The Impact of Computer Science on Health Care & Medicine
The Impact of Computer Science on Health Care & Medicine
Abstract Computer science can be defined as the systematic study of algorithmic processes, their theory, design, analysis, implementation and application. Its functions in the modern society today expand far beyond the uses one could even begin to imagine. Specifically, there is an increased influence in its practical application in the field of medicine. In recent times, an interdependent relationship between medicine and technology itself has been developed that did not exist before. Modern healthcare relies heavily on the application of computer technology in furthering its advancement of bioinformatics, biotechnology, artificial organ technology, robotic surgery as well as the process of medical diagnostics. Medicine is the science of treatment and healing of health and illness and has been documented to originate from as early as the prehistoric age. Surgical operations have been recorded to exist since the ancient Egyptian civilizations, in which they utilized knives, hooks, spoons, and pinchers in their crude surgeries. However, despite these early manifestations of medicinal practices, the lack of proper health care was apparent through the deficient development and involvement of technology with medicine. The Bubonic Plague in the 14th and 15th century wiped out a devastating one-third of Europe’s entire population due to the complete lack of decent diagnostics and vital vaccines, two elements, related to technology, that were critical to the downfall of Europe during the Black Death. History serves as a testament to the impact that the contributions of the technology have on the advances in medicine. More in-depth research in medicine was made possible with technological discoveries, such as the microscope, and made way for the breakthroughs in microbiology, vaccines, and many other fields. As the study of computer science was introduced to human societies in
Abstract Computer science can be defined as the systematic study of algorithmic processes, their theory, design, analysis, implementation and application. Its functions in the modern society today expand far beyond the uses one could even begin to imagine. Specifically, there is an increased influence in its practical application in the field of medicine. In recent times, an interdependent relationship between medicine and technology itself has been developed that did not exist before. Modern healthcare relies heavily on the application of computer technology in furthering its advancement of bioinformatics, biotechnology, artificial organ technology, robotic surgery as well as the process of medical diagnostics. Medicine is the science of treatment and healing of health and illness and has been documented to originate from as early as the prehistoric age. Surgical operations have been recorded to exist since the ancient Egyptian civilizations, in which they utilized knives, hooks, spoons, and pinchers in their crude surgeries. However, despite these early manifestations of medicinal practices, the lack of proper health care was apparent through the deficient development and involvement of technology with medicine. The Bubonic Plague in the 14th and 15th century wiped out a devastating one-third of Europe’s entire population due to the complete lack of decent diagnostics and vital vaccines, two elements, related to technology, that were critical to the downfall of Europe during the Black Death. History serves as a testament to the impact that the contributions of the technology have on the advances in medicine. More in-depth research in medicine was made possible with technological discoveries, such as the microscope, and made way for the breakthroughs in microbiology, vaccines, and many other fields. As the study of computer science was introduced to human societies in
Bibliography: Biotechnology. Available: http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Biotechnology. Last accessed 15 May 2011. Bonsor, K., Strickland, J.. (2000). Advantages of Robotic Surgery.Available: http://www.howstuffworks.com/robotic-surgery1.html. Last accessed 15 May 2011. COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN MEDICAL CARE. Available: http://www.sonic.net/~smcbooks/carrel/kelley48.html. Last accessed 15 May 2011. Exploring the History of Medicine. Available: http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/techniques.aspx. Last accessed 15 May 2011. Just the Facts: A Basic Introduction to the Science Underlying NCBI Resources. Available: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/primer/bioinformatics.html. Last accessed 15 May 2011. Ley, M. (2011). Paulien Hogeweg. Available: http://www.informatik.uni-trier.de/~ley/db/indices/a-tree/h/Hogeweg:Paulien.html. Last accessed 15 May 2011. Oak, M. Importance of Computers in Medicine. Available: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/importance-of-computers-in-medicine.html. Last accessed 15th May 2011.