1.Where is 3nethra on the technology adoption life cycle?

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Ans:
Most parts of rural India lacked an eye care facility at primary health care centers. People
from rural areas relied mostly on eye camps conducted in their area by NGOs such as Rotary,
Lions or some charitable institutions. As typical eye screening equipment was expensive and
could not be carried to the field for camps, eye inspection was conducted with the help of a
handheld ophthalmoscope and torch light. For further detailed checkup, the patient would be
advised to visit the ophthalmologists at the hospital.
Forus Health launched 3nethra as a single, portable, intelligent, non-invasive, non-mydriatic
eye pre-screening device that could detect five major ailments that is eye related such as
Diabetic Retinopathy, cataract, Glaucoma, cornea problems and refractive errors. 3nethra is
namely – Pre-screening, OPD and diagnosis. It combined the functions performed by
multiple stand-alone devices and also capable of capturing pictures of the posterior as well as
anterior of the eye and generated an automated "Normal" or "Need to see a Doctor" report.
3nethra is positioned as an intelligent pre-screening device. 3nethra obviated the need for the
doctor to be present at the location of pre-screening. The operator could send the reports of
the screened cases to the doctor through the telemedicine network and the doctor could offer
remote diagnosis and suggest treatment or a meeting at the hospital, if required. This allowed
the doctor to spend time only on patients who needed immediate attention.
3nethra is in Early Adopters stage and not yet crossed "The Chasm" because 3nethra
produced pictures clear enough to help make sound diagnosis, some of these imported brands
claimed better picture quality. 3nethra provides only two-dimensional images and does not
allow a direct examination of the patient's eyes unlike the slit lamp or ophthalmoscope.
Besides, 3nethra or any fundus camera, in the view of many ophthalmologists, was only an
also-have rather than must-have for diagnosis.
3nethra underwent many product improvements resulting in enhanced quality of images. All
existing customers received upgrades for the software on their devices free of cost.
The current customers have understood all the functionality of the 3nethra and are using
accordingly as per their requirement because the device is considered as a low cost when
compared to the international products and also greatly reducing the direct and indirect cost
of pre-screening. Even though Doctors are appreciated, and no objections related to the
product, but the low conversion rate is either due to lack of funds to buy it immediately or the
doctor already had a high-end device.