Why is My Internet Explorer So Slow? – A Guide to Speed Up Internet Explorer
February 21, 2012 | 
Author Have you been asking yourself, why is my internet explorer so slow? Your connection is fine, yet internet explorer seems to take forever to process information and load pages. This is actually a much more common problem than you may think. Before you toss your computer into the garbage can, why not try to speed up internet explorer the easy way?
The most likely cause of IE being slow is a computer that has not been properly maintained. The problem with most computer users is that they spend all of this money on upgrading and buying new equipment, yet spend nothing to properly maintain it. When the CPU becomes sluggish we simply ask “why is my internet explorer slow” and then go buy a new computer. Well this will make the computer stores very happy. But what if I let you in on a little secret? You can turbo charge your existing computer right now so it runs like it is brand new.
What you need to do is run a full system scan and diagnosis. I promise there are lots of troubled areas of your computer that can be cleaned up and optimized. Lets start with the Windows registry.
The Windows registry is the most important area of your computer. It contains information to run all software and hardware, including Internet Explorer. Yet it is filled with errors, corrupt files, and redundant programs that are doing nothing but taking up space and slowing everything down. Windows does not have an internal tool to clean this up. To speed up internet explorer, the first thing you can do is clean up all the junk out of the registry.
I personally use a program that does this and so much more. It will also remove all the hidden programs running in the background and taking up valuable RAM. This program will perform a diagnosis in your entire computer and provide solutions to make your computer run faster.
So stop asking the question “Why is my Internet Explorer so slow?” Simply scan your computer for free and start speeding it up.
Epstein Barr Treatment – 7 Common Mistakes People Make When Recovering From Epstein Barr Virus
There are 7 common mistakes that people make when treating the Epstein Barr virus that causes mononucleosis or glandular fever. These mistakes can slow your recovery and in some cases lead to secondary infections like strep throat, pneumonia, sinus infection or chronic fatigue syndrome. Let’s have a look at each of these mistakes in more detail:
Mistake 1 – Not resting your body
The most common mistake people make is not resting when they are first diagnosed with the Epstein Barr virus. Mononucleosis symptoms can include fatigue, sore throat, swollen glands, muscle aches, headaches, nausea and sometimes fever. Despite these debilitating symptoms some people try and struggle on and keep going to work, school or college, running a household, rushing around after their family. There is no way you will make a fast and complete recovery from Epstein Barr if you don’t stop and rest your body.
Mistake 2 – Not getting adequate sleep
Carrying on from this first mistake is the second mistake – not getting enough sleep. Your body specifically needs good quality sleep when recovering from Epstein Barr. When you are asleep your body produces a hormone called growth hormone, which is your body’s repair hormone. Lack of sleep and going to bed too late (after about 11 p.m.) will result in your body making less growth hormone.
To ensure you are asleep by 11 p.m. and you get a good night’s sleep, make sure you are not watching TV, playing computer, drinking caffeine, doing work or rushing around before bedtime. Get into a routine of relaxing before bed. Having a warm bath, reading quietly in bed, meditating, doing yoga or enjoying a chamomile tea are all good ideas you can try.
Mistake 3 – Lack of adequate water
Now the third mistake, and this is probably the most common mistake I see in my patients, is not drinking enough water to flush out the Epstein Barr virus and toxins from your body. Your aim should be to be drinking at least 8 glasses of fluid a day. Fluids can include pure water, herb teas, lemon in hot water, broths, soups and freshly squeezed vegetable juices. Your fluids should not include tea, coffee, soft drinks or alcohol which will just dehydrate you and make you feel worse.
In some people with mononucleosis, the throat can get really sore and inflamed which makes it hard to swallow. In these cases a hot lemon and honey tea can help soothe the throat and make drinking easier. Alternatively sucking on ice cubes can numb the pain and get the fluids into your body.
