Health Informatics and Artificial Intelligence: the next big thing in health/aged care

Transcription

1 Health Informatics and Artificial Intelligence: the next big thing in health/aged care Professor Michael Blumenstein Griffith University ACSA National Conference, Adelaide Tuesday, September 9 th 2014

2 Outline Brief overview of Griffith Areas of current and emerging interest in Health Informatics Application of 3D Virtual Worlds in Health Computer vision and imaging in health research 2

3 School of ICT Brief Overview 28 Staff in the School, most of which are aligned with the Institute for Integrated and Intelligent Systems (IIIS) Areas of Strength: Artificial Intelligence (KR, Machine Learning, Pattern Recognition) and Image Processing (ERA rating of 4 Number 1 in Queensland) Semantic Web, Data Mining and Big Data Robotics and Autonomous Systems Network Security Computational Biology 3

4 IIIS Flagship Programs Environmental Informatics Computational Biology Health Informatics On-line collaborative strategic planning Adoption of PCEHR and EMR Systems Biological neuron classification for prevention of disease (e.g. Alzheimer's and Parkinson s) Application of 3D Virtual Worlds in Health 4

5 3D Virtual Worlds (3DVWs) A 3DVW is a computer-generated, simulated, networked, graphic and multimedia environment, usually running on the web, and designed so that multiple users can live in and interact via their own digital and graphical self-representations known as avatars. New generation of social media A kind of online serious gaming Persistent these worlds exist even when users are not logged in Share most of the capabilities of virtual reality (VR) technologies 5

6 Virtual lab Griffith University 6

7 3D virtual worlds for health care 3DVWs offer improved experiences to users in relation to health care and e-health They currently feature a number of medical and health-related projects They offer opportunities for patients, physicians, providers, educators, and health care institutions to improve both the quality and efficiency of care, treatment, and education 7

8 Systematic Literature review Recently, we have conducted a systematic literature review to characterise different application areas of various 3D virtual Worlds for health care. 8

9 Systematic Literature review 9

10 Taxonomy of application areas of 3DVWs in health care 10

11 Main health care contexts Nursing Lifestyle Psychology Surgical purposes Clinical / Medical purposes Public health Healthcare logistics Emergency Radiotherapy E-Health marketing Safety Healthcare higher education Pharmacy. 11

12 Social Isolation and aged care Is the act of withdrawing from society and people Individuals with social isolation usually do not have much interaction with others This is especially prominent among elderly people 12

13 3DVWs and Social Isolation 3DVWs offer interesting opportunities for social interaction Individuals with social isolation have the potential to benefit from these new immersive environments in several ways People have a tendency to interact and socialise through these kinds of tools People have the ability to create their own avatars, which can participate in an interactive social environment without any restrictions 13

14 Isolation of the elderly and 3DVWs Ability to login and navigate in various lands within 3DVWs providing information and learning Getting educated about social isolation and other issues of a medical nature Communicate to other people using their own avatars Access to a vast variety of immersive experiences that more closely approach the complexities of a real-world specification Ability to experience virtual realities, which are not easily accessible in the real world 14

15 Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence Big Data and machine learning The 'Internet of Things' why is it important? Connectivity of every device and sensor through the internet Smart Cities Humanoid/lifelike Robots too soon? What do we have to worry about from automated artificially intelligent aides? 15

16 Artificial Intelligence & Robotics 16

17 Health-related imaging Medical imaging, Computer vision, & image processing MRI/fMRI for disease and cognition studies: in collaboration with Gold Coast University Hospital Retinal image analysis Pattern Recognition, machine learning, & Bioinformatics Visual speech, behavioural Biometrics 17

18 Barriers to adoption The aged care context adoption of technology: a technical viewpoint Provision of technology that is of actual benefit high/low risks in IT (e.g. security issues) IT departments: control vs. customer focus High speed broadband why is it essential in Australia and where are we at? Regional focus and telemedicine What are the obstacles for having a world-class broadband network? 18

19 Summary Technology as a "social or a "work enabler" People may need to do work differently, but this should not be seen as a threat to existing practices Technology can be used to enhance/optimise Can also have a positive effect on health/aged care, if the right environment exists with appropriate buy-in 19

20 End Thank you for your attention. 20