Tech Trends
C D A J O U R N A L , V O L 4 9 , Nº 6
A look into the latest dental and general technology on the market
Insta360 Pro 2 Spherical 8K Camera ($4,999, Insta360)
The real estate sector has long made use of 360-degree photography in virtual home tours. With a few clicks, clients can step into a home and dissect every feature on their own time. While taking a 360 photograph is within the capability of most mobile devices, many of these photographs suffer from significant distortions and cropping, ultimately becoming novelties lacking any usefulness. Specialized cameras overcome these shortcomings to varying degrees, and at its nearly $5,000 price point, the Insta360 Pro 2 aims to eliminate these issues. Released in late 2018, the Insta360 Pro 2 employs six super wideangle lenses, gyroscopes and sophisticated on-board electronics to simplify, optimize and maximize 360 image quality for both stills and videos. The device boasts Wi-Fi connectivity so that it can be controlled by a mobile device. Many modern camera conveniences — ISO, log profiles, 12-stop exposure range — are also present. While an 8K resolution sounds impressive, it is the industry standard for high-quality 360 images. Thanks to its on-board systems, the Insta360 Pro 2 can output fully realized, functional 360 files without the aid of further processing: Double clicking on any of these files will place a user into the space where the image was created. It is not the easiest 360 camera to use due its complex interface, multitude of settings and frustrating sensitive power button that turns on the device with little input. Ultimately, even with the significant price tag, seams where the image is stitched together can be seen. Though $5,000 is expensive for a 360 camera, a dental practice may find some utility in it when creating tours for prospective patients and participating in conference calls where multiple individuals in a single location (like people around a conference table) need to be shown. — Alexander Lee, DMD
Microsoft Lists (Begins at $5 per month, Microsoft) Productivity in a team environment is dependent on access to accurate real-time information at any moment. Team members would typically share a spreadsheet to collaborate on via email, but the data is rarely updated continuously with new items from an entry source. Microsoft Lists is a mobile app for environments that utilize Microsoft SharePoint and Teams for the input and reporting of data from consolidated sources to provide useful information for decisionmaking within workgroups. Microsoft Lists requires an account with a Microsoft business or enterprise subscription plan, which includes SharePoint and Teams —collaborative tools in the Microsoft 365 suite. At the core of these services are lists, which are essentially libraries that can house rows and columns of data. Each column in a list can be customized to accept virtually any type of data, including text, numbers, dates, currency and more. Forms are used to enter a list item or row with data in the appropriate columns. Other methods to add list items containing data include the use of more sophisticated tools such as Microsoft PowerApps or Power Automate. Microsoft Lists provides a basic method to view and interact with any lists that the user has access or permissions to from their mobile device. Users can either search for the name of any list they have access to or pick from recent or favorited lists. When a list is accessed, its rows and columns of data can be viewed based on the role permissions assigned to the user. Adding a list item or editing an existing one can be done directly within the app through a default form. The app can display custom column formatting and list views, but is unable to display PowerApps forms to add, edit or view list items. Overall, this app provides only the basic functionality needed to view and interact with shared data in real time. Other Microsoft browser tools and mobile apps are needed for a more refined experience. Workgroups are dependent on accurate and reliable information to maintain productivity. Microsoft Lists allows team members to easily collaborate, on a simple level, using the same real-time data sources on their mobile devices. — Hubert Chan, DDS
414 JUNE
2021
