Towards pervasive computing in health care – A literature review

Carsten Orwat, Andreas Graefe and Timm Faulwasser
BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 2008, 8:26
Literature surveyed 2002-6 Received 5/11/07 Accepted 19/6/08!
"Pervasive computing, ubiquitous computing, and ambient intelligence are concepts evolving in a plethora of applications in health care. In the literature, pervasive computing is loosely associated with the further spreading of miniaturized mobile or embedded information and communication technologies (ICT) with some degree of 'intelligence', network connectivity and advanced user interfaces . Because of its ubiquitous and unobtrusive analytical, diagnostic, supportive, information and documentary functions, pervasive computing is predicted to improve traditional health care . Some of its capabilities, such as remote, automated patient monitoring and diagnosis, may make pervasive computing a tool advancing the shift towards home care, and may enhance patient self-care and independent living. Automatic documentation of activities, process control or the right information in specific work situations as supplied by pervasive computing are expected to increase the effectiveness as well as efficiency of health care providers. For example, in hospitals pervasive computing has the potential to support the working conditions of hospital personnel, e.g., highly mobile and cooperative work, use of heterogeneous devices, or frequent alternation between concurrent activities . 'Anywhere and anytime' are becoming keywords – a development often associated with 'pervasive healthcare' . On the other hand, the social, economic and ethical concerns regarding the use of pervasive computing may detract from its acceptance and societal desirability, which is equally relevant to health care"

Breakdown of systems included by numerous categories and cross-categories: health care setting, users type, improvement aim, body subsystem, system function/s.