Computer science has massively impacted today's world, from landing men on the moon to running factories without human assistance. The healthcare industry is no exception, applying computer science for pursuits like drug discovery to artificial intelligence in medical research and development.
What is Computer Science
Computer Science, or simply CS, is the study of computers and computational systems. It became a field of study in the early 1960s, twenty years after ENIAC, the first modern computer, made its debut.
Unlike electrical and computer engineers, who focus on hardware, computer scientists deal mainly with software and software systems like those run on healthcare computers: their underlying computational principles and theories, software-hardware interactions, and computers' impact on society.
Subject matters one can find CS are numerous and include:
- Artificial intelligence (see below)
- Computer systems and networks
- Cybersecurity
- Database systems
- Human-computer interaction
- Numerical analysis
- Programming
- Software engineering
- Theory of computing
- Vision and graphics
Role of Computer Science in Medical Research
Medical researchers primarily use CS to process large datasets. One example is the electronic medical records (EMR) generated by hospitals and health facilities. Another dataset is the vast number of substances and their combinations used in drug discovery by the pharmaceutical industry.
Once researchers have done processing these datasets, computer science can also be applied to:
- Analyze biological data, such as protein structures and DNA sequences. From there, researchers can predict gene function, which could lead to new gene therapies and medicines.
- Identify pathogens, follow their patterns throughout the populace, and predict possible outcomes. Computer scientists can take the results to populate computer simulations and model scenarios to help test hypotheses of new treatments more efficiently.
- Draw upon the EMR and other health records like discharge summaries to produce new medicines, design treatments, and conduct clinical trials.
- Gather, examine, and respond to population data, such as emergency department usage by the economically disadvantaged. The results can then be used to develop public healthcare policy.
Computer science is also used extensively outside medical research, thanks in part to the digital transformation of healthcare. Web portal development, mobile healthcare apps, wearables, medical device and equipment design, and telemedicine can trace their development back to CS.
Impact of Artificial Intelligence on CS and Medical Research
Artificial intelligence is a relatively new field in computer science. AI focuses on machines performing tasks that only a human being can normally do: reasoning, decision-making, problem resolution, etc. Computer scientists are leveraging medical AI box PCs in medical research in various ways.
- Precise Diagnoses: Providers gather vast amounts of information on their patients, from their symptoms to test results to medical history. AI can analyze such complex medical datasets, aiding providers in making more accurate diagnoses while reducing the risk of misdiagnosis.
- Personalized Medicine: Computer scientists have designed AI systems to sort patient data based on individual genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. The AI can then recommend tailored treatment plans based on the results.
- Medical Imaging: AI algorithms can analyze medical images, such as X-rays and MRIs, to detect abnormalities far faster and in greater detail than a flesh-and-blood radiologist. Coupled with computer-aided diagnosis, such computers may free the specialists to handle more complex cases.
- Predictive Analytics: AI-ready PCs can sort patient data to identify patterns and predict potential health issues. Healthcare providers can then take preventative measures to ensure their patients' longer and more productive lives.
- Virtual Assistants: Computer science is tailoring AI-powered virtual assistants (VAs) like the popular ChatGPT to provide patients with personalized healthcare information and guidance. The healthcare industry hopes such VAs will reduce the burden on healthcare professionals and prevent physician burnout.
Powering Computer Science Through Cybernet Computers
Computer science is the field of study of computers and computing and how their use affects society. CS has plenty of applications in today's world, especially in handling large datasets. In the healthcare industry, CS is used in everything from discovering new medicines to medical research and development. AI is one of the newest specialties in CS, finding many uses in patient care and treatment.
Contact the team at Cybernet Manufacturing if you're in the market for PCs for your hospitals and medical clinics. They'll cover how Cybernet computers are built from the ground up to handle healthcare's many unique requirements. Our All-in-Ones and medical grade tablets are medical-grade, allowing them to be used safely around patients without interfering with nearby medical devices. Their fanless design makes them more reliable, while the sealed IP65-rated front bezel allows frequent cleaning, which is routine in healthcare. And if you're looking to bring artificial intelligence to your organization, check out our lineup of AI-ready PCs. You'll discover they're more than ready to meet your expectations.
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