Application of intelligent technologies to safety and medical services in Japan: a patient-centric issue?
by Sed S. Saad
International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations (IJNVO), Vol. 6, No. 1, 2009

Abstract: This paper outlines selected wireless/mobile intelligent technologies services in Japan, such as Intelligent Transport Systems (ITSs) (available today or in the pipeline), where a 'ubiquitous society' has become a common goal. One of the ways to reach this common goal in Japan is to introduce advanced info-telecom technologies through ITS implementation. The concept of ITSs encompasses three main components: comfort, efficiency and safety. The main issue analysed in this paper will be the safety/medical component, with three specific services: (1) driving safety/vehicle sensor networking, (2) walking safety/pedestrian ITSs and (3) remediation to (driving/walking) safety failure/Emergency Medical Services (EMSs). This paper is a first attempt to analyse – from both vehicle-centric and user-centric perspectives – the trend of Research and Development (R&D) in wireless/mobile-based ITS safety/medical services in Japan. Such double perspectives are seldom mentioned in the ITS literature in general or in Japan. The main finding of the paper is that the ITS concept in Japan, although presented as aimed at society and users, has a very limited user-centric perspective, as further illustrated by the EMS ITS-based services where a recommendation is formulated to remediate to this lack of user-centric perspective in the Japanese ITS concept and reality.

Online publication date: Fri, 09-Jan-2009

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