miCROWDscopy
Video games, mobile microscopes and big data for collective tele-diagnosis of global health diseases
This project develops collective tele-diagnosis systems to empower citizens to collaborate in solving global health challenges. It is based on a crowd-computing platform, which analyses medical images taken by a 3D printed microscope embedded in a smartphone connected to the internet, using image processing and human crowdsourcing through online video games. It runs on the collective power of society in an engaging way, using big data science to contribute to global health. So far more than 100.000 citizens around the world have learnt and contributed to diagnosis of malaria and tuberculosis.
The multidisciplinary nature of this project, at the crossroads of medicine, video games, artificial intelligence and education, involves a diverse range of stakeholders that requires tailoring the message to each discipline and cultural context. From education activities to mainstream media or policy engagement, this digital collaboration concept behind the project has already impacted several dimensions of society.
Team
MalariaSpot - Biomedical Image Technologies - Technical University of Madrid: the founder, two full-time researchers (software developer and communications manager), three Master's student internships and collaborators
Partners
Ashoka, National Centre of Microbiology, Clinical Hospital San Carlos, Global Health Institute of Barcelona, Health Investigation Centre of Manhiça (Mozambique), National Institute for Communicable Diseases(South Africa) , Technical University of Cataluña and University of Gothenburg (Sweden)
Project timeframe
Started in 2012 and expecting to create a sustainable business model by 2018
Project Location
Madrid, SPAIN
Contact
http://malariaspot.org
info[at]malariaspot.org