Basic Overview of Information Technology and uses in Medicine
and Dentistry
Basic Overview of Information Technology and uses in Medicine
and DentistryDr Ebtissam Al-Madi
Basic Overview of Information Technology and uses in Medicine
and Dentistry1. Types of Computers2. Data Storage in Computers3.
Computer Hardware and Software4. Computer Networks5. Software
Engineering6. Challenges to Biomedical Computing
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Informatics is not about technologyTechnology is essential for
acquisition and use of the focus: informationDecisions about
technology impact how information is managedFocus should be
user-centered, not technology centeredOld technology is not
necessarily bad if it still meets needs and is supportableNew
technology can introduce new problems
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Types of computersMost powerfulMainframes largest and most
expensive computers that serve many usersSupercomputers powerful
computers designed for massive processing and computation
ServersComputers that serve many users and handle many
transactionsAny computer from a PC to a mainframe can act as a
server
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Personal computers (PCs)Desktop and laptop and Apple Macintosh
computersContinue to increase in power, especially when on computer
networksHave essentially become a commodityIntel shipped its one
billionth computer chip in 2003 (Intel, 2003) Tablet
computersScreen and power of laptop computer but even more
portableTouted as beneficial in health care but penetration remains
modest (Malkary, 2004)
Batman Laptop 5Al-Madi EM. Basic Overview of Information
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Computers are getting smaller Personal digital assistants
(PDAs)Hand-held computers with high portabilityMost popular
platforms are Palm OS and Windows forHandhelds (Windows
Mobile)Primary form of input is mostly hand-writing
recognitionIncreasingly have wireless network capabilityHighly
popular among clinicians but limited by screen size, Cell
phonesIncreasingly have cameras, Internet access, etc.Value
outweighs possible risk in health care settings
Waiting for it 6Al-Madi EM. Basic Overview of Information
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How powerful are computers getting? Everything from speed to
size to cost per unit of power doubles every 18 Months. (Moore,
1965; Intel, 2004)
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Data Storage in ComputersVirtually all modern computers are
digital, as opposed to analog Digital means thatMost fundamental
unit is discrete Unit is the binary digit or bit, which can assume
the values 0 or 1 Or off/on, false/true, etc.. A byte is a sequence
of 8 bits (and can take on 28 or 256 values)In contrast, analog
systems have values on continuous scaleExamples of digital vs.
analogTimekeepingCalculators vs. slide rulesAudio LPs vs. CDs
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Digital concepts data representationBit sequences are used to
represent numbers, text, images, and program instructionsAll these
sequences are stored in memory and architecture determines which is
which.Integer numbers are represented by straight sequences of
bits.Text is represented by codes (Unicode)Images are represented
by pixels
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Is a picture worth a thousandwords? Compare storage sizes
TextFor text, each character is one byteA single page may have
an average of 50 characters per line over its 60 lines, taking up
about 3,000 bytes
ImageA high-quality display of a page requires about 1,200 by
800 pixels, taking up (in B&W) around 120,000 bytesAdding 8-bit
color would increase the size to nearly one million bytes
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Digital points of reference
Chest x-ray1200 x 800 pixels= 960,000 bytesAverage-sized text
book=1-5 megabytesLibrary of Congress= 20 terabytes
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Al-Madi EM. Basic Overview of Information Technology. Concept of
Health Informatics 182 DEN12DVD DisksHard DisksMainframe &
Server Hard Disk 1,440 K640-700 MB1-20 GB4.2 GB100s GBTerabyte
++
Sizes of storage media
Computer Hardware andSoftwareHardwarePhysical parts of
ComputerCentral processing unit(CPU)MemoryAuxiliary storageInput
and output devicesSoftwareInstructions for computerOperating
systemApplicationsProgramming languages and development tools
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Auxiliary storage
ActiveActive storage is used for information needed all the
time
ArchivalArchival storage is information needed less urgently,
e.g., backup or older information
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Input and output devices
Input devicesMost common device is the keyboardMouse and
