Archives

by Prof. Susil W. Gunasekera

Computer . . . versatile . . .

The computer is a highly versatile helpmate, meaning it has a variety of uses: the most common being its function as a word processor. Through the keyboard one writes - into the computer while the computer writes-out through the printer. The art of typing letters and numerals by touch recognition (more commonly known as touch typing) and the usage of 'shortcut key strokes' will help you reduce word processing time. However remember that 'shortcut key strokes' and their respective functions vary with different software packages and are available for working with both text and graphics.

One can also talk into the computer while the computer can talk back. In this respect, the computer sounds like a tape recorder but surpasses the most glorified tape recorder, as the computer converts speech into text. To speak into the computer one needs the microphone and the appropriate software (speech software is necessary to recognise one's voice), and when spoken to the computer through the microphone it learns your speech and converts speech to visible text, the computer can also keep your voice recorded simultaneously.

At the Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital computers with voice-to-text facility, records a patient's information: data needed for compiling the patient's medical record.

The Nepal Medical College (NMC) and computers . . .

The Computer Laboratory of the NMC has only a limited number of computers for its' students population: 25 computers for the 375 students: while the students time for computing is further reduced by the need to spend more time on studies.

Most of our students are computer literate but not fast interacters with computers hence the first exercise at the Medical College is to offer self-learning exercises to quicken keyboard pace; and it is the Center for Medical Informatics that installs the self-interactive software package into the college computers that teach self-learning touch typing. It is important to note that self-learn packages not only increasing one's awareness of a package but increases one's ability to use a computer with greater awareness and confidence, the understanding of modern technology increases one's aptitude too.

Medical students, like other students, have to learn the art of time management. Time is finite, but the interests and the activities students wish their lives to take part in, are infinite. Thus to make the maximum use of time, to balance vocation and pleasure, computers are a great help to students and teachers alike. For example, in the modern age, administrative and financial record keeping system that is more secure, compact, effortlessly accessible, and can be upgraded and transferred within the organisation and among organisations by electronic means. Our college staff, maintain documentation pertaining to the student: admission form, personal photograph, original birth certificate, original of educational certificates, relevant pages of passport, on computer. The original documents of these are scanned and fed into your computer system but are accessible and retrievable only through a password security system and only to the concerned personnel.

According to the Nepal Medical College curriculum student learning is patient-centred from the very beginning (whereas in schools with the traditional curriculum student exposure to patients is usually after a year or two). Students often encounter the patient is overcrowded and busy Outpatients Department (OPD) and in overcrowded clinics and wards. In these environments information about patients are gathered from Laboratory Reports, X-ray, Ultrasound, ECG etc., which later becomes the patient's medical record available on computers for the student to study.

The scanner . . .

An important piece of computer software is 'software for scanning'. Accordingly, scanned images are used for preparing visuals for teaching, learning, and oral presentations. Visuals make teaching (formal instruction) more effective. On the part of the student, frequent student presentations (seminars) are a unique feature of the NMC curriculum. We encourage students to use visuals obtained in the above manner (or obtained through conventional means) in their presentations. Further, photographs of local patients highlighting clinical lesions and scanned photographs from overseas textbooks, have been newly introduced to the Nepal Medical College examination system.

The CD-ROM . . .

The CD-ROM is the popular abbreviated term for 'Compact Disc - Read Only Memory'. It is something like the popular music compact disc device. The CD is a storage device and a computer CD can hold 650-MB space (capacity of 425 floppies). As the name suggests, it can only be read in the computer 'CD Drive', and you cannot transfer your work from the computer by writing on it. The CD-ROM brings textbooks, encyclopaedias, movies that can be read or seen via your computer. Since writing on to the CD-ROM can only be been by the manufacturer there is absolutely no possibility of it bringing viruses.

The computer is not meant to be a warehouse . . .

The PC has an overwhelmingly large data storage facility; at least 2GB (Giga bite) hardware disc capacity but work must be saved on floppies. It is wise to have duplicates or even triplicates back ups. Remind yourself on the 'honeybee'. Computers are like honeybees. The honeybee's job is to collect honey and to procure honey, it uses its mechanical strength (hardware) and memory (software). Honeybees keep only a little bit of the find within themselves, most of the honey, is put away out of their bodies in the honeycomb. Be like the honeybee, store you work on an external storage device (floppies/diskettes), for if not computer functions will slow down till that day it simply refuses to work.

Always protect floppies from dust, invading fungi, and from heat. Do not leave diskettes on the car dashboard or carry them around in your shirt pocket or trouser pocket - bad manners! If liquid spills simply throw the floppy, as you have duplicates or even the triplicates. Diskettes must not be placed near magnets and must be scanned for viruses.

In the educational environment, the computer is a bare necessity. The student, don't forget the web for browsing through journal articles, books, papers, conferences, and educational institutions. 

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