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PubMed1979

Speech audiometry by a speech synthesizer. I. A preliminary report.

A preliminary report on speech test results with a portable, text-to-speech synthesizer is presented. The differentiation scores achieved at speed 80 words/min vary. So far the best mean differentiation scores in normal material are 75%. The increase of the presentation level improves the differentiation score, as does the decrease of word speed and training. The future and present uses of this system are discussed. These include: devices for the handicapped, e.g. to produce speech for the mute, man-machine communication through speech in industry control, data processing systems and uses in audiological diagnostics. The study is continued.

Adult↗

PubMed1978

A minicomputer system for display and rate analysis in vectorcardiography.

A system has been constructed for recording vectorcardiographic signal with a FM taperecorder. Off-line AD-conversion and analysis of rates and magnitudes of partial vectors are made with a minicomputer. The reason for studying particularly initial vectorrates is that according to our hypothesis these contain valuable information for classification of certain cardiac arrythmias according to supraventricular or ventricular impulse focus. Preliminary results confirm the hypothesis. In vectorcardiography one difficulty is to give an easily comprehensible presentation of the vectorloop. In this study a method for '3-dimensional' display has been developed, using a graphic display processor and varying intensities of the beam. The system is to a high degree man-machine interactive.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neurophysiological approach to the design of visual prostheses: a theoretical discussion.

This paper deals with the design of systems of sensory substitution of vision in case of blindness. Using the rules of man-machine interactions, one proposes the following optimal design for sensory substitution systems. A model of the visual system might process visual information similarly to its natural counterpart in order to deliver a signal comparable to the one reached in polysensory nervous structures. Then this artificial signal might reach these associative structures through a substitutive sensory system. To achieve this aim, one might model this substitutive system, reverse the information flow, and then trust the natural substitutive system with the stimuli generated by this inverse model. As a result, this artificial system consists of a model of vision connected to an inverse model of the substitutive sensory system. It would first process visual information up to a complex level. Then it would translate this complex signal into coded substitutive stimuli. These stimuli, after processing by the sensory substitutive system, would evoke a vision-like perception.

Blindness↗

PubMed1992

A man-machine vision interface for sensing the environment.

This study describes a computer vision approach for sensing the environment with the intent of helping people with a visual impairment. The principal goal in applying computer vision is to exploit, in an optimal fashion, the information acquired by the camera(s) to yield useful descriptions of the viewed environment. The objective is to seek efficient and reliable guidance cues in order to improve the mobility needs of individuals with a visual impairment. In this research direction, the following problems are identified and addressed: 1) the vision system design; 2) establishment of the mapping principles between the two-dimensional (2-D) camera images and the three-dimensional (3-D) real world; 3) development of appropriate imaging techniques for the interpretation of the 2-D images; and, 4) establishment of a communication link between the vision system and the user. The soundness of this research direction is assessed by means of a theoretical framework and experimental evaluations.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1976

[Clincio-electroencephalographic syndromes in several diseases of the nervous system].

An analysis of the indices of bioelectrical brain activity and clinical symptoms was accomplished by a computer according to the principle "man-machine". The authors examined 2 groups of patients with some hereditary forms of diseases of the nervous system (62 cases) and with disorders of cerebral circulation (106 cases). It was demonstrated that there is a possibility of clarifying the typical localization of lesion and of differentiating the different clinico EEG syndromes.

Central Nervous System Diseases↗

PubMed1987

SIMIPS: secondary ion mass image processing system.

A secondary ion mass image processing system (SIMIPS) is presented as a quantitative image analysis tool, with emphasis on an efficient man-machine interface. The combined applications of digital image processing and pattern recognition ensure an intelligent problem-resolving scheme and optimal extraction of information. The system performance is evaluated, and typical applications are presented to illustrate the versatility and usefulness of SIMIPS in analyzing digital images.

Colon↗

PubMed1989

Querying medical databases in an environment offering logical data independence.

Medical information systems are becoming popular. Furthermore, their use is expected to be expanded in future. In order to easily extract information from the underlying databases, easy to use man-machine interfaces are required. This paper concerns the doctor interface of the ARPIA medical information system based on a relational database management system. The whole system is currently used inside the Outpatient Pediatric Clinic of the Catholic University of Rome, Italy. The interface provides logical data independence towards the underlying relational database. The paper contains some background about this kind of interfaces, and also, it sketches the software architecture of the implemented prototype.

Database Management Systems↗

PubMed1990

Functionality of the ARPIA ambulatory information system.

Although database-based medical information systems are becoming popular, experiments done by researchers tell us that physicians still do not fully accept them. Key factors for changing physicians' practice habits are the availability of more powerful methods and tools for interactive data acquisition and retrieval. Problems involving human engineering usually require the identification of and experimentation with many novel approaches before the most suitable answer is discovered. ARPIA is an ambulatory information system experimenting on the effectiveness and acceptability (by medical users) of new intelligent and friendly interaction techniques and tools. In particular, it tests a novel flexible dialogue-based man-machine interface offering physical and logical data 'independence' during retrieval operations. Other features of the system are: a fast and robust data acquisition environment; a text- and picture-based data presentation and report generation facility; finally, a set of modules offering the ambulatory staff effective assistance in some extra complex interactive tasks. A user-oriented description of the main functionality of ARPIA is given; users' feedback summarizing almost 2 years of usage of the system is also reported.

