Watch CBS News

iPads In The Waiting Room: Wave Of The Future?

ANN ARBOR (WWJ) - Flipping through Time or Life as you wait your turn is at thing of the past at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center.

Patients in the surgical waiting area are no longer found looking at magazines. Instead, they're browsing away on Apple iPads, loaned to them through the Wellness Resource Center.

Cardiovascular Center chief administrative officer Linda Larin told WWJ Newsradio 950 that people are responding enthusiastically to the switch.

"There's so much information on them (the iPads)," Larin said. "They're loaded with information related to applications so that they can listen to the radio, any application on there if you will ... look at the weather, movie guides, they could watch movies, look at the news, listen to music. They have headphones with them."

Larin said, for some patients, it's about trying something new.

"Even though iPads are very popular and are really beginning to hit the market, there are lots of individuals who have not yet had their hands on one, or who have not really been able to purchase one or own one as of yet," said Larin. "So there's an attraction and an excitement to be able to play around with one."

But, what about the cost? Larin said, in the long run, loaning out iPads is actually more cost-effective than ordering magazines all year long.

Does this make sense? Will it catch on? Comment below.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.