enough to satisfy users. If initial work can be made general, an ordinary laptop should be able to turn an image into a spectrum in less than 10 sec.
Clearly, a great deal of computing is needed to connect the SpectroBurst to user needs. Since more than half the world’s population has adequate computing capacity, either on a computer, tablet, or cell phone, number- crunching is not a likely limitation. Making quality measurements and interpreting them on the spot is a concern. Here, we see yet an- other level of computing as an important part of the analytical chemistry ecosystem: using whatever camera is handy to read instruc- tions from a QR code on a packet of reactants specific to whatever is being determined (for example, lead, nitrate, or coliform bacteria in drinking water). User instructions specific to the determination can also be displayed on the computing device, so that instruction occurs at point-of-use. In turn, as long as users follow the directions, procedures can be updated on the fly, either from hash codes embedded in the QR label or by downloading over the web.
Just as we now find it quaint to look back on the days of professional elevator operators, in a few years we will look back in wonderment on the days when only professionals were spectroscopists. The keys to such a transforma- tion are those mentioned in this paper: using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components, simplified hardware, capable software, and strategic human-computer partnership to make adequate quality measurements cheap and plentiful.
Additional reading
1. Martinez, A.W.; Phillips, S.T. et al. Simple telemedicine for developing regions: cam- era phones and paper-based microfluidic devices for real-time, off-site diagnosis. Anal. Chem. 2008, 80, 3699–3707.
2. Scheeline, A.; Kelley, K. Cell phone spec- trometer. J. Analyt. Sci. Digital Libr. Entry 10059, 11/30/09. Reprinted in m-Science: Sensing, Computing, and Dissemination, Cannesa, E.; Zennaro, M., Eds.; The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Nov 2010. Translation into Roma- nian, 9/2011.
3. Scheeline, A. Focal point: teaching, learn- ing, and using spectroscopy with commer- cial, off-the-shelf technology. Appl. Spec- trosc. 2010, 64(9), 256A-68A.
4. “Energy Dispersion Device,” T.A. Bui and A. Scheeline; Application 13/596,242, 20130093936 A1 filed 8/28/2012, published 4/18/2013.
Alexander Scheeline, Ph.D., is President, SpectroClick Inc., 60 Hazelwood Dr., Rm. 213,
Champaign, IL 61820, U.S.A.; tel.: 217-903- 3415; e-mail:
info@spectroclick.com; www.
spectroclick.com. Engineering by The Product Manufactory (Urbana, IL) and encouragement by High Purity Standards (Charleston, SC) and some scientists at the Construction Engineer- ing Research Laboratory, U.S. Army Research and Development Command, are appreciated. Technology licensed from the University of Illi- nois at Urbana-Champaign.
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