A New Vision for the AANS 2010 Paperless Annual Meeting and Beyond

Being at the forefront of medical education and continually looking for new ways to enhance members' meeting experience, it was a natural progression for the AANS to utilize the iPod touch^® for an annual scientific meeting. This device provides information literally at the touch of your fingertips, with a responsiveness that is both immediate and fluid.

Dr. Michael Oh   At the end of every scientific meeting I attend, I usually gather up all the conference programs, brochures, and the cheap, logo-emblazoned bag and throw them all in the hotel room trash can and think to myself, "What a waste!" What I've always wanted was a way to bring home more of the meeting (digital posters, videos and podcasts, contact information) in a device that would fit in my pocket…like my iPhone®. Although it would be cost prohibitive to provide iPhones for all medical attendees, I had recently purchased an iPod touch® for my child and saw that this wireless multimedia device could serve as the perfect technology to turn the AANS Annual Meeting into a paperless conference. Not only would this innovative device replace half a million sheets of paper, but also it could enhance the purpose of the meeting: continuing medical education and the exchange of scientific information. Thanks to the leadership of the AANS president, Troy Tippett, MD, and the AANS Executive Committee, at the 78th Annual Meeting, all medical delegates will be handed a brand new iPod touch preloaded with a custom-designed application to access and integrate every aspect of the Philadelphia Annual Meeting, from scientific education to social events, including digital posters, audience response system, and social networking. And when the meeting ends, no one will throw away their iPod touch. Rather, they can continue to use their iPod touch as a mobile portal to the AANS website and neurosurgical information and, of course, they can use it to play music in the operating room. The iPod touch taskforce is working to ensure that this device does not become a gimmick, but rather that it serves as an enabling technology which helps to transform the AANS membership into a community. Drs. Joseph Cheng and Mitch Berger are creating a program to educate AANS members on this new and innovative platform. Drs. Jonathan Friedman and Vincent Traynelis are overseeing the development and deployment of the AANS Annual Meeting application. And finally, Drs. Shelly Timmons and Ann Stroink are looking beyond the Annual Meeting and exploring future AANS applications on the iPod touch. With so many dedicated members and staff, I am certain that the iPod touch initiative will help make the 2010 Annual Meeting truly revolutionary.

Medical registrants of the 2010 AANS Paperless Annual Meeting will be given an iPod touch device at this meeting – this will serve as your window to some of the highest quality neurosurgical educational available. Using this intuitive yet powerful device, you will be able to access the program guide; calendar of events; exhibitor listings; speaker information, social venues; in short, every document you need for this educational experience – but without the paper!

The iPod touch is a wireless unit that allows for the continual update of information and changes that take place throughout the conference, transforming the ability to access information in a way that's never been possible before. This sophisticated technology will enable the AANS to provide all conference materials on a user-friendly, technologically advanced device. Apple’s iPod touch is in a league of it's own in portability – affording endless possibilities for innovative communications with members not only at the 2010 AANS Annual Meeting but beyond.

In late August, the first podcast on sports-related head injuries by a team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers was posted on the AANS web site. The podcasts offer a glimpse into the world of neurosurgery and the topics impacting the field today. The podcasts are created for the diverse audience served by the association – neurosurgeons, the media, and the public. As we move closer to the 2010 Annual Meeting, these podcasts will also be made available via the iTunes store for downloading onto the iPod touch device.

Don't miss the opportunity to be part of this exciting, innovative program. Meeting and housing registration are now open, so be sure to register early. Also, visit www.AANS.org to view the latest podcasts available.

Be sure to return often to the 2010 Paperless Annual Meeting page. We will be adding updates about this unpredendented, dynamic meeting, as well as information on the features that will be available on the iPod touch beyond Philadelphia.

In the meantime, if you want to learn more about the iPod touch that will be your gateway to participating in this first-ever wireless AANS meeting, please visit the Apple iPod touch Web site to watch tutorial videos and access its latest user manual.

Click on these links to learn more about Apple's iPod touch ^® – your gateway to the future of AANS education.

http://www.apple.com/support/ipodtouch/

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/iPod_touch_3.0_User_Guide.pdf

Archived AANS Annual Meeting Newsletters

• Vol. 1, Issue 2, January 2010 (PDF)
• Vol. 1, Issue 1, December 2009 (PDF)