Ensuring privacy of information repositories. Developing robotics and remote visualization methods to support applications such as telepresent surgery. Doctors use teleconferencing and telesensing to interview and examine patients. Surgical procedures can be demonstrated with Internet-based video. High-end systems provide expert advice.
Patients access biomedical information, gaining empowerment to make decisions.
Need bi-directional engineering development processes linked with business processes. Complex designs done via computer simulations. All parties, including end users, participate in the process. Safer products, higher quality, lower costs. Research problems have become more complex and interdisciplinary.