ERIC Number: EJ916662
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Feb
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1062-9351
EISSN: N/A
Digital Technologies Jump Start Telemedicine
Pierce, Alan
Tech Directions, v70 n7 p26-28 Feb 2011
The technologists, research doctors, computer programmers, electrical engineers, and biomedical engineers who design and create new medical diagnostic equipment and medical treatments are now working on medical systems that use the computing power of personal computers and cell phones. For disease diagnosis, they are finding ways to shrink expensive medical equipment down to cell phone size. Their goal is to perform diagnosis and treatment without requiring a patient to spend a great deal of time in doctors' offices or hospital beds. For medical treatment, they are creating new wearable or implantable sensors that gather medical data from patients. A cell phone app performs the data analysis of the raw biometric data that was gathered by these sensors. When processing is done, the cell phone "phones home" to report its findings to whomever it was programmed to call. For lifestyle changes, similar teams of experts are designing biometric sensors that collect data through skin contact on an arm, leg, chest, or head. The computer program that is part of the system turns this data into biofeedback, which the person uses to reduce tension, track physical activity, improve cardio function, tone muscles, train for the Olympics, and/or lose weight. (Contains 4 photos.)
Descriptors: Medical Services, Computer Software, Telecommunications, Biofeedback, Medical Education, Medical Evaluation, Handheld Devices, Equipment Evaluation, Electronic Equipment, Technological Advancement, Information Technology
Prakken Publications. 832 Phoenix Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Tel: 734-975-2800; Fax: 734-975-2787; Web site: http://www.techdirections.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A