title: [Facing the challenges of ubiquitous computing in the health care sector].
abstract: The steady progress of microelectronics, communications and information technology will enable the realisation of the vision for "ubiquitous computing" where the Internet extends into the real world embracing everyday objects. The necessary technical basis is already in place. Due to their diminishing size, constantly falling price and declining energy consumption, processors, communications modules and sensors are being increasingly integrated into everyday objects today. This development is opening up huge opportunities for both the economy and individuals. In the present paper we discuss possible applications, but also technical, social and economic barriers to a wide-spread use of ubiquitous computing in the health care sector.
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer-Institut für System- und Innovationsforschung, Karlsruhe.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Georgieff
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friedewald
mesh_terms: D040561:Assisted Living Facilities / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000639:trends; D001675:Bioethics; D016494:Computer Security / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000639:trends; D003199:Computer Systems / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000639:trends*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D005544:Forecasting; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000639:trends*; D008491:Medical Informatics Applications; D008492:Medical Informatics Computing / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000639:trends*; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000639:trends; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000639:trends*; D009816:Office Automation / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000639:trends; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000639:trends; D013686:Telemetry / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000639:trends