Sensor-as-a-Service: Convergence of Sensor Analytic Point Solutions (SNAPS) and Pay-A-Penny-Per-Use (PAPPU) Paradigm as a Catalyst for Democratization of Healthcare in Underserved Communities

Abstract

In this manuscript, we discuss relevant socioeconomic factors for developing and implementing sensor analytic point solutions (SNAPS) as point-of-care tools to serve impoverished communities. The distinct economic, environmental, cultural, and ethical paradigms that affect economically disadvantaged users add complexity to the process of technology development and deployment beyond the science and engineering issues. We begin by contextualizing the environmental burden of disease in select low-income regions around the world, including environmental hazards at work, home, and the broader community environment, where SNAPS may be helpful in the prevention and mitigation of human exposure to harmful biological vectors and chemical agents. We offer examples of SNAPS designed for economically disadvantaged users, specifically for supporting decision-making in cases of tuberculosis (TB) infection and mercury exposure. We follow-up by discussing the economic challenges that are involved in the phased implementation of diagnostic tools in low-income markets and describe a micropayment-based systems-as-a-service approach (pay-a-penny-per-use—PAPPU), which may be catalytic for the adoption of low-end, low-margin, low-research, and the development SNAPS. Finally, we provide some insights into the social and ethical considerations for the assimilation of SNAPS to improve health outcomes in marginalized communities.

Planar Interdigitated Aptasensor for Flow-Through Detection of Listeria spp. in Hydroponic Lettuce Growth Media

“…The flow-through system is capable of monitoring Listeria spp. in hydroponic media using the grab sample approach here, and it can be improved by developing simple management tools such as an artificial reasoning tool (ART) for rapid decision support [ 44 , 66 ].…”

“…When washed with Piranha solution, the sensor had 0% hysteresis, and when treated with NaOH and washed with DI water, the hysteresis ranged from 2 to 16%. The characterization of signal hysteresis is the foundation for determining sensor reusability, which is critical for the development of future tools such as the artificial reasoning tool (ART) [ 44 , 66 ]. Furthermore, the sensor reported here is able to monitor Listeria spp.…”

Aptamers for Detection and Diagnostics (ADD) is a proposed mobile app acquiring optical data from conjugated quantum nanodots to identify molecules indicating presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus: Why public health and healthcare need smartphone sensors as a platform for early detection and prevention

“…It does not offer or guarantee further testing or treatment. Distribution and pricing of the hypothetical C2DD product and proposed pay-per-use (PAPPU 13 ) service for QTD will be debated by corporations. Free distribution of C2DD and a micro-payment model (pay-per-use) for the "QTD" app is advocated.…”

Aptamers for Detection and Diagnostics (ADD) is a proposed mobile app acquiring optical data from conjugated quantum nanodots to identify molecules indicating presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus: Why public health and healthcare need smartphone sensors as a platform for early detection and prevention

“…It does not offer or guarantee further testing or treatment. Distribution and pricing of the hypothetical C2DD product and proposed pay-per-use (PAPPU 14 ) service for QTD will be debated by corporations. Free distribution of C2DD and a micro-payment model (pay-per-use) for the "QTD" app is advocated.…”