When we discuss the term Microbiology, we easily see two distinct words, the first Micro, a 
Greek word meaning small and biology for dealing with life or the living.
As we developed the Phone Skope, I reminisced of 30 years ago when I started teaching high school and was assigned a Life Science class to teach. Luckily, I had four microscopes but I also had 30 students. I remember when our department purchased a light backed reflecting microscope so we could project the image to the screen at the front of the room. Quite primitive but wow, how cool was that? Latter, I recall writing a grant to receive a very inexpensive form of the first practical microscope that could be attached to a computer through the serial port to allow viewing from the screen.
When I first attached my prototype Phone Skope to a microscope and placed some dye slides under the lens, my Samsung cell phone began to crate the excitement. I took picture after picture both through the cell phone and also with my SLR camera of the connected duo of cellphone and microscope. I knew I had found the Promised Land. I immediately could picture a researcher looking through their microscope and at the same time being in discussion with other colleagues all across the United States looking at and discussing this newly found or newly created finding. I could see a Med Tech calling the doctor via social networking to see what he had just discovered. Or even taking several shots of something to send to a colleague to discuss a plan of attack.
The Phone Skope allows anyone that has a smartphone and an optic device and couple to power of the two and document or share the experience.
How many thousands of dollars have been spent on this same process only to find out it can be done using your phone, your microscope and the Phone Skope for less than a $100.
