The mandate of the Applied Health Sciences Computing Office is to provide a wide range of computing and consulting support for students, faculty and staff of Applied Health Sciences. The Computing Office maintains several Unix servers for general computing and especially for the analysis of large statistical databases. The Computing Office also maintains a Waterloo Polaris network for students that provides access to a full range of PC-based software, including Windows applications, word processing, graphics software and statistical applications. Internet access is provided for World Wide Web availability including e-mail. In the research labs, many other forms of computing and testing equipment are supported.
Equipment varies by area of study and includes highly specialized commercial and custom equipment.
Computing and statistical consulting are provided on a regular basis. Courses on the use of equipment and software are offered frequently both by the Applied Health Sciences Computing Office and by Information Systems and Technology. Health Studies and Gerontology The Health Studies academic plan provides students with an integrated curriculum that combines the behavioural, biological, social, and health sciences in the examination of contemporary problems in health promotion and disease prevention. The plan explores the causation and prevention of diseases that contribute significantly to chronic disability and premature death, increased medical and social costs, and reduced quality of life. Of primary interest is the role of personal risk factors and societal determinants of health of individuals and populations throughout the life span.