Telecare system would check the identities of both patient and doctor

A Telecare system that incorporates biometric data promises to improve the safety and security of vulnerable and elderly people living alone.

Working in collaboration with Kent University’s School of Engineering and Digital Arts (EDA), information specialist Inmezzo is developing methods to identify individuals through face and voice-pattern recognition. As this technology becomes more widespread and integrated into existing healthcare models, security and sensitivity of data will become paramount, said EDA’s Prof Michael Fairhurst.

“If you are delivering medical advice, you need to be pretty sire the person you thing you’re exchanging information with is the right person,” he said. “Biometrics allows you to do that in the most fundamental and reliable way.”

The project – supported by the Technology Strategy Board” is exploring ways to make it easier for clients to access telecare systems and also to authorise service providers and visitors.

Inmezzo’s Tim Craig explained one way in which this technology might be implemented. “If you think of a user coming up to the computer to have a video session with their GP, first she’ll probably press a button which will take a picture and say “Hello Mo, please say your name” and then she will choose who she wishes to speak to. They don’t have to remember a pin code, or bring their smart card with them.

“From the service provider’s point of view, they can get onto a machine that’s got the service and be recognised as authorised to look after that person – you don’t just have to be a doctor, you have to be a particular doctor who’s looking after that person.”

Inmezzo is currently working with Stoke Mandeville Hospital to develop a system for outpatients.

Sourced from "the Engineer" magazine 

BY ANDREW CZYZEWSKI