Ernesto Diaz-Flores is an Assistant Adjunct Professor at UCSF where he uses a novel multiparametric flow cytometry platform to discover drug targets for high-risk subtypes of childhood leukemia. Ernesto is an early adopter of LabTwin, our voice-powered lab assistant, so I sat down with him to find out how LabTwin helps his research.
Why did you decide to start using LabTwin?
I had been looking for quite some time into how I could integrate my various annotations and snapshots taken routinely during work and even share these with my team and vice versa. So far I had not found a system that did exactly that until I was introduced to LabTwin.
Daily experimental annotations in a laboratory setup are critical to ensuring reproducibility and traceability. However, we cannot always take notes in the moment, which is a challenge we all face. Often times researchers need to take notes while doing experiments, but that requires removing gloves, finding a piece of paper or even a napkin, having a pen or a marker handy, and making the annotations. So, often times documentation gets sacrificed in the interest of not jeopardizing the experiment.
What I like most about LabTwin is the innovative integration of functionalities. With this platform I can take voice notes, upload photos of experiments in real time, set up several reminders throughout the day and even dictate what reagents I need in the shopping list, and have it all immediately added to my e-lab notebook.
Was LabTwin easy to set up? Is the app easy to use?
That’s one of the things I like the most about LabTwin, how easy and intuitive is to use! Both the app and the cloud version.
Has the quality of your lab documentation improved since you began using LabTwin’s voice-powered technology?
Definitely. Being able to take voice notes in a hands-free mode has improved my capacity to annotate experimental details. The fact that it synchronizes in real time with my computer is what makes this feature so useful. That in itself has simplified my workflow in the lab.
What kind of work do you think LabTwin can help with?
The capabilities offered by LabTwin are perfectly suited for a research lab environment; where we are in constant need of taking notes. On a daily basis, we use different technologies and move between lab spaces. In every one of them we need to make constant annotations e.g. cell concentration, viability numbers, volume of reagents, quantification of DNA , proteins, lysates, etc. Having a system that allows annotations on the go is a great resource
What are your thoughts on LabTwin's impact on research efficiency and reproducibility?
One of the biggest advantages of using LabTwin is that it allows detailed annotations as often as needed and that you can review at any time, on your smartphone or on your computer. This makes it easier to track and review any differences between experiments and to be able to reproduce the same conditions from experiment to experiment. And by removing the hurdle of constantly needing pen and paper, LabTwin makes any workflow more efficient and streamlined.
In your opinion, how will a voice-powered product like LabTwin change the industry in the long run?
I see LabTwin being widely implemented in all laboratory and hospital settings, but I also see it being implemented beyond these settings. I can easily see many industries benefiting from having voice-powered annotation capabilities that can integrate notes with photo uploading, reminders setting and also dictating items get automatically added to the purchase cart list. LabTwin integrates all this in an electronic layout with sharing and printing capabilities. The combined functionalities make LabTwin a powerful tool for anyone who needs efficient and streamlined processes.
Learn more about how LabTwin can help you streamline your workflow with secure, hands-free documentation.