Ambulatory Care Information Systems↗

PubMed1988

A week in the life of Mary: the impact of microtechnology on a severely handicapped person.

Microtechnology has an important role to play in maximizing the independence of severely handicapped people, especially those with few reliable voluntary movements. Such movements must be harnessed efficiently to provide control over all aspects of life including communication, mobility and the immediate environment. To highlight the role of microtechnology in the day to day life of a severely handicapped person living at home, a case study is presented. The systems Mary uses for communication and environmental control are described and their limitations discussed. Adaptive man-machine interfaces are proposed and foreseeable developments in the fields of speech technology and robotics are considered. Successful introduction of high technology devices requires a full appreciation of medical and social factors as well as those relating to the technology. This is achieved through close partnership between the clinical engineer and the rehabilitation consultant to the benefit of the severely handicapped person.

Communication Devices for People with Disabilities↗

PubMed1989

Computer-aided decision support in clinical medicine.

This paper reviews the problems and prospects involved in providing computer-aided decision support in clinical medicine. First, the evaluation of medical innovation is discussed. It is suggested that there are three criteria by which an innovation may be judged, namely (1) a need for the innovation, (2) the ability of the innovation to fulfil that need and (3) the ability to do so without transgressing practical, ethical or legal boundaries. These problems are addressed in turn. The paper suggests, taking one area of clinical medicine as an example (acute abdominal pain) there is a clear need for decision support--since the area is not handled well by doctors in current practice. Evidence is adduced to suggest that the computer can provide decision support and do so without transgressing professional, ethical or legal boundaries. The obstacles to progress, which stand in the way of widespread implementation are briefly discussed. These are lack of medical terminology, poor man-machine interface and above all a lack of co-ordination. Finally, it is suggested that the most valuable facet of current systems is the discipline and precision in data collection they impose upon practicing doctors.

Attitude to Computers↗

PubMed1988

Knowledge-based educational systems.

In knowledge-based educational systems, the key concept is that information and procedures are represented in the same data structure. These structures can search for each other in flexible and, consequently, very robust ways. At the Air Force Human Resources Laboratory (AFHRL), our researchers are building computer environments that know what they know, know how people can best use them, and know how to draw inferences about their state--self-referential electronic tutors. In September 1986, artificial intelligence researchers participated in AFHRL's Research Planning Forum for Intelligent Tutorial Systems (ITS). This essay reviews the state of the philosophy, art, and science of artificial intelligence (AI) approaches to education. Then it summarizes the research issues which were presented, discussed, and better defined in this Forum--namely the nature and representation of 1) expertise modules, 2) student diagnostic modules, 3) adaptive instructional and curriculum modules, 4) instructional environments, and 5) man-machine interfaces. Advances in artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and instructional discourse have provided a means for investigating human learning, for representing an individual's own "knowledge processing." Research and development in knowledge-based educational systems seems promising, not only for helping people learn how to perform complex tasks, but also for explicitly expressing how people learn to learn. Therefore, would it not be wise to establish a scientific legacy for the development of effective knowledge-based tutorial systems which is informed by the best studies of mind and meaning, language and thought, purpose and paradox?

Artificial Intelligence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

AIDA and medical courseware.

For more than a decade the Department of Medical Informatics has offered one-week training courses on the subject of computer applications in medicine and health care. Since 1983 two courses are given at a rate of one course every two weeks. One course is on programming and problem solving and consists of three modules of increasing complexity in techniques and methods in programming and structured system development. This course focusses on only some aspects of medical informatics: the development of a medical information system, and the problems occurring in the process of automation. These aspects, however, are dealt with in detail. To this end the students are trained in using the programming system MUMPS and the fourth-generation software package AIDA. The second, introductory course is an intensive training on several distinct areas of man-machine interactions. It contains lessons in the fields of communication and recording; storage and retrieval and databases; computation and automation; recognition and diagnosis; and therapy and control. This paper describes the use of AIDA in developing and maintaining lessons for the latter course, and the assistance of AIDA for teaching purposes in the former course.

Computer User Training↗

PubMed1989

Digital image display station performance requirements based on physician experience with a prototype system.

The authors report on observations of and interviews with physicians using a prototype digital image display and reporting station. While the users generally agree that image quality is clinically satisfactory, they are unanimous in their opinion that improvements in the man-machine interface are required before case review by this mechanism is clinically acceptable in a production environment. A model image and information user interface is presented. It was developed in answer to the needs of radiologists and referring physicians operating in the imaging department of a community acute-care facility. In such an environment images and related information must be communicated quickly and often simultaneously to different parts of the department and hospital. The user interface with the management system and the management system itself must address the varied functions and the needs of both the medical and clerical staff. Image enhancement processes, for example, must be restricted to those that quickly provide significantly more perceivable diagnostic information. Little-used processes that may occupy significant portions of the display and the console's computing power must be trimmed or eliminated.

