But one morning in mid-April, Bouwens' tears turned to smiles when, thanks to the use of Internet videoconferencing technology, her world expanded at the touch of a proverbial button. Without leaving her hospital bed, soon Bouwens was sitting in front of a computer screen, waving and talking to friends and teachers at her middle school back home whom she hadn't seen in months. They could hear and see her, too, from a personal computer at school. The only equipment needed at each end is a networked computer and an inexpensive video camera. Once connected, sound can be transmitted through a telephone or a computer-adaptable microphone.
Parties also can communicate by typing messages over the computer keyboard.
The PC can be a very therapeutic tool. Nationally, the use of videoconferencing on patient units is quite unique, says Arslanovski, also a computer consultant with the U-M School of Engineering. Imagine being isolated in a hospital room, feeling nauseated, extremely tired, weak and uncertain about the future. On top of that, you're losing your hair and don't feel like doing a thing. This will hopefully be able to uplift patients and provide a little connection and allow them to talk with others going through the same thing.