Medical GRID and E-learning in the virtual hospital

Abstract

The development of virtual hospitals and digital medicine helps to bridge the digital divide between different regions of the world and enables equal access to high-level medical care. As data and computing resources in a virtual hospital are distributed over many sites the concept of the Grid should be integrated with other communication networks and platforms. A promising approach is the implementation of service-oriented architectures for an invisible grid, hiding complexity for both application developers and end-users. An example of a promising medical application of Grid technology is the real-time 3D-visualization and manipulation of patient data for individualized treatment planning. Global networks and the use of computers for educational purposes stimulate and support the development of virtual universities for elearning. Especially real-time interactive applications can play an important role in tailored and personalised services. However, it takes more than just technology to move from pure e-learning towards the full expansion of ubiquitous access to educational services, anytime and anywhere (u-learning). © 2008 Springer-Verlag.