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Many medical sites now released their own iPhone and iPod Touch applications , which are so handful to browse , search and surf the site contents , with easy access for the needed information to save doctors time .

However , we have to differentiate between the ways of browsing , and handling the medical knowledge web driven on iPhone :

1. Site specific iPhone browser application .
2. iPhone enabled websites .
3. Offline web sites content in iPhone :.

1-Site specific browser application :

Its an iPhone application that handle specific site , to provide it with the basic , common and needed features to browse , search , archive and locate the knowledge the user is searching for .

The goals :
The goals of such specific application are :

1. To provide an easy access ,to basic operation surfer needs on the site ( Browse , Search )
2. Make other features like bookmarking ,
3. More interaction with the site .

Cons :

1. Updates the application every time it updated ,
2. deal with bugs , on different version ,
3. Cost : hiring a developer for developing process .
4. If i have a different iPhone model , can i run the different application built for other versions ?
5. Redeveloping the application if the SDK or the framework , regarding to the demand of the iPhone and development tools upgrades .
6. Need an internet connection .

Examples :

• WebMD Mobile ,

2-iPhone enabled websites :

Some websites provide an – i – extension , which is a web site as well but re-designed and customized for iPhone browser , which will be compatible with iPhone screen and iPhone browsing features .

Goals :

1. Building on the same DB , and on the site API ,
2. Update once , runs on all ,
3. Provide easy and fast access to the informations the user needs .

Pros :

1. Build once , Run on all ( no need to fix the site every time iPhone SDK change ) .
2. iPhone developer is not required .
3. Easy browsing using Safari ,
4. Easy to track and fix bugs ,
5. Updates is easy ,
6. No need for an iPhone application developer .

Cons :

1. No Specific browser , No Specific tasks .
2. Not all users have an Internet connection .

Medical examples :

• UnboundMedicine iPhone  – link -
• Eponyms : a Medical Knowledge base – link -
• Merriam Webster Dictionary : – link – ( there is a an offline an iPhone application in case , there is no Internet connection )

3-Offline content in iPhone :

Its an application , contains the website content , the user can browse , search and locate information in it without the need for internet connection . Well the iPhone is an Internet enabled phone , so why offline content and browsing ? . Well some users has no internet connection .

Goals :

1. Building an application based on local content ,
2. Needs special features and operation on the content ( zooming , tagging ,………… ) ,
3. Applications don’t need Internet connection .
4. Operations those will be much slow if the content is online . ( image processing , image loading , )
5. large size contents .
6. saves time needs for loading , processing , and getting results .

Pros :

1. Fast : as no need for Internet connection .

Cons :

1. Updates : the information is not a static , The offline information needs updates time to time ,
2. Upgrades : the application needs an upgrade .

Examples :

• Skeletal Head and Neck System for iPhone – link -
• 3D4Medical Skeletal System Plus for iPhone – link , source -  ( there is a flash demo available ) .

Hamza Emadeen Mousa

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