Imagine Cup participants show smartphone malaria diagnosis app

About three months ago, I wrote about the Imagine Cup, an annual student technology competition sponsored by Microsoft, in a commentary for MobiHealthNews. I mentioned a winning project in the U.S. competition, a smartphone-based imaging system that can help diagnose malaria in far-flung corners of the globe.

Today, the creators of that system and a few other Imagine Cup participants are in New York for the international finals. A few of the students appeared with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on CNN’s American Morning early Friday. CNN said the malaria app is 94 percent accurate, better than the traditional field test for malaria.

Another project, Harmonicare, incorporates a tablet computer to add a musical aspect to the “blowing” test used to help patients regain respiratory function while recovering from pneumonia.

Watch the video and see for yourself: