PIPS
Description
”Personalized Information Platform for Life and Health Services” (PIPS) is an integrated project of the VI EU R&D Framework Programme in the area of the Information Society and Health Technologies (e-Health) of the IST Thematic Priorities and is planned to last four years from January 1 2004.
The first objective of PIPS is to use the latest technologies in information and communications to encourage people to make healthy choices in their daily lives. This is achieved by giving users the information they need to improve their personal wellbeing and quality of life, preventing and controlling illnesses, and guaranteeing the continuation of care after leaving hospital and for patients with chronic illnesses.
The project is developing a “virtual carer”, who, by means of an Internet connection (by PC, television, mobile phone, etc.) gives support to patients in the form of recommendations and therapies for a healthy way of life and to improve their health, should they suffer from an illness (e.g. in the case of chronic patients).
By means of a technological platform, PIPS provides a wide range of innovative services based on the necessities and preferences defined in the subject’s personal profile. It can provide warnings and advice on foods and the consumption of medicines, monitor the subject’s state of health, provide access to specific health information and services and even provide information to assist in shopping. PIPS can make a precise comparison of an individual’s personal information with that of his surroundings and in this way helps to resolve different questions in people’s daily lives with maximum safety.
The project is being carried out by a consortium of 16 international members including the Hospital San Raffaelle of Milan, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. Participating companies include Atos Origin, Astra Zeneca, GlaxoSmithKline and MARSH. Also taking part are the Polytechnic Universities of Madrid and Gdnask (Poland) and Liverpool University (United Kingdom).
ITACA-TSB participates fundamentally by defining the project, its pilot schemes and commercial strategy. It also coordinates the mobile platform services, the activities of external consultants and collaborates in the development of different software services and knowledge management.
