Related Experiment Videos
Using the Internet to enable access to medical conferences
C E Levy1, A T Lash, M A Iverson
1North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System and the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Flordia, Gainesville 32607, USA.
American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
|November 18, 2000
Summary
Live-streaming technology can increase conference accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Broadcasting medical conferences online allows remote participation, enhancing engagement for those with mobility or geographic limitations.
Area of Science:
- Medical Conferences
- Disability Studies
- Internet Technology
Background:
- Expanding access to scientific and medical conferences for individuals with disabilities is a legal and ethical imperative.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act and the National Institutes of Health support increased accessibility.
- Live-streaming technology offers a potential solution for remote participation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of live-streaming internet broadcasts for increasing access to medical conferences for individuals with disabilities.
- To assess the feasibility of using web-based broadcasts for rare disease conferences.
Main Methods:
- A consumer-oriented medical conference on fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva was live-streamed via the internet.
- The conference web page address was disseminated to relevant computer user groups.
- A phone line facilitated audience interaction with presenters during Q&A sessions.
Main Results:
- Sixteen users accessed the broadcast over two days, logging in 83 times.
- International participation was observed, with viewers from The Netherlands and Israel.
- 23% of members from a specific rare disease internet group accessed the conference.
Conclusions:
- The internet serves as a practical tool for enhancing access and participation in scientific and medical conferences for individuals with disabilities.
- Routine implementation of live-streaming technology in relevant conferences is recommended.
- This approach can overcome geographical and physical barriers to conference attendance.