[Medical informatics: historical roots and development since the 60's]

From the start, the development of the industrialized countries required observations in order to get informations on the demographic, administrative and health situation. In the course of centuries, methods of collecting and evaluating data improved. On the other hand, there was a stepwise development of auxiliary technical devices which allow to keep proven components and compose them with new ones under higher angles. Individual pioneers contributed to develop computers of high calculating capacity. The semi-conductor technique, its ongoing improvement and use in microelectronic industry gave rise to a revolution of information engineering. There was a tremendous development since the early sixties with an expanded use of computers in medicine. In a first phase, they helped overtaking auxiliary functions in clinical administration and measuring equipment in laboratories. Then, patient oriented systems with large data bases were created. In recent years, electronic telecommunication connecting hospital information systems (e.g. in university hospitals), but also other information centres on a national and international level, is of growing importance. The development of information techniques with broadened fields of application--e.g. medical image processing, handling of linguistic problems--is a challenge for medicine. Medical thinking has to channel information techniques properly with the aim of getting useful results, conserving privacy and avoiding irrelevant decision making.