trackpadPen inputVoice input
Output devicesMonitor and printerComputer speech
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Input devices
Computer software operating systemsProvide file, display,
networking, etc., services to users and programmersUsers get file
management, set-up and maintenance, utilities Programmers get
standard interface to various services such as file access,
display, network connection, etc.Some operating
systemsWindowsMacintosh OSUnixOpen-source Linux Novell Netware
PalmOS, Windows for Handhelds (Windows Mobile)
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Programming languagesComputer programs run in machine language,
the code of bits that gives instructions for moving and
manipulating dataHigh level computer languages operate at a higher
level of abstraction, hiding the complexity of moving and
manipulating dataC, C++ used in most modern applicationsMUMPS used
in many early medical applicationsBasic used to be common in
PCsVisual Basic used across Microsoft applicationsPerl, Python, and
others scripting languages for Unix and WebJava attempt to create
standard language for Web applications
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Open-source software
Freely available and is managed by some sort of standardizing
entityExamples: Linux, mySQL, openEHROpen source software in health
careGeneralwww.sourceforge.netMedicalVeterans Administration system
Vista http://www1.va.gov/CPRSdemo/OpenEHR
www.openehr.orgwww.freemedsoftware.orgwww.linuxmednews.org
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Computer networksBefore Internet era, computers were
eitherStandalone (in the case of PCs)Hard-wired terminals connected
to the central unit (in the case of mainframes)Most rapidly
evolving and expanding technology today is the computer network
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The InternetWorldwide computer network bound together by
TCP/IPNot a single network, but many internetworksEvery device on
the Internet has an Internet Protocol (IP) addressInternet-related
termsIntranet Network local to organization that uses Internet
technologyExtranet Network limited to associates of an
organizationVirtual private network (VPN) the new WAN, allows
distant network to appear local
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Software applications on the InternetElectronic mailWorld Wide
WebInstant messagingApplication service provider (ASP) applications
store application and data remotelyPC is a terminal:Advantage
connect from anywhere on network, up to- date version, data
integrityDisadvantage constrained by network bandwidth and
availability
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Internet and broadband use is higher amongRich vs. poorYounger
vs. olderDeveloped vs. developing countriesUrban vs. ruralCaucasian
and Asian vs. other ethnic groupsUse growing proportionately among
various ethnic and age groups
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Networking HealthNothing about health applications is unique,
i.e., we dont need a separate health Internet, but current
infrastructure is inadequate for many applications and
prioritiesAvailability of networks is more important than bandwidth
for most clinical applicationsCan be compromised by the failure of
individual components Overload of systemHostile attacks (hacking,
viruses)
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Important issues for system design
Quality and style of interfaceMust be clear and
consistentConvenience and accessibilityDevices where needed and in
adequate numbersSpeed and response timeEssential for busy
cliniciansReliabilityCrucial as we become more dependent on
themSecurityEssential as amount of data and connectivity
growsIntegrationInteroperability of systems and data essential
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Challenges to BiomedicalComputingSoftware reliability and
safetySoftware bugsGeneral system securitySpam
emailPasswordsPersistent dataIntellectual property and patents
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This weeks assignmentsView this lecture online for review.Read
article:http://www.grassrootsdesign.com/intro/This learner's guide
is a long term project inspired by twelve years of teaching
computers. The guide is being developed and updated as time
permits.3. Participate in week 3 discussion.4. Answer Quiz week
3.
ViewReadDiscussQuiz26Al-Madi EM. Basic Overview of Information
Technology. Concept of Health Informatics 182 DEN
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Please Post on discussion board as a new thread or email me at:
[email protected] LuckDr Ebtissam AL-MadiAny
Questions?27Al-Madi EM. Basic Overview of Information Technology.
Concept of Health Informatics 182 DEN
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