ITGS News

"In the past decade, school districts and states have spent more than a billion dollars to build and implement data systems. Data about student learning-and the systems that collect, organize, and report on this data-are what U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan calls "the driving force [behind education] reform.""

providing computers throughout the world to make a positive impact in education, health, and science

Links to short pieces about how donations of ICT makes positive impacts

"The African Medical Research and Education Foundation, is putting Computer Aid International PCs, together with scanners and digital cameras, into rural health clinics in some of the most isolated communities in Africa. From there, nurses and newly qualified doctors can email pictures via the internet to clinical specialists for instant expert diagnosis. By this mechanism people living in rural areas can have access to the best clinical diagnosis available and medical conditions can be treated promptly and accurately with life-saving consequences. "

"A Pennsylvania school district accused of secretly switching on laptop computer cameras inside students' homes is under investigation by federal authorities, a law enforcement official with knowledge of the case said."

"Systems like these - known in the industry as nurturing games - are built to require regular investments of time and, for fullest enjoyment, money. The games are usually hosted by social networks like Facebook, or can connect to such networks so friends can follow one another's progress. They feature living digital property - the crops in FarmVille or the fish in Happy Aquarium - that can die without care and feeding. At FooPets, death is averted because, after a short period of neglect, the pet goes to a FooShelter. (And reclaiming it becomes an expensive proposition.)"

Check out the insidious way such game producers get youngsters to pay actual money.

Critics also worry about possible negative effects on patient care. VA's inspector general recently investigated two deaths at a Colorado VA hospital that occurred while the patients were being monitored by cardiac telemetry, a form of telemedicine. "We substantiated the allegation that there were competency and training issues with medical support assistants and registered nurses assigned to telemetry," the IG wrote in the report dated Jan. 21. The report also notes that hospital managers had been informed of the telemetry problems before the deaths but had taken no action. VA managers agreed to evaluate the telemetry program in Colorado to ensure safety, and Linkous and Casscells said it was likely an isolated incident. However, more of the same can be expected, Deal predicts. "The rapid growth of the telemedicine industry will leave gaps in training and/or policy among its practitioners, which could spark an increase in litigation," he said.

Positive impacts of EHR on medical field

A mobile phone-based health project is helping the Peruvian military to keep disease at bay.

A mobile phone-based health project is helping the Peruvian military to keep disease at bay.

"The Millennium Villages use so-called telemedicine technology to improve health care. Health workers in the villages are given mobile phones and sent out to treat patients. After testing patients for various diseases, the workers send the results via text message to remote clinics and are told which treatment to provide. "It is a very wonderful system," Mr Sachs said. "It empowers providers in the community to get very powerful results.""

Economist argues that the West can afford $32bn for Africa, after a pilot scheme proves to be a success in reducing poverty and increasing HIV awareness. Poverty is decreasing in the village which is creating a drastic change. The people of the village are effected by this because they are part of the area affected. Just like the on in class, the area of interactions is health and the IT system is telemedicine, as well as computer devices. The major issues regarding this article are as follows: people and machines is one of the better ones because the machines are shaping the lives of different humans. Change is being established, which usually leads to both good and bad things.

"What IBM has shown is that with some simple off-the-shelf components and some clever software, telemedicine can give patients back one of the most precious things their treatment takes from them: their time."

But not everyone on dialysis now needs to visit the hospital every other day. Jonas Drawitsch lives 40km from Heidelberg's children's clinic but thanks to a system set up by IBM, he puts in his six hours of dialysis during his sleep and doctors check his progress at a distance. Every day Jonas takes his blood pressure and weighs himself. The measurements go via bluetooth to a mobile phone which then sends the information to the hospital.

Just for fun

"A new method of digital rights management (DRM) which relies on a user's profile has been pioneered by Aboriginal Australians."

Not your usualy DRM issues. Interesting twist.