like the speed – almost as good as my high speed connection at home so far, and I can get this almost anywhere!
-The applications – I really like the Scrabble application for the iPad – a much larger screen and easier to play than on my iPod.
-I still have all my music so I can plug in – but the bonus is the video that I own is now full screen and its’ a beautiful screen to watch as well. Easy to stick this in my laptop bag and much quicker to fire up and use than my laptop.
-Quick and easy access to my social networking during the day – with a much easier to use interface than I have on my little blackberry phone and I can now keep this surfing separate from my work laptop
-Pictures look phenomenal on this device! There is lots of geeky cool factor built into this thing – and lots of WOW, cool! when I show the features to my friends…
Number one reason I like the iPad… the interactive magazines! You really need to check out reading magazines and books on this device. Magazines in particular like Wired Magazine, Popular Science and several newspapers have added applications that make reading a really great experience! I LOVE the interactive ads – when you are ‘flipping’ through the magazine you can interact with both the articles and the advertisements.
In my opinion, the iPad holds great prospect for the future of advertising. Think about how social media can tie into this device and you start to realize that you are carrying around a portable, interactive marketing machine….customized to all the type of content you wish.
The iPad is your device to carry around your style of music, what you like to read, what you like to watch, a customized experience for the internet, applications that can actually help you day to day and bring you value to things you do everyday….
The iPad fits somewhere in between a laptop and your mobile phone…
I can see a future for this as a communication device, electronic banking, interactive store shopping device guiding you to products you are looking for, a gps, a device that can instantly find pricing for you while you shop, find ratings on product, allow you to interact immediately with your network of friends, play games and become ultra productive with the right applications.
Ipad or Kindle?
I will be using both! I still really like my Kindle because it is smaller and easy to read when I am working out. The Kindle does not have a back lit screen – which for me is a bonus. I already see spots most of the day because of working so many hours at a computer, so I like the idea of having something that reads more like a real piece of paper.
The Kindle is easier to hold since its’ smaller – and I really like that the device is made specifically for this task – reading. I have loaded all my favorite blogs and books on here – and the Whispernet doesn’t cost me anything extra when I download my books.
I will likely use the iPad for my magazine subscriptions though – I really like the color screen, the interactive advertising and the direct access to the internet as well as the speed of the internet connection.
If you can only get one or the other – and are going to use this mostly for reading – the Kindle still wins in my book!
Dental Applications…
Check out this article by Dr. Mark Burhenne - he brought his iPad to his office and uses it to show xrays to his patients and sees a future for patient education
Check out this article on using the iPad with Macpractice..
The recently released Sirona Sidexis application for digital xray
Dentrix Mobile allows you to access your Dentrix product on your iPad or iPhone!
This is just a beginning – have you checked out the DMDrep applcation on iTunes? I developed this as a way to help you realize the potential for professionals. DMDrep is more of an electronic “business card” – when you click on my application you will see ‘media’ – you could use this to show your patients before and after pictures – you can also link your facebook, twitter and other social media sites to this application. You can send out notices to your patients via mobile and so much more. The application is free to download – I have not optimized for the iPad, I really didn’t want to put any more development time into something I am not charging for! Just take a peek at this so you can see how useful this could be in your marketing – and it cost me about $100 to develop plus $5 a month to maintain my iTunes account…..
Download from iTunes for free here http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/dmdrep/id348635670?mt=8
This Rave of the day brought to you by….
Warren Bobinski
Success in Dentistry and Life.
