BioTISCH: The interactive molecular biology lab bench

In a molecular biology lab, scientists often need to execute strictly defined sequences of operations, typically mixing specific amounts of reagents. The exact steps require information from various sources, like manuals, websites and own notes. Direct access to a computer at the bench would be highly desirable but is rarely implemented, as computers do not fit well into a wet lab environment. In this paper, we present BioTISCH, an interactive workbench for molecular biology laboratories. We show a prototypical setup of an interactive table which provides a sterile user interface for access to existing documentation and for common tasks such as unit conversions. The example illustrates that interactive tables blend very well into a modern biological laboratory and could improve access and exchange of information in this environment.