Reading Assignment #1

1. Beyond the Bar Code
2. To the Rescue!

Consider for discussion the following questions, plus any others that occur to you:

Beyond the Bar Code

Questions:

1. How is the proposed ability to track the location of products in real time different from the current bar code system?
2. If readers are indeed placed in all newly built homes, what would be some of the positive results? The negative? What about readers in the workplace?
3. References are made to companies being able to "rule the world" and to "glittering potential payoffs". What are some examples of benefits that companies might accrue?
4. What are some of the problems that stand in the way of a complete implementation of this technology?
5. What kinds of information would you expect to be stored about an individual product? How can the problem of limited storage space on the tag itself be solved?
6. What are some potential benefits to consumers? The possible dangers?

Questions:

1. What are some of the specific benefits of electronic prescriptions? Any dangers?
2. There is a lot of focus in the article on electronic prescriptions, record-keeping, and insurance claim resolution. What are some other benefits that you can imagine?
3. The claim is made that both lives and money will be saved. How so?
4. What would be some features of a future digital hospital? What are some of the potential problems?
5. The medical industry is described as one of the last to still be analog. Can you think of any other examples?
6. Why has there been such a delay in converting medical health records to digital form?