Back to Annual Meeting Page
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
|
Back to Annual Meeting Page
|
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA |
|
|
Taha A. Kass-Hout, MD MS1, Jay V. Schindler, MPH PhD1, and John Page, BS2. (1) Public Health Division, Northrop Grumman Corporation, 3375 NE Expressway, Koger Center/Harvard Building, Atlanta, GA 30341, 6785303568, TKassHout@cdc.gov, (2) Health Solutions, Northrop Grumman Corporation, 8110 Gatehouse Drive, Falls Church, VA 22042
OBJECTIVE This paper discusses the practical use of the TouchTable™, a device that enhances teamwork and collaboration when dealing with multisource public health information. Combined with ESRI's ArcGlobe software, the TouchTable™ uses a projection tabletop that senses the location of points touched by collaborators to geographically display information in real-time. The TouchTable™ was developed by Northrop Grumman, in partnership with Applied Minds Inc.
BACKGROUND Examination of the spatial distribution of syndrome cases and relevant public health variables may not only facilitate the detection of a bioterrorism attack, but may also support the rapid intervention needed to reduce the effects on populations. However, in both natural disaster and bioterrorism crises, the rapid and effective integration of information from multiple sources is only part of the solution. Crisis management also must address the rapid access to such integrated information, collaboration of multiple representatives (sometimes in different physical locations) [1], group decision-making that will move each collaborator's actions forward in the complex social interaction of leaders, and effective communication among decision-makers and their counterparts in the field [2].
METHODS The TouchTable™ allows multiple users to collaborate around a large horizontal surface in one or multiple remote locations. Users can visualize multiple covariates on maps to detect spatial patterns such as clusters of zip codes with increased disease rates. Its high-resolution display facilitates viewing and manipulation of complex information. Users operate the table by touching its surface. Users can concentrate on their tasks, not on how to manipulate the display. The TouchTable™ restores the ease of using a paper map with all of the benefits of a GIS. Users can manipulate objects to provide collaborative input for decision-making. A computer interprets the location of hand movements on the table surface and updates the projected map image.
RESULTS The TouchTable™ provides for a visualization of multiple layers which can be displayed simultaneously or independently (see Figure 1). These layers focus on: a) presentation of spatial analysis which sequentially examines the distribution of case locations or case counts over a dynamic temporal interval. This is integratable with the PHIN initiatives (e.g. Public Health Directory) for appropriate response [3], and the NHIN; b) maps of geographic and physical constraints (traffic flow at different times, water and sanitation systems, weather conditions); c) modeling and displaying relevant public health variables (prescription sales, vaccination rate, disease incidence, age structure, contact tracing). (This is integratable with the RODS outbreak detection software, and the SaTScan software); and d) graphic display of workflow among key collaborators in a public health intervention (public health agency; fire department; ambulance; hospital; media; federal, state, and local administration) [1].
CONCLUSIONS The Northrop Grumman TouchTable™ addresses the complex conditions of improving collaboration among key players and integrating key information visually. These are crucial in any rapid and successful intervention for bioterrorism or disease outbreak crises.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Public Health Informatics, Health Information Systems
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Not Answered
The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA