Integrated Healthcare
Information Services
Through Mobiles (IHISM)
Henry Nyongesa
University of Botswana
Digital Exclusion
Digital exclusion is most evident in Africa
Attributable to poor communications
infrastructure in most countries
Case: Mobile telephony in Botswana
80% of communication lines are cellular
80% of the populated areas covered
1 in 2 adults has access to a mobile phone
Mobile telephony represents the best solution for
digital inclusion in Africa (computer literacy is still
low; HCI is not natural)
Information Therapy
Ignorance and lack of access to relevant
information is a major contributor to morbidity
and mortality in Africa
Information can be a powerful form of therapy
Personalized Information is provided to patients as
part of therapy regimen
Minimize visits to physicians for patients suffering from
chronic conditions, such HIV/AIDS
Need for access to information
when patients migrate
IHISM Project Overview
Information to compliment clinical management
of HIV/AIDS
Development
Portals for mobile telephony information access
Models for user information needs
Multimedia local content
Pilot and evaluate (proof of concept)
Pilot application, evaluate effectiveness of services
Infrastructure and capacity building
Researchers: Social/scientists, carers
Community: Application providers, end-users
Germane Issues
Representation of individual user
information needs
How to identify patients in a mobile set-up
Geographical context of the project
Acquisition, translation and presentation of
multimedia content in local languages
Information presentation for users who are
semi-literate or illiterate
Natural Interaction
Needs Analysis
Automatic Reminders
Evaluate effectiveness of such reminders
Surveys and Research
Privacy/Confidentiality/Security
Databases of FAQ
Personal Information Agents
Transmission of (PDA) Field Data
Mobile Video
Conferencing (Telemedicine)
Research Issues
Text to Speech
Audio Output
Speech Recognition
Recognize standard speech input
Natural Graphical Languages
Geographical-context Graphic Icons
IHISM Overview
Conclusion
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for more
than 85% of HIV/AIDS sufferers
14 million children are orphaned
by HIV/AIDS, 11 million of them in Africa
A multi-faceted approach is needed
to combat the epidemic
Provide
Technology to assist clinical management of HIV/AIDS
Empower sufferers and carers with information
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