Computer Systems↗

PubMed1990

The artificial substitution of missing hands with myoelectrical prostheses.

The fitting of upper-extremity amputees requires special efforts, and its significance has been increased by the development of myoelectrically controlled prosthetic arm. Although an artificial hand only represents a relatively modest substitute for the missing hand of human beings, the efforts of designers and the achievements of manufacturers should not go unnoticed. Because of the development of myoelectrically controlled prosthetic arm, the amputee's standard of function can be improved and a cosmetic and functional solution provided. For control of the electromechanical hand, muscular potentials are received from the residual limb surface, amplified in the electrodes, and transmitted as control signals to the distal area. An important factor in providing a successful fitting is a reliable man-machine connection. This article summarizes the historic development and state of the art of the myoelectrically controlled arm prosthesis. The components and technical evaluations of the Myobock system as well as the procedures for fitting and fabricating a below-elbow prosthesis have been improved recently. A critical analysis of adaptive hands suggests that the prospects for the future are good.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

XELE--a polypeptide model-building program for a graphics workstation.

A model-building program, XELE, for use in protein crystallography has been written in C under UNIX on a graphics workstation. This program makes full use of the X Window system to display the electron density distribution and to manipulate the polypeptide model, and therefore is named XELE. It utilizes a fast three-dimensional rendering package, Dorè, and is portable to other types of graphics workstations. A part of the program for the man-machine interface uses the library of X Window and X Toolkit, and therefore is highly interactive. The structure analysis program package, PROTEIN, is also implemented in an interactive mode using X Window, and has been interfaced with XELE.

Computer Graphics↗

PubMed1990

Integrated Broadband Communication (IBC) requirements of people with special needs.

In order to make the benefits of the Integrated Broadband Communication (IBC) services available to the largest possible part of the population, special attention should be given to user groups with special needs, such as elderly and handicapped people. For some of these groups the IBC services will facilitate their members socio-economic integration and offer them the opportunity to satisfy some of their everyday needs (e.g. video-telephony for the inter-personal communication of hearing impaired people). For some other categories (e.g. people with motor or sensory impairment), special design considerations are needed at a very early stage of technical development, in order to ensure that they are not prevented from using future sophisticated telecommunication services (e.g. by incorporating appropriate man-machine interaction techniques in general purpose terminals, adapting the user interface of terminals, etc.). This paper gives an overview of the work that is currently taking place within the framework of the Research and development on Advanced Communication in Europe (RACE) programme.

Communication Devices for People with Disabilities↗

PubMed1978

MEDLINE searching and retrieval.

The development of MEDLINE searching philosophy and methodology is described. Searcher requirements and capabilities in moving from a batch-mode linear operation to the iterative searching and retrieval provided by the random access mode of MEDLARS II are discussed. A detailed tutorial on searching methodology for individual queries is covered. Elements of search formulation include requestor interview, query analysis, presearching, technics of selecting terminology, formulation logic, adapting indexing protocol in the search, on-line man-machine interface, and retrieval analysis. Similar searching technics are utilized in producing the two basic types of MEDLINE publications, recurring bibliographies (RBs) and literature searches (LSs). RBs are co-operative ventures between the NLM and professional organizations or other government agencies. LSs are NLM sponsored non-recurring bibliographies on a topic of current but also general interest to the medical community. All publications are produced through the retrieval and publication systems of MEDLARS II and graphic arts composing equipment. At the beginning of the 1978 publication year there were 27 RBs in routine production including Index Medicus. Through 1977, over 375 LSs had been produced.

MEDLARS↗

PubMed1987

Resistance to computerization. An examination of the relationship between resistance and the cognitive style of the clinician.

The introduction of computer technology into the health care environment has been fraught with difficulty. The literature has identified that while there are many applications that have been successfully implemented, there are many others that have met significant resistance. As such, the diffusion of computer technology has been scattered and uneven in the health care arena. Some scholars attribute the problems of resistance to structural variables such as value conflicts, power conflicts, and ones that involve the man-machine interface. Other view the resistance as process-oriented, citing such key factors as inadequate training, lack of user involvement, and discomfort due to organizational change. It is held here that the essence of resistance to computerization in clinical settings is based upon the difference between the cognitive style of the user and that required by the computer. It appears that since the decision-making methods of the user tend to favor intuitive processes, he or she becomes more resistant to using a system that forces qualitative information into quantitative niches. This study examines the cognitive style of two groups of health care providers within a hospital, and attempts to provide insight into how personal decision-making processes are related to resistance to computerization. It is suggested that a more thorough understanding of this relationship will enhance the ability of health care facilities to implement new systems in the future.

Adult↗