Thousands of tech enthusiasts attend the Computex tech expo in Taipei. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

TAIPEI – Medical diagnostic devices used to be big, bulky and intimidating machines that required trucks to move around, but not anymore.

At Computex, Taiwanese tech giants have introduced medical innovations that promise to transform how medical professionals provide services such a X-rays, ultrasounds, and diagnosing diabetic retinopathy.

Acer Medical's portable X-ray device. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

Acer Medical has developed a portable X-ray system allows medical technologists to perform this diagnostic service in the field or right in a patient's home. Dubbed as the VeriCompact APX-1, the device is said to be the lightest X-ray machine in the world, weighing just 3.2 kilos. The radiation dose is also down to just 25 percent.

"It is light, low dose, easy to carry, and can be quickly deployed to various checkpoints with a tripod," Acer said.

Asus handheld ultrasound device. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

Asus meanwhile has unveiled a handheld ultrasound machine called the LU800. According to Asus, the device is a software based system that lets medical professionals do ultrasound scans and receive high-quality images in real time. The device pairs with a smartphone or tablet and allows a quicker diagnosis of a variety of conditions, Asus said. It can be deployed in ambulances, operating theaters and for training purposes.

Acer's portable camera for examining the eyes. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

Acer has also developed a portable device for examining eyes. Called the ARC-1000 Portable Fundus Camera, the device can be used to check for vision loss due to diabetes or age-related vision degeneration.

Acer said that using its VeriSee AMD system which uses AI, retinal images can be screened for diabetic retinopathy or age-related macular degeneration.

Another Acer app called the VeriOsteo meanwhile uses AI to screen for osteoporosis.

Fitness wearables

Acer is also entering the wearable fitness market with the introduction of its FreeSense Ring. Meant to compete with the Oura and the Galaxy Ring, Acer’s FreeSense Ring features advanced biometric sensing to support everyday health monitoring.

“Crafted from ultra-lightweight titanium alloy, the ring tracks vital physiological metrics such as heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels, and sleep quality,” Acer said.

Acer's FreeSense fitness tracking ring. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

A mobile app analyzes the fitness data and generates personalized wellness insights and provides suggestions, without the need for subscription fees.

“With features such as sleep stage analysis and continuous tracking, the Acer FreeSense Ring helps encourage proactive health management and lifestyle awareness,” Acer said.

Another interesting device shown at Computex was the Asus VivoWatch 6 which can detect blood pressure and electrocardiogram by fingertip. This would be a great help to people who need to monitor their BP. However, other smartwatches have been offering this feature too, and they caution that smartwatch readings should never be seen as a substitute for professional diagnosis for hypertension.