Using ICT to provide remote medical consultations in an increasingly elderly society in Japan

Japan is an aging society. Rural medical clinics in Japan are especially struggling with a shortage of doctors and nurses. We describe an internet consultation and remote conference system designed to improve the quality of medical care in rural areas [1]. The system employs telemedicine to conduct virtual conference consultations, enabling doctors to provide their opinions and offer solutions to clinical problems, thereby providing healthcare to an aging society. In order to enjoy a long life through the stages of aging, a healthy and active lifestyle is necessary. In recent years, the use of ICT (information and communication technology) has become increasingly popular among seniors. In view of the changing communication environment, we used an application in which both high-speed GI-POF (graded index plastic optical fiber) network and flexible cable materials are required. We also considered the idea of spirituality while providing remote medical consultations to an aging society through ICT.