Body computing; Canadian scientists talk about nano safety

Did you know that a pedometer is considered body computing? I had not realized that before reading Chris Dannen’s Fast Company article, Million-Dollar Question: Who Owns Your Genetic Data? The body computing concept includes implanted, digested, or wearable devices that transmit health data.  From the article,

But the fundamental shift that comes with body computing, says Dr. Leslie Saxon, cofounder of the Body Computing Conference, is “dignifying the patient by allowing them access in a connected world.”But does access equal ownership?

This, of course, was written in the US and I believe that they have  a different legal approach than the one we have in Canada to issues such as owning genetic material. Still, it’s food for thought as we devise new means to monitor health and interface with computers.

In a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Nanotechnology, Patricia Dolez of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the École de technologie supérieure in Montreal (Canada) along with her colleagues have published a paper which suggests that the current safety gear may not be adequate for protection from handling potentially noxious nanomaterials.

One thought on “Body computing; Canadian scientists talk about nano safety

  1. Pingback: Change your gloves frequently if you’re handling nanoparticles « FrogHeart

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *