Title: Information technologies: opportunities and challenges in personal healthcare systems

Authors: Wanli Ma; Dat Tran; Hong Lin; Shang-Ming Zhou; Byeongsang Oh; Gordon Waddington; Dharmendra Sharma; Mohammad A. Rahman; Ongard Sirisaengtaksin; Jennie Scarvell; Tim McGrath; Dat Huynh

Addresses: Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia ' Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia ' Department of Computer Science, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77002, USA ' Health Information Research Unit, College of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, Wales, UK ' Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA ' Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia ' Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia ' Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia ' Department of Computer Science, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77002, USA ' Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia ' Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia ' Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia

Abstract: The well-being of a person consists of two aspects, the physical and the psychological. Technological development makes it possible to mass-produce cheap sensors for personal use. The data collected provide objective and comprehensive personal health information. In this paper, we report our preliminary findings in applying modern information technology to personal healthcare systems. We are constructing a brain activity level model by using EEG signals to objectively measure the effectiveness of meditation, detect mental fatigue and boredom, and comprehend human emotions. Also we have used accelerometer and GPS data to assess sports performance and training enhancement, lower limb injury prevention and recovery monitoring, and falls prevention for aged people. Then we exploit the potential of Kinect devices in monitoring the movements of aged persons in their houses to prevent falls. Finally, we point out some remaining challenges and possible opportunities in using information technologies to deliver personal healthcare.

Keywords: data mining; machine learning; e-health; electronic healthcare; meditation; medical qigong; MQ; body movement; postural sway; electroencephalograms; EEG signals; accelerometer; global positioning systems; GPS; Kinect devices; information technology; personal healthcare systems; healthcare technology; sensors; brain activity modelling; mental fatigue; boredom; human emotions; sports performance; sports training enhancement; lower limb injuries; injury prevention; recovery monitoring; falls prevention.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2012.052564

International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 2012 Vol.13 No.5/6, pp.345 - 362

Received: 26 Mar 2012
Accepted: 02 Nov 2012
Published online: 15 Nov 2014 *

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