Mistake 4 – Eating the wrong foods
One of the cheapest and simplest ways to treat Epstein Barr is with good healthy foods. How well your immune system functions is directly linked to what you eat. If you eat all the wrong foods like sugar, white flour products, processed foods, alcohol, coffee and excess fats then there is no way you are going to make a good recovery from mononucleosis. Your body needs the right vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fibre and essential fats in order to boost your immune system, reduce fatigue and help your body cope with stress.
The best diet for Epstein Barr treatment is based around good quality protein foods like fish, organic chicken, tofu, whey protein, eggs, nuts, seeds and legumes. Every meal should have plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables – cover at least 80% of your plate with leafy greens, salads, vegetables and low carbohydrate fruits. Add to this some essential fats like fish oils, avocado, cold pressed olive oil or flaxseed oil, and you have a good balanced meal that will help you treat mononucleosis effectively.
Mistake 5 – Treating Epstein Barr virus with antibiotics
Antibiotics are of no use in treating Epstein Barr virus. Antibiotics are only effective against bacteria not viruses. In some cases using antibiotics to treat Epstein Barr can result in skin rashes, fungal overgrowth, digestive upsets and suppressed immunity.
Mistake 6 – Not taking the right supplements
One of the fastest ways to treat Epstein Barr is to add some supplements to your regime. I give all my mononucleosis patients vitamin A, C, E, zinc and selenium with great results. The B complex and magnesium are also beneficial to help repair the adrenal glands, improve energy levels and ensure a good night’s sleep.
There are also some great herbs for the treatment of Epstein Barr. The best ones are Olive Leaf extract, echinacea, garlic and astragalus. The right amounts of nutrients and herbs for you will vary according to your age, the severity of your illness and how much food you’re eating.
Mistake 7 – Resuming activities too early
Getting back into strenuous exercise or daily activities too early is a sure fire way to put you back at square one. Many people start to feel a little better, and rush back to their previous sport or work, only to find they get a relapse and start feeling awful again. The best advice I can give here is too take things slowly. Start off with some gentle walking and monitor how your body responds. Do an hour of housework or shopping and see how you feel. Perhaps go back to work or college for half a day and see how you cope. Build up slowly over a few weeks taking time to rest your body, eat well, take your supplements and drink plenty of water.
The Epstein Barr virus is a latent virus, so once you’ve had it, it can reappear if you overstress your body or do too much.
5 Ways to Fix Fatal Error During Installation and Other System Errors
Corrupted System Files
A fatal error during installation prompt can occur when a system file required to complete the operation is not found. If you or another user has accidentally deleted a system file, this can be the cause. However, if this is not the case, a virus or trojan may have modified and/or deleted this important system file. Run your preferred antivirus tool to fix the problem.
Check for Registry Errors
Windows uses a registry to keep track of all the system files and applications need to keep a computer running. Even the slightest error in the registry can cause an application to fail at installation.
Disk Errors
Hard disk drives are very fragile and can become heavily fragmented. This can lead to data loss which, in turn, causes fatal error during installation errors. Windows has an error checking tool built in to automatically find and fix errors on your disk. However, not all errors can be fixed this way.
Bad Media
A very common but overlooked cause of fatal errors is the media itself. If you are installing an application from a CD, check for scratches or dust/dirt. Clean the disc with a soft, damp non abrasive cloth.
System Requirements Not Met
If you do not have sufficient disk space, the installation will fail. Check your hard drive to make sure you have enough space for the program you are trying to install.
Most fatal error during installation problems can be diagnosed with these 5 quick checks.
Rough Running Engines – 3 Basic Tests to Perform
Not all rough running engine problems are related to electronic control systems. Therefore a diy car mechanic still needs to understand basic engine testing procedures. These tests are an important part of modern engine diagnosis. Below I will talk about three of the most important basic testing procedures. The compression test, testing with a vacuum gauge, and the power balance test can be an auto mechanics 3 best friends.
Compression test for rough running engines
Why perform a compression test? Internal combustion engines depend on the compression of the air fuel mixture to maximize the power produced by the engine. The upward movement of the piston on the compression stroke will compact the air fuel mixture within the sealed chamber raising the temperature of the charge and making easy to ignite and burn completely.
An engine with poor compression or low compression will not run correctly and cannot be tuned properly. If a rough running engine condition is present. This may be considered a symptom that suggests the cause of the problem may be poor compression. A compression gauge is used to check the cylinder sealing capabilities. This is an easy to use inexpensive tool that comes with complete instructions on how to use it.
Before conducting a compression test, it is recommended to disable the ignition and also the fuel system. You should also prop open the throttle plate into a wide open position to allow the maximum amount of air to enter the cylinder during the test. Mark the spark plug wires and remove all the spark plugs. Make the test a one man operation by connecting a remote starter button to the starter motor. This will allow you to crank over the engine by yourself.
Power balance test
Diagnose rough running engines with a power balance test. This is performed quickly and easily using an engine analyzer, because pushing a button can automatically or manually control the firing of the spark plugs. Some vehicles have the power balance test built into the engine control computer. This test is either a part of a routine self-diagnostic operating mode or must be activated by the mechanic through a scan tool. These types of vehicles will often use these functions to set engine misfire codes.
On some computer controlled engines certain components must be disconnected before attempting a power balance test. Always check the service manual for appropriate procedures. Be careful not to run the engine with a shorted cylinder for more than 10 or 15 seconds. The unburned fuel in the exhaust can damage the catalytic converter and create an unsafe situation. It is also a good idea to run the engine on all cylinders for a minute before proceeding to the next cylinder.
As each cylinder is shorted, a noticeable drop in engine speed should be detected. Little or no decrease in RPMs indicates a week cylinder. If all of the readings are fairly close to each other, the engine is in good condition. If the readings from one or more cylinders differ from the rest then a problem should be looked into on that cylinder.
Engine vacuum testing
Ideally, each cylinder of an internal combustion engine will produce the same amount of vacuum. This is why the vacuum gauge readings should be steady and give a reading of at least 19 to 22 inches of mercury.
If one or more cylinders produce less vacuum than the others the needle of the vacuum tester will fluctuate. When performing the engine vacuum tests, the intensity of the fluctuation of the needle on the vacuum gauge indicates the severity of the engine problem. For example, if the reading on the vacuum gauge fluctuates between 9 and 19. You should then look at the rhythm of the needle. If the needle stays at 19 inches of mercury, but drops to 9 and then quickly rises we know that reading is probably caused by a malfunction in one cylinder.
If the vacuum tester reads low all the time let’s say a reading of 10 inches and has no fluctuation. This would be an indication of a clogged exhaust system. If you disconnect the exhaust system in front of the catalytic converter and the vacuum returns to full strength, this would indicate a clogged catalytic converter or other parts behind it.
Dell Diagnostics
Not everyone is a computer whiz out there but this should not stop you from running Dells Simple Diagnostic Tools. It’s easy to use and you will be glad you did.
When to use Dell Diagnostics? Use the Dell Diagnostic tools when you Dell and Only (Dell) computer starts to act up. Such as boot up errors or your computer blue screening on you.
How do I access the Dell Diagnostic Tools? All Dell computers have diagnostic tools preloaded on them in a separate partition of the hard drive. To access the Diagnostic tools press F12 when you first turn on the computer and see the Dell screen. This option can be F2 and F9 as well on some models. You may need to reboot a few times to get into it. Once in the menu you have several options. I would recommend running the advanced tests. This can take a good 40 minutes boot it’s a good test for the majority of components installed in the system.
What do I do if it found an error? Well that all depends on what the error is. Write down the error code and what the error is if one was given. If your computer is under warranty still then call Dell up and depending on what your warranty plan is they will guide you the rest of the way. If your computer is not under warranty the best advice I can give is call a few computer repair shops and get there opinion.
What to do if no issue was found? Just because no hardware issue was found does not mean it’s not hardware. Chances are it is not and that’s a good think because you will probably save some money now. Most likely it is software related. Try doing a system restore.
10 Things You Need to Know When You Get An MRI
Do you know what an MRI is? Have you ever had an MRI? Did you become claustrophobic while you were in the MRI Machine? Do you leave the MRI with a headache? If you have answered yes or no to any of these questions, read on.
