Audience Response Systems (ARSs), using radio frequency "clickers", have become popular in undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing medical education. The University of Toronto reported sales of more than 10,000 units at Dollars 35.00 each by 2008. A review of the literature (Kay & LeSage 2007) found that benefits of an ARS included:improvements to the classroom environment (increases in attendance, attention levels, participation and engagement),.learning (interaction, discussion, contingent teaching, quality of learning, learning performance), assessment (feedback, formative, normative).Short Messaging Services - SMS - (text messaging) via cell phone can be used to poll audience response, as demonstrated in television shows such as "American Idol". This uses cell phone radiofrequency technology for ARS, eliminating the need for a "clicker". ARS theory is well validated, but the use of SMS to poll the audience in medical education seems as yet to be unpublished despite good uptake in other venues.
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