Future of the Internet - In Healthcare

I was wondering what to talk about since we're supposed to write about the future of Internet in our last blogpost. I surfed the net and decided there's an industry I would like to narrow down on with regards to the future of the Internet - Healthcare industry!
Why? Mainly because it affects all of us. At some point of time in our lives, we will definitely require healthcare of some sort.

The future of healthcare is a subject that has been under intense speculation and debate in recent times over various platforms. Following a launch at the Medical and Compamed trade fair in November 2009, a company known as Ergonomidesign will be presenting and demonstrating a future application with relation to Life Sciences.

The application, known as "Helping Hands" (a Natural User Interface developed on a MS Surface table) enables us to experience how we will manage our healthcare in future. This concept actually combines the benefits of ubiquitous computing with a merger of healthcare services with Internet service providers. This merger brings many benefits to us. Alike applications in the mobile world currently, pharmacies would be able to sell a variety of healthcare devices containing embedded software that synchronizes with relevant devices and our body automatically.

By the year 2015, vast amounts of personal data will constantly be uploaded in real-time to the "Cloud" - for others to use, share and benefit from. Through embedded sensors in our clothes, wrist watches, necklaces, shoes etc. it will be possible to constantly monitor our biometric data. These vast amounts of data pushed to the Cloud, is accessible to a network of 'smart objects' e.g. mobile devices and 'smart' homes, furniture and environments. Our biometric data will be accessible everywhere, constantly - to us and those who we have granted admission, e.g. our doctors, family and relevant networks. The Cloud also allows constant access to contacts and services in our vast directory of doctors, fellow-patients and other daily health-care programs such as diet, exercise and prescription medicine.

This is expected to be accessed both on computers and from mobile devices, hence making it much more convenient for patients to monitor their health and at the same time communicate with their doctors who can also monitor it from the hospital at the same time.

elderly and the internet

As the population in Singapore age, the technology gap between the Internet and the older generation increases. Although some might argue that they know how to use the computer, many a time we realize that what they mean are the really basic programs such as microsoft word.

I personally have come across many people from the older generation and their ignorance towards the Internet. I'll take my previous workplace as an example. Even though it was a media company, many of the older employees who are 50 and above are not well versed in using the Internet. It was only then did I realize that the problem is not just with the older generation who are uneducated. These employees are educated and have been in the media industry ever since they stepped into the working world. I found out that the way they learn the computer or any technological system for that matter, was to literally write down and memorize the steps to go about doing something. They even apply the same method of learning when it comes to the Internet. For example, for the two older employees whom I have worked hand in hand with during my internship, they will be writing and drawing out a rough sketch of the webpage when I teach them how to access certain pages. However, once they get to a different part of the website, they totally have no idea what to press next.

Many of the younger employees, including myself, found this very perplexing. We wanted to teach them how to use the Internet effectively and efficiently but it was really difficult to do so. I began to search for information regarding teaching the older generation about the Internet.

After much thought, I decided to try my hand at devising a simple plan to try to teach them how to be more infocomm savvy. Instead of telling them what to press when on a certain website, I started asking them to try randomly clicking on different tabs and read the tabs on their own(they are literate so of course this works! :P). The only instruction I give them was what information it is which I want to find and encouraged them to apply the same application methods used when they are using the internal video archive search on the company's system. Initially, they were unable to find the stuff but slowly, they began to be able to find the infomation I asked for. It took double or triple the time the average Singaporean would need when finding something using an online search engine.

Why are there so many problems with the older generation using the Internet?

I feel that it is mainly their mindset which hinders their learning of new things on the Internet. Many would tell me that they are old and the system is new so "it is impossible for them to use it". This was quoted by some of them. Hearing this made me feel that we have to change their fixed mindset totally before we can actually teach them about the Internet. Even though the government has pumped in millions to encourage the older generation to take lessons on infocomm, I feel that the fundamental problem of their conservative mindset must first be changed.

This might be solved by first educating the older generation about the benefits of the Internet and the convenience of using them, such as paying bills online and so on. By allowing them to apply the Internet in their daily lives, it will help in changing their mindset on the Internet being negative and hard to use.

By solving this problem, I feel that there will also be societal advantages. The older and younger generation will be able to understand one another better. There will also likely be more common topics between the young and old.

Internet and Journalism

Here's a video I found on Youtube. Do take a look at it. It's about what is citizen journalism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58iZpMRclwI

I personally feel that citizenship journalism is an important alternative to traditional journalism. Although it might not be as objective as traditional journalism is, in fact it might be extremely biased, when reporters or journalists are unable to be at a particular place at a particular time to see what happened, citizens themselves are important secondary tools to provide information on what actually happened. By sharing with journalists or reporters about what happened, it is already a form of journalism.

It is interesting how major news agencies in the world such as BBC and CNN are turning to the Internet to spread breaking news. They have their online news websites, facebook accounts and even twitter accounts.

With every breaking news comes a post or a tweet on twitter. It shows how journalism is merging with technology. We see victims of earthquakes and tsunamis using whatever technology they can find or access to spread the news about what exactly is happening at wherever they are.

According to some friends in disaster stricken countries, there have been cases of victims getting help by posting their location online. I was really surprised upon hearing this. I've always felt that it is probably a useful tool in spreading news. However, never has it struck me that it can be used as a emergency tool to ask for help!

In addition, with citizens themselves posting online in the event of a natural disaster, we can get a clearer picture of what is happening on scene before reporters, journalists, cameramen and soundmen actually gain access to these places. Furthermore, it is known that governments do request the media to cover some of the truths in order to prevent panic in their own people. Hence, it is difficult for people from other countries to gain a true picture of what has happened and to decide how much help or aid to send to that country if the need arises.

With that said, however, I feel that many citizens who post their take on occurrences online do not verify their facts before writing about something. This results in inaccurate reporting. Also, many do not take responsibility for what they post online, thinking that once they remove a post, there won't be any trace of it left online. Therefore, I think that we still need time to educate the general public on taking responsibility for whatever he or she writes on the Internet.