Scientific/Lab iPad Apps

With a portable note-book like form factor, simple user interface, and an easy to clean surface, the iPad is a natural resident of the lab. It is not surprising that more and more iPad apps are being introduced that are designed to enhance productivity in the lab setting. Scientific iPad apps span many types such as content (journal articles), reference (periodic table), productivity, tools (such as a timer or calculator), education, equipment and instrument control, business, lab notebooks and other data recording such as equipment qualifications, and data analysis. Many iPad apps are free easy to test drive, and all of them are easy to delete if they don’t serve your specific laboratory needs. Electronic laboratory notebook applications are more complex and expensive, and these require more trial as well as communication with the provider. Any laboratory information implementation needs to be flexible enough to be tailored to your workflow, but simple enough to be useful on a day to day basis.