WHAT IS A MRI?
A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is high quality images of the inside of your body. This is achieved by using a high magnetic field and radio waves. This test will determine your diagnosis. A report will be dictated by the radiologist and sent to your ordering physician.
WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
An MRI is used by your medical physician to receive a comprehensive medical report dictated by the Radiologist. In this way, your physician can make an accurate medical diagnosis.
DOES IT HURT?
No this does will not hurt you. It is a non-invasive test. The only thing it will do is annoy you with the loud noise it makes through out the test.
(1) QUESTIONS YOU ARE ASKED BEFORE YOU RECEIVE AN MRI:
(a) Do you have any tattoos on your body?
(b) Do you have any metal in your body?
(c) How much do you weigh?
(2) METAL FREE:
(a) Lock your valuables in a locker. Especially, any credit cards or any card with a magnetic strip.
(b) You can not take any metal object into the MRI room at all for you safety.
(c) You absolutely can not wear anything with metal on it. So if you are wearing jeans with a zipper, snap or button, they will have to be removed. A woman cannot wear a bra if it contains any metal. The safest garment to wear is a hospital gown.
(d) Remove all your jewelry and l leave it in your locker.
(3) THE MRI:
When you are actually ready to have the MRI you will be asked to lie down in a long cylinder. Depending on the part of the body to be scanned – you might or might not have your head inside the cylinder.
(4) CLOSED AND OPEN MRI MACHINES:
There are some open MRI machines and these are especially useful for people who are claustrophobic. I was just recently told by an MRI technician, although people prefer the open MRI machines, they are not as accurate in the testing results as the enclosed MRI machine. In either machine the top and bottom are not enclosed.
(5) NOISES:
When you are placed in a MRI machine you will hear a variety of noises. I always relate these noises to men breaking up cement with those very noisy drills. These noises although very annoying to you, are very necessary for achieving a reading on the MRI scan.
(6) LYING IN THE MACHINE:
While you are in the machine and being scanned you need to lay very still. You can not move. If you move you will ruin the image or picture the technician is taking and it will have to be repeated.
(7) HOW TO STAY CALM AND QUIET IN THE MRI MACHINE:
a) Keep your eyes tightly closed and never open them while you are inside the canister.
(b) Use earphones with your favorite radio station in your ears. Sometimes, this is not possible, you only get ear plugs which are useless.
(8) CLAUSTROPHOBIC:
If you are really claustrophobic you need to inform your ordering doctor about this fact. A sedative will be arranged for you to take before you reach the MRI Center. Always bring someone with you to drive and make sure you get home safely if you have taken a drug.
(9) EATING:
Most of the time you may be able to eat before and MRI but there are times when you will not be allowed. You will be instructed if you need to be NPO at the time of your MRI.
(10) CONTRAST AGENT, DYE:
The dye which is used is called gadolinium. It has less of a reaction than any other dye used for other testing. It is used to receive a clearer image of the area which is being scanned.
Thank you for reading my article. Please feel free to read any of my numerous articles on various subjects.
Copyright Linda E. Meckler. 2007
Windows 7 Boot Slow? How to Make Windows 7 Boot Faster!
Does your Windows 7 boot slow? Wondering how to make Windows 7 boot faster without paying much? Maybe I can help you!
As a latest operating system, Win 7 Integrated more services and applications than any others in the past. With many programs run at startup, Windows 7 will boot slow as a tortoise. These programs not only occupy vast hard drive space, but also lengthen the boot up time greatly. So, more and more users want to know how to make Windows 7 boot faster now.
Of course, you can buy a new computer to make windows 7 faster quickly. But it will cost you much. And no matter how fast a new PC might be, it will get slower over time. So it doesn’t mean that you don’t need to optimize it again.
The easiest way to make Windows 7 boot faster is to manage your startup items and services. Thinking that if you get more than 50 items and 100 services run at startup, how to make Windows 7 boot faster?
Click Start and input “msconfig” in the Run box. Then point to OK and press. You will see all services and applications that are started automatically when your computer boots. Disenabling some unnecessarily items and re-boot your computer. Your Windows 7 boot up will never be slow again.
But please do it carefully since some services and startup items are very important to Windows. Removing them in error will cause serious problems even system crash. It’s not funny at all. So you’d better select some popular tools to do it for you.
Natural Cure For Interstitial Cystitis
Is there a natural cure for interstitial cystitis? Although there’s no known medical cure, there is positive evidence of a natural cure for this painful disease of the pelvic area.
Interstitial cystitis (IC) causes recurring discomfort in the bladder and surrounding pelvic region. It’s like having a chronic bladder infection – everyday, all the time.
Interstitial Cystitis Symptoms
Of the 1.4 million Americans with IC the vast majority, over a million, are women. And because the symptoms vary so much from one person to the next, interstitial cystitis symptoms are often misdiagnosed. These various symptoms can include:
o Mild or intense pain, pressure or tenderness in the bladder and pelvic area
o Discomfort that increases or decreases as the bladder fills or empties
o Worsening symptoms for women during menstruation
o An urgent or frequent need to urinate or both
o Painful vaginal intercourse for women
Since symptoms can vary so much, many researchers believe IC could actually be several different diseases instead of just one. They’ve therefore started using the term painful bladder syndrome (PBS) to describe cases with painful urinary symptoms.
Some symptoms of IC/PBS resemble those of bacterial infections. But medical tests show that there are no active bacterial organisms in the urine of people with the disease.
This is why antibiotics don’t work to alleviate interstitial cystitis symptoms.
Many people suffering from symptoms of IC/PBS find themselves making the rounds from one specialist to another, often being treated for a recurrent bladder infections.
What is Interstitial Cystitis?
Good question. But all that’s really known is that IC is a chronic inflammation of the lining and walls of the bladder and that there is yet no known cause or medical cure.
Some scientists suspect IC is a result of environmental allergies, food sensitivities, an autoimmune response or they associate it with other chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia.
And because many women with interstitial cystitis have other conditions, such as yeast infections, irritable bowel syndrome or fibromyalgia, some scientists believe IC/PBS may be a condition causing inflammation in various organs and different parts of the body.
But even though scientists don’t know the exact cause, since the uncomfortable symptoms are the result of inflammation, interstitial cystitis more than likely has a lot to do with our unhealthy modern diet of highly processed, nutritionally devoid foods.
And, even though there’s no known medical cure, good nutrition can certainly help to alleviate the condition and assist the immune system to begin the healing process.
Natural Cure for Interstitial Cystitis
It’s best to follow a very nutritious diet, including more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean poultry, low fat dairy, clean water and plenty of cold water omega 3 fish.
Avoid red meat, which causes inflammation, processed foods, acidic foods, such as caffeine, and any food you may be allergic to, such as wheat, nuts or chocolate.
To build your immune system, supplement your diet with natural whole food nutritional supplements. Especially add anti-inflammatory omega 3 fish oil with EPA and DHA.
The EPA and DHA in fish oil has been shown in numerous studies to act as a highly effective anti-inflammatory, which can dramatically decrease the painful swelling in the bladder and pelvic area and work as a natural cure for interstitial cystitis symptoms.
Electronic Medical Records – The Pros and Cons
In this digital age, more and more bulks of information which used to be paper-based, from library catalogs to telephone books, are digitized and stored in a central location for easy access. The idea of EMRs started about 40 years ago.
The main proponents of EMRs cite the following advantages:
(1) The use of EHRs supposedly reduces errors in medical records. There is no doubt that handwritten records are subject to lots of human errors due to misspelling, illegibility, and differing terminologies. With the use of EMRs standardization of patient health records may eventually become acheivable.
(2) Paper records can be easily lost. We have heard how fires, floods and other natural catastrophes destroy physical records of many years, data which are lost forever. Digital records can be stored virtually forever and can be kept long after the physical records are gone. EMRs also help keep records of health information that patients tend to forget with time, i.e. inoculations, previous illnesses and medications.
(3) EMRs make health care cost-efficient by consolidating all data in one place. Previously, paper-based records are located in different places and getting access to all of them takes a lot of time and money. In a systematic review, Kripalani et al. evaluated the communication transfer between primary care physicians and hospital-based physicians and found significant deficits in medical information exchange. The review recommended the use of EMRs to resolve these issues and facilitate the continuity of care before, during and after hospitalization. EMRs translates into better treatment for patients. Take the example of one asthma center’s experience with EMR: “A major benefit associated with EMR implementation was the increase in the number of children who were hospitalized with an asthma exacerbation and received an asthma action plan upon discharge. Prior to the EMR system, [only] 4% received an asthma action plan upon discharge. After implementation of the EMR system, 58% received an asthma action plan upon discharge.”
(4) EMRs can save lives. VeriChip, developed by VeriChip Corporation is the first one of its kind ever approved by the US FDA. It enables rapid identification of at-risk patients and access to their medical history, thereby enabling rapid diagnosis and treatment especially in emergency situations. Classic examples are people with diabetes and/or heart problems who have high risk of collapsing and having attacks. VeriChip is also useful in vehicular accidents and other trauma incidents where the victims aren’t capable of answering questions. In cases of large-scale catastrophes, VeriChip facilitates tracking and identification of victims. According to a coroner in Mississippi, VeriChip helped identify victims during the Hurricane Katrina incident.
Earlier this year, Google Health was launched, an online personalized health records service. Google Health is based on the principle that since it’s the patient’s medical record, the patient should control it, decide what should be in it, and who gets access to it. One of the features of the service includes records from hospitals and pharmacies that are Google Health-enabled or are registered Google Health partners.
The HealthVault is another online health information storage service offered by Microsoft with features similar to Google Health. Keith Toussaint, senior program manager with Microsoft HealthVault recently stated ” leading hospitals like Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center are actually integrating their systems with both us and Google — because some people like one or the other. It’s a Coke or Pepsi thing.”
What are the disadvantages of EMRs? Not surprisingly, privacy rights advocacy groups are the main opponent of EMRs. Here is what they have to say:
(1) EMRs threaten our privacy. In this day and age when people’s mantra is “I need my privacy”, not many people are comfortable about having their entire medical history recorded and digitized for almost just anybody to see – in other words, incursion into people’s privacy. The confidentiality of doctor – patient relationship is still sacrosanct. Besides, medical data can be used against a person in some cases – be it for a job application, insurance coverage or a college scholarship. Although it is against the law to discriminate against people with illnesses and disabilities, it is a fact of life that the fitter you are, the more competitive you are in the job market. The planned incorporation of genetic data in EMRs further adds to people’s fear of incursion into their private sphere.
(2) EMRs can lead to loss of the human touch in health care. In the process of digitalization, the interpersonal aspect in health care may be lost. In handwritten hospital charts, doctors and other health care practitioners may write what they think and they feel based on their personal observations in their very own words. EMR is simply about ticking off boxes and crossing out things in electronic forms. The doctors are forced to think in categories and can seldom express a personal opinion on an individual case. Because of the lack of flexibility of many electronic reporting systems, cases of misclassification of patients and their conditions have been reported.
(3) EMRs are not that efficient. Despite efforts in digitalization and standardization, EMRs are actually far from being standardized and not as efficient as it is purported to be. It often happens that one clinic’s EMR system is not compatible with that of a general practitioner or another clinic’s system, thus belying the claim of added efficiency. In addition, not all users of EMRs are satisfied with the current state of the art. Although the objective is mainly efficiency and healthcare quality, one study showed that nurses in the Netherlands are not completely satisfied with their EMR implemented in 2006-2007.
(4) EMRs are not safe and secure. Google Health and HealthVault are quick in assuring patients of the safety of their online health accounts. Access to the patient’s account is only possible using log ins and password. In addition, HealthVault assures that “all health information transmitted between HealthVault servers and program providers’ systems is encrypted” and that Microsoft does it best to use the “highest standards of security to safeguard consumer health information from theft, loss, or damage.”
However, there are cases wherein passwords and encryptions do not seem to be adequate as data protection tools. Stories of data hacking, stolen identities and blackmail abound. Even high security databases such as those run by banks and credit institutions are often compromised. This impression was aggravated by the many well-publicized incidences of data loss or breach. A few examples are listed below:
November 26, 2007, Canada. Hackers accessed medical information on HIV and hepatitis from a Canadian health agency computer. – September 22, 2008, UK. The National Health Service (NHS) reported the loss of 4 CDs in the mail containing information on 17,990 employees. – September 30, 2008, US. The company Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana confirmed breach of personal data, including Social Security numbers, phone numbers and addresses of about 1,700 brokers. The data was accidentally attached to a general email.
In addition, there is criticism over Google Health not being a “covered entity under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the regulations promulgated thereunder (HIPAA)” under its terms and conditions and is therefore not subject to HIPAA privacy of individually identifiable health information. The HealthVault terms and conditions do not mention HIPAA privacy laws so it is not clear what its status is regarding this issue.
(5) VeriChip is not for humans. It is to be expected that although many of us are amenable to the use of RFID chips in pets, the idea of implanting similar chips in human beings is bound to raise hackles in humans, no matter what the US FDA says. A big opponent of the VeriChip and similar chips of its kind is the consumer advocacy group Spychip.com. In a position paper, Spychip and many advocacy and consumer awareness groups see RFID tagging (be it on your person or on the items you buy) as a major threat to privacy and civil liberties. They see the tagging as some kind of “Big Brother” operation. Another group, the No VeriChip Inside Movement, likens VeriChip as “cataloguing” humans similar to the way the Nazis have tattooed numbers on the skin of concentration camp detainees. Popular Hollywood films on privacy incursions (e.g. The Net, Public Enemy No. 1) increased further people’s paranoia about personal data.
Where do we go from here? Without doubt, we have the technology to make EMRs standardized and efficient. Google Health, Microsoft HealthVault and similar online personalized health information accounts are enabling patients to take control of their medical records. The main issues that need to be overcome are data security, protection of privacy and gaining the confidence of the patients. It doesn’t seem evident that the use of RFID and similar tagging chips will become acceptable or popular anytime soon. However, we live in a digital world and we cannot hold back progress indefinitely. With improved technology and data protection tools, let us hope the EMR issue will be resolved soon.
Case Based Reasoning
Automated trouble shooting systems use a rules based expert system for searching through historical knowledge bases in order to arrive at reasons of failure based on symptoms. Human reasoning works by recalling old cases and associating experiential knowledge based on solving similar cases. There are both advantages and disadvantages of rule based systems as well as human reasoning based systems.
In a rule based inference engine the description of the problems and the resolution is text based. For example the database will contain information on the slowness of a PC or a crashed hard disk and its symptoms and possible causes. The next time a similar problem occurs we will be able to query the database and retrieve causes, symptoms for failure etc., But in most cases human reasoning is not similar.
Rule based deduction and inference is good only for an artificial world that we have constructed, but human reasoning is much different and is based on previous cases. We do not however use rules to infer about a common problem.
Let us take the example of cooking a favorite dish, we are able to recall that we simmered the milk that much longer that it got burnt and so we do not repeat the same mistake. But a rule based instruction tells us that we have to boil the milk for 10 mins and then mix 2 tea spoons of sugar etc., Human based reasoning tells us that we need to add some more sugar, or the sugar is enough etc.,
A disadvantage of rules based or an expert system is that all rules have to be enlisted in order to retrieve causes, but does not use experiential knowledge. A disadvantage of a case based system is the definition of human reasoning is abstract.
A case based reasoning system works in much the same manner as our memories. We learn new things, we learn more about old things, and we retain and reuse new information. It will differ from logic or rules based engine in aspects of recording and retrieving cases.
There are many Open source based CBR applications such as MYCBR which can be built for solving computer network problems or car repair problems. There are also several commercial implementations of CBR systems in Medical diagnosis.