I ran accross the article, Mobile Learning Content and Services Market Accelerating in the U.S., Says Ambient Insight.

First paragraph:

The so-called "iPod generation" is one of the most significant long-term factors
accelerating the growth of the mobile learning content and services market in
the U.S., according to an indepth study by Ambient Insight. The analysts say
market conditions could hardly be more favorable. The largest buyers of mobile
learning content and services will be public sector -- local, state, and federal
governments -- followed by consumers. The single largest vertical demand is in
the healthcare industry.

Oooh did you notice it? The single largest verticle demand is the healthcare industry. Podcasting and other types of mobile learning are worth keeping your eyes on. It involves new technologies and theories and we don't have all the answers to all the questions about usage and applications. But, it doesn't mean we can ignore it because it is on the bleeding edge and not applicaple to "our situation" or "our hospital". Mobile technologies should be on our radar screen so that we can provide some of the answers and can ask some good questions.

Just today I gave the curriculum development coordinator a news article on on listenting to heart sounds using the iPod and a corresponding article published in the American Journal of Medicine. I also gave the Director of Medical education two published abstracts on the use of iPods in medical education. One abstract is from Academic Emergency Medicine on training in emergency medicine using videos and images on the iPod. (Acad Emerg Med v. 13, (5 suppl 1) p. 209, 2006. Pooneh Hendi and Hans House, EMPOD: An EM Handheld Digital Collection of Video Procedures, Audio Lectures, and Photos)
The other abstract is from the Journal of General Internal Medicine on the usage of iPods in new resident orientation. (JGIM v.21 (s4) p.187 April 2006. Wofford, J.L., Wofford, M., Miller, D.P., Brownlee, C., Singh, S. Using iPod technology to create a self-guided clinic tour for resident orientation.)

The point is that I may not know of every possible way we can use these mobile technologies, but by passing the information to the people who might be interested, I am at least letting them know I know it exsists.