Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library History: Part Six 2010's

Chapter 4, Discovering Technology

On October 4, 1971 the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library was dedicated, bringing health sciences library services to a permanent home at the University of Utah. From the beginning, we have been known for pioneering new ideas, new technologies, and innovative partnerships. This exhibition series will showcase our history, from the first health sciences library collection in 1908 to the present-day.

2010’s Table of Contents:

Mobile Technology

The Eccles Library has continually been on the forefront of implementing technology through the mobile tech boom of the early 2010’s. The first devices used in the pediatric clerkship course in partnership with the Eccles Library were the Tungsten C, Palm TX and iPod touch.

Later the library began offering iPads, Motorolla Xooms, Amazon Kindles, Barnes & Noble Nooks, and Google Nexus tablets and continuing to this day offering technology for checkout.

The Library was instrumental in health-sciences-wide integrations of mobile technology including:

Implementing Audience Response Systems in EHSEB and offering the “clickers” for checkout
Offering virtual Audience Response Systems
Managing and checking out a fleet of iPads for Topics in Medicine rotations
Partnering with the School of Medicine to provide technology support and mobile app recommendations for iPads provided to first and second year students
Creating the U-Bar, located in the Hope Fox Eccles Health Library to help patients and health consumers learn about health and fitness apps

Technology Hubs

Tree of Hippocrates Education Studio

The Tree of Hippocrates Education (THE) Studio began in 2017 as the Multimedia Design & Innovation Lab and has evolved into a one-stop shop for all your audio and visual needs for teaching and learning.

The Tree of Hippocrates Education Studio—like many programs from the Eccles Library
—started out small but grew quickly into a full-fledged service offering. Originally the
“Multimedia Design & Innovation Lab” the equipment shared a humble home in the
corner of a computer lab; with one computer, microphone, and an iPad. Within a year the
computer lab became THE Studio and has since been host to hundreds of hours of
educational videos, lectures, podcasts, and more from our health sciences students,
staff, and faculty.

–Bryan E. Hull, Digital Publishing Program Manager

Virtual Reality

The library became home to a virtual reality lab that developed customized experiences involving simulations, education lessons, and interactive displays. Projects included Dental Modules, a Trauma Bay Simulation, Tour of the Eye, and the NLM Exhibit: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine in Harry Potter’s World

3D Printing

The 3D Printing lab initially located in EHSEB 3100 offered equipment and tools to aid innovators in the ideation and creation of medical devices and prototypes.

Anatomage Table

The Anatomage Table is the most technologically advanced anatomy visualization system for anatomy education and is being adopted by many of the world’s leading medical schools and institutions, including the Eccles Library!

“During my first year at the library, we acquired the
Anatomage Table – a digital cadaver that weighs
500 pounds and is 7 feet long. We were excited for
the technology and ways it could support anatomy
education in the health sciences – but first we had to
get it into the building! On delivery day, myself, Jeff
Bryan, and Dave went down to pick it up at the University
Hospital and woah – was it a doozy. We got it out of its
crate, wheeled it down to the library and it wouldn’t fit
inside the door. Through some careful maneuvering and
some slight building modifications, it made it inside and
serves as a great tool for students today!”

–Brandon Patterson, Technology Engagement Librarian

Tech Open Houses

Technology Open Houses

In the spirit of InfoFair, the Eccles Library began hosting annual technology open house events; showcasing the numerous technology projects and services being offered. Virtual reality experiences, live streams broadcast from THE Studio, demonstrations of the Anatomage Table, 3D printing stations, and librarian services were showcased to hundreds of health sciences students, staff, faculty, and alumni.

In early April 2019, EHSL hosted the first Virtual Reality Symposium. The symposium included demonstrations of apps and games created in-house developed by students and faculty at the U. We also invited international researcher, Maria V. (Mavi) Sanchez-Vives to discuss her work titled, “Towards the Rehabilitation of Domestic Violence Offenders using Virtual Reality” – a Priscilla M. Mayden Lecture.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Continue to next section: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion →

2010’s Table of Contents:

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