Journal of Biomedical Systems & Emerging Technologies

Electroshock weapons (ESWs) have become a ubiquitous component of weapons used in the arsenal of domestic law enforcement (LE) agencies and the military around the world. It is a major contributor to the escalation of force policies and procedures of many LE agencies. ESWs function by providing a high-voltage low-current electrical shock that, when discharged into a live (typically human) target, can temporarily incapacitate that target. Consequently, it is important to accurately measure the output of the ESW to ensure it is operating properly. Moreover, accurate and standardized measurements of ESW output support collaborative transfer of information, thus facilitating the advancement of the knowledge of physiological ESW effects, promoting the advancement of the technology for safe and effective use, and facilitating accurate comparison of ESW performance.

Electrical installation occasionally becomes the source of electrical accidents. The number of electrical, fatal accidents will exceed 8,000 fatalities by 2040-2050 in Japan. The reason is that electrically related fatal accidents have ranged from 10 to 20 fatalities annually, in recent years. The total number of electrically fatal accidents totaled 482 fatalities in 1961. Overall, electrically fatal accidents can be decreased by improving the operational safety. However, the complete prevention of fatal accidents by electric shock is not easy. The reason is that there are more than 60 million workers for all industries, 15 million of whom are in the construction and manufacturing industries. A new approach toward preventative measures for electrically fatal accidents is required because of such conditions. In this paper, 190 case studies of electrically fatal accidents from 1992 to 1996 are analyzed by the fatality rate. The results indicate that most of electrically fatal accidents occur at companies of fewer than 50 workers in the workplace. Moreover, the electrically fatal accidents of fewer than 30 workers are 65% and those of fewer than 50 workers are 75% of all of the fatal accidents for the period. The goal of this work is to save the valuable lives of workers, similar to those in the case studies, from electrically fatal accidents in the future

Computers and information technology has played a pivotal role in the advancement of healthcare. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medicine has significantly evolved over the last few decades, now making it possible to initiate its involvement in real world clinical practice. AI can also be incorporated in a personalized, integrated, adaptive and context aware environment creating the so called Ambient Intelligence (AmI). Neurology is a discipline of medicine that deals with the disorders of nervous system. Large amount of literature exist in regards to utilization of AI and AmI in several aspects of neurology. Using AmI, individual’s neurological function can be monitored around the clock for early recognition of neurological disorders. Electroencephalography and electromyography data can be interpreted by AI with high accuracy. Treatment responses can be monitored objectively by AmI in many conditions like movement disorders and epilepsy. Large quantity of data produced in the neurocritical care units can be processed by AI for better monitoring, treatment and outcome prediction. AI can reduce the cost of care and may potentially benefit remote parts of the world by playing role of an expert adviser. In this brief article, author has discussed the application and potential of AI and AmI in neurology. Some obstacles in their development are briefly discussed and several speculations about their future are made.