Widespread use of ambient intelligence / ubiquitous computing / social media
Citizens increasingly use a range of devices to enhance and assist their lives, enabling them to, for example, stay in contact with other members of their communities or access emergency alarms and cognitive support.
The trend towards greater numbers of powerful and interconnecting information systems being embedded in an increasing range of consumer devices and appliances (and potentially in elements of the urban, transport and home environments) is liable to continue. Potentially, such systems will be incorporated into clothes and jewellery, and within bionic systems such as hip replacements and heart pacemakers. However, there is a concern with the proliferation of consumer devices as opposed to the rolling-out of monitoring systems through health services. One result may be rapid peer-to-peer (P2P) spreading of information and disinformation about public health ideas, including views about care regimes and rights. Family members could learn about quality of care of relatives; self-help regimes in exercise, food supplements, and the like might spread rapidly; lobbies and protests could be quickly organised; 'big society' initiatives in emergency responses may develop.
The advent of PCs and mobile phones meant big changes in some aspects of public health behaviour, and more changes can be expected, among which could be the "creative destruction of medicine". Some limits to interoperability may be created through incompatible standards. There is potential for error, such as confusion as to whose devices are being accessed, as well as misuse (e.g. hacking).
Sources or references
- Wikipedia
- ISTAG studies such as “Ambient Intelligence: from vision to reality” (2003)
- “Ambient Intelligence 2020” - EFMN Brief
- David Wright, Serge Gutwirth, Michael Friedewald et al., Safeguards in a World of Ambient Intelligence, Springer, Dordrecht, 2008
- Crowdsource your health: Lucien Engelen
- The Creative Destruction of Medicine: How the Digital Revolution Will Create Better Health Care (2012) Topol, E.J Basic Books, 2012
Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.
