9 February 2005

Medical Training Across The Internet

Doctors in remote parts of the world are receiving medical training across the Internet in a series of pilot projects using satellite, landline and wi-fi networks.

Communications solutions provider, Alcatel Space, is using the Marratech web collaboration and conferencing solution while building on experience gained from a world-wide series of Internet, satellite and wi-fi pilot projects, to allow doctors to deliver fully interactive training sessions to individuals working in small hospitals and medical centres in remote and mountainous zones.

Alcatel and Marratech worked together for a year to perfect the system and resolve the technical issues of using satellite communications. Commented Pascal Lochelongue of Alcatel Space: "The user interface has to be simple, as the users are not necessarily very technical. The flexibility of Marratech's configuration allows them to adapt according to the situation, switching between operating modes or configuring for different media such as landline or wi-fi."

Marratech has enabled the on-line training of doctors in isolated mountainous regions, despite the great distances involved, typically saving a costly three hour round trip which used to be required just to attend a two-and-a-half hour training session. They can now attend group meetings enjoying high quality voice, real-time video, an interactive whiteboard and application sharing from their PC or laptop.

Added Mr Lochelongue: "Creating a solution to function across a heterogeneous network using satellite, ISDN, ADSL, Intranet and LAN could not have been completed without the collaboration of Marratech's technical team, which regularly enhanced its product to take into account our requests."

Alcatel Space’s vast experience in telecommunication technologies and applications integration will allow users in remote areas throughout Latin America, Asia, Europe and Africa to collaborate. Together, Alcatel Space and Marratech offer solutions to overcome the global digital divide.

Thanks to web-based conferencing from Marratech and Alcatel, remote communities can now be assured that their hospitals and health practitioners are always at the forefront of medical training.

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