Transcript Hardware and Connectivity Solutions in Medical Education

Hardware and Connectivity
Solutions in Medical Education
Abbas Adesina Abdus-salam
Mayowa Owolabi
Introduction
• Three important concepts in ICT
– Information
– Communication
– Technology
Information
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Acquisition
Processing
Storage
Retrieval
Security
Validity and Reliability, Generalizability
Trusted sources/ resource
Communication
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Availability
Accessibility
Multi-format
Multi-platform
Security
Technology
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Hardware
Software
Interconnection
Security
Focus
• Hardware needed to achieve these objectives
Basic Concept
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Backend
Client Modules
Connectivity components
Power
Security
Accessories
Backend
• A effective ICT set up is like a Neural Network
Backend
• The center of activity where all the activities
of network is managed
• Usually invisible to end users
• Is the backbone of the system
• Must be resilient and have failsafe
mechanisms
• Possibly the most important component of an
ICT system
Backend
• Usually comprises of datacentres
• These are often rows and rows of servers
• Servers are computers whose basic functions are
to hold information needed by other computers
(called clients) and provide (i.e. serve) the
information as requested by the clients
• Servers often also incorporate ability to manage,
monitor and control the client machines
Servers
• Most servers are large computers called
Mainframes
Mainframe Computers
• Took their names from massive housing they
used to have in the past
• Usually multi-processor with massive amount
of RAM and storage
• Multiple NICs (Network Interface Cards) for
massive parallel data transfer
• Server grade custom made processors
• Are gradually being replaced by rack mounted
servers
Rack-Mounted Servers
Rack Mounted Servers
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Intel or AMD
Server Class processors
Massive memory and storage
Multiple NIC
Redundancy
Power support
Protection
Backups
Cloud Computing
• Different types of servers
– File servers
– Media Servers
– Proxy servers
– DNS servers
– Mail/Messaging servers
– Web servers
Vigilance
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Reliability
Redundancy
Resilience
Failsafe support
Mission critical use
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Reduced downtime
Greater durability
Fault tolerance
Reduced maintenance
Cost reduction
You can not run your servers on off the shelves desktop computers/components
Client Modules
• Visible to the end users
• Comprises of the terminals used to access the
information stored on the servers
• Could be stationary and mobile
• Could also be used to
prepare/procure/capture
information/materials to be stored on servers
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Client Modules
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Desktop Computers
Laptops and notebooks
Thin Clients
Hand held computers, PDAs, Smartphones
Displays and media players
Media capture/converter/renderer devices
Choice of Clients
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Operating System
Specifications
Future-proofing
Local support
Availability of technical staff
Maintenance
Compatibility with local resources and policies
Softwares and apps, Mobile office, navigation,
biomedical imaging
• Synchronisation, automated backups
Challenges
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Effective handling or mishandling
Staff training
Electricity
Obsolence
Hand-held Clients
Mobility
– Laptops
– Tablets
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Protection
Loss
– Note-taking
• Blackberry tablet
Theft
• Windows tablets (Windows 8)
Mobile Phones
Network and data
• Smartphones
safety
• Dumb phones
Other PDAs
• Tracking and
• iPaqs
• Palm PDAs
recovery eg SIM
• MP3 players (ipod, galaxy player, Sony walkman)
change alert, GPRS,
APN
• iPad
• Android tablets
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Challenges
Displays/Media Renderer
• Many teaching materials are becoming
increasingly multimedia
• Audio Notes
• Video recap of lectures
• Virtual classrooms
• Video Conferencing
• Recorded procedures-theatre sessions, case
scenarios etc.
• Interactive lecture modules
• Projectors
– Network
– Media rendering capability
– Other Xteristics; lumens, resolution
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Display panels
Touch enabled displays
3D displays and virtual labs
Head mounted display and Augmented reality
Intelligent whiteboard
Media Capture Devices
• Still Camera (Photo)
– Analogue (Film)
– Digital
– Xteristics; Sensor, Lens, Megapixels, Resolution, Zoom, Connectivity
• Video Camera
– Analogue
– Digital
– Xteristics; Image sensor, Lens, Resolution, Zoom, Connectivity
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Network cameras
Voice recorders
Media creation room (Studio)
Media storage and backup devices
Smartphones with dual cameras
Connectivity
• Previously we have focused on
– Creating information
– Storage
– Consumption
• Access
• Distribution
• Communication
• For effective use all hardware must be able to talk
to each other
• Lecturers need to be able to provide information
directly from their PC in the office or even out of
office on their mobile clients
• Students should be able to access information on
their PC in their hostels or elsewhere on their
mobile clients
• Network administrators must be able to control
the ICT setup from their offices and elsewhere
• Faculty members must be able to collaborate in
arranging teaching programs and research
• Remote upload of course materials, assignments,
student progress etc
• Remote access to online course materials, online
submission of assignments and online tutorials
• Video conferencing (Virtual classroom)
• Paid/Free
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IP Telephony
Access to library and other archival materials
Email
Internet access
Online provisioning of clients modules
BASIC NETWORK TOPOLOGY
Internet
Wireless Clients
Wired Clients
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Wireless Router/Hub
Hub
Networking
• Wire
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Coaxial
Copper
Cat 5/6 network cables
Fibre
• Wireless
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Wifi
Microwave
Satellite
Cellular
RF
DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine)
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INTRANET (LAN), wireless LAN
INTERNET (WAN)
VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK (VPN)
Remote Links
Personal Area Network (PAN)
WIRELESS HOTSPOTS
Portable hotspots
Mobile phone networks
Tethering
bluetooth
Security of information
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Firewall
Malware and virus/worms protection
Spam and phishing
Encryption
Password protection
invisibility
Power Support
• Fickle electricity situation
• Power failure leads to downtime and increases
cost
• Electrical surges, brownouts and power
outages can damage equipments
• Sudden power outages can result in substantial
data loss
• Power support is a crucial component of any
successful IT infrastructure
• Surge protectors
• AVRs
• UPS
– Offline/Line interactive
– Online
• Power backup
– Power generator
– Renewable power sources (Solar, Wind, Hydro)
– Battery backup with power inverters
Data Backup and Recovery
• Another important requirement
• Regular backup for quick recovery in case of
accident
• File backup or disk backup
• Disk redundancy
• On site backup and offsite backup