Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Technology

personal health information management 367A number of challenges to the growth of the PC industryhave also emerged. As more and more of the activity ofPC users began to focus on the Internet, some companiesbegan to host office applications on servers (see applicationservice provider). Some pundits began to say thatwith applications being moved to remote servers or offeredover the corporate LAN, the PC on the desk could bestripped down considerably. The “network PC” could makedo with a slower processor, less memory, and no hard drive,since all data could be stored on the server.Generally, however, the attempts to supplant the fullfeatured,general-purpose PC have made little progress.One reason is that the cost of complete PC has declined somuch that the supposed cost savings of a network PC orInternet appliance have become less significant. Further,privacy issues and the desire of people to have controlover their own data are often cited as arguments in favorof the PC.Ironically, the PC industry’s greatest challenge maycome from its very success. As more and more householdsin the United States and other developed countries havePCs, it becomes harder to maintain the sales rate. By theearly 2000s, the power of recent PCs had become so greatthat the desire to upgrade every few years may have becomeless compelling and the recent economic downturn has hitthe computer industry particularly hard. So far it looks likethe fastest-growing areas in computer hardware no longerinvolve the traditional desktop PC, but handheld (palm)computers (see PDA) and the embedding of more powerfulcomputer capabilities into other machines such as automobiles(see embedded systems).Further ReadingFreiberger, Paul, and Michael Swaine. Fire in the Valley: The Makingof the Personal Computer. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1999.Long, Larry. Personal Computing Demystified. Emeryville, Calif.:McGraw-Hill/Osborne, 2004.Polsson, Ken. “Chronology of Personal Computers.” Availableonline. URL: http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/comphist/.Accessed August 17, 2007.Thompson, Robert, and Barbara Fritchman Thompson. Buildingthe Perfect PC. Sebastapol, Calif.: O’Reilly, 2006.———. Repairing and Upgrading Your PC. Sebastapol, Calif.:O’Reilly, 2006.White, Ron, and Timothy Edward Downs. How Computers Work.8th ed. Indianapolis: Que, 2005.personal health information managementHealth care is at once a complex endeavor with many players,a vast industry, and a major expense of individuals,businesses, and governments. At the center of it all standsthe prospective patient (or consumer) seeking to maintainor restore health.While the health care industry has long been a majoruser of computer technology (see medical applicationsof computers), the modern Web has brought a variety ofservices (many free) that can help health care consumerslearn more about conditions and treatments and comparehospitals, doctors, and other providers.Medical Information SitesIn today’s health care environment patients often have onlya few minutes to ask their doctor important questions abouttheir condition and possible treatments. Patients often feelthey have been left on their own when it comes to obtainingdetailed information. According to surveys by the PewInternet & American Life Project, by the end of 2005 about20 percent of Web users were reporting that the Internet“has greatly improved the way they get information abouthealth care.” Further, 7 million users had reported thatWeb sites had “played a crucial or important role in copingwith a major illness.”A variety of Web sites ranging from comprehensive andexcellent to dubious (at best) offer health-related information.In evaluating them, it is important to determine whosponsors the site and what is the source of the informationprovided. The very extensive WebMD site, for example, isreviewed for accuracy by an independent panel of experts.One of the foremost medical institutions, the Mayo Clinic,also has an authoritative site. The site OrganizedWisdom.com offers a search engine that emphasizes informationthat has been reviewed by doctors for accuracy, while eliminatinglow-quality or duplicative results.Even if information is accurate, however, users mayoften lack the necessary background or context for interpretingit correctly. Understanding the results of medicalstudies, for example, requires some knowledge of how studiesare designed, the population used, and the statisticalsignificance and applicability of the results. As a practicalmatter, therefore, patients should not make any major decisionsabout diet, medication, or treatment options withoutconsulting a medical professional. Attempts at self-diagnosiscan be particularly problematic.Support Groups and Provider RatingsOn the other hand, carefully chosen online information canbe very useful and can even improve outcomes. Patients canlearn what questions to ask their physicians, and may evenbe able to suggest relevant information of which the physicianis unaware.During treatment, patients can find emotional andpractical support online. In keeping with the trend towardonline social cooperation (see social networking anduser-created content) a number of sites are helping consumersfind or create support groups. Such groups havelong been important, particularly for patients with conditionssuch as cancer or serious chronic disease. For example,DailyStrength.org offers 500 online support groups for agreat variety of conditions. Users can create online journalsto describe their daily struggles and can send supportivemessages and “hugs.” According to a 2007 report by the PewInternet & American Life Project, about half of adults withchronic conditions use the Internet regularly and extensivelyto help them manage their treatment and life issues.Selecting a compatible medical professional is anotherarea where online sites can help prospective patients. Userratings have proven helpful on Amazon.com and other sitesfor a variety of products and services (for example, Yelp.com and the popular Angie’s List). A site called RateMDs.