John B. Oladosu and Justice O. Emuoyibofarhe
e-health, machine translation, mobile computing, natural language processing, Yoruba language
The mobile communication technology is fast gaining enormous popularity offering a wide range of capabilities for distant communication, which forms the basis of its use in all facets of human activities. This work uses the mobile programming technology provided by JAVA to design and simulate an instant message exchanger and language mapping that allows patients to reach out to physicians and have access to health care services. A working model for a mobile chat application using various components such as mobile client terminal, the Internet and server was developed. The model was simulated using JAVA 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