Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
16.2.3.3.2 Experimental Results
Problems identified during the PCTA protocols were collected and matched with the heu-
ristic analysis of the first evaluation phase. All of the subjects found 19 problems: 9 of
which were related to visual performance and 11 to auditory performance. The one-way
analysis of variance (ANOVA), performed by SPSS 18 on task completion times for each
layout, shows no significant differences (
p
> 0.05) between the two groups and between
the kind of layout—layered layout (sighted M = 50.25”, blind M = 132.5”), Spiral TreeMap
layout (sighted M = 263.25”, blind M = 236”)—whereas considerable difference was found
on the Radial layout (F(1,6) = 13,690;
p
< 0.05). The analysis of the SUS score shows no sig-
nificant differences (
p
> 0.01) between the two participants' groups. Therefore, because
these results highlight similar levels of efficacy, efficiency, and satisfaction between the
two groups for both information presentation modalities, the sonificated modality and the
visual modality performances seem to be homogeneous.
16.3 The Telemedicine: The Nu!Reha Desk
16.3.1 Introduction to Telemedicine
During last 15 years, intensive development of technological applications in the fields of
medicine and rehabilitation has been observed, with the main reason being technological
development [mainly in information and communication technologies (ICT)] itself, which
is “horizontally” influencing all of the frameworks of our lives, but also the increasing
demand of innovative services. Many definitions have been applied to identify these ser-
vices on the basis of the specific application (i.e., telecardiology) and the specific technology
used (Internet based, mobile carrier based), but the most usable and comprehensive term
is still “medicine at a distance.” This definition introduces two fundamental concepts tele-
medicine is a specific realization in the framework of “traditional” medicine, and the abil-
ity to influence people's well-being, health. and therapy at a distance. Another important
aspect is the chance to apply the concept of distance interaction to management and the
“social” activities linked to medical services, such as the need for a second opinion, tele-
consulting, the safety monitoring of disabled and elderly people, and medical education
(online courses, blended learning) (Mair et al. 2000; Wootton 2001). In this sense “telemedi-
cine” is a large framework encompassing a number of different activities, both front- and
back-office, in the medical and paramedical sectors, which are largely affecting organiza-
tional profiles and educational activities (curricular and continuous medical education).
The diffusion of telemedicine is not clearly confined into geographical boundaries:
Many examples are found in developed countries as well as in emerging economies and
underdeveloped countries. The applications of telemedicine are clearly chosen on the basis
of needs and cost/benefit balances with different results, i.e., the application of remote
services in the case of war scenarios or adverse natural occurrences (Llewellyn 1995). In
some cases, some applications are recognized as part of a well-known intervention proto-
col (Pettersen et al. 1999; Salvador et al. 2005).
The variety of applications is increasing because they belong to different areas of medi-
cine. The first applications reported just focused on teleradiology, telepathology, and
telecardiology because they manage easy-to-transmit data even with a low bandwidth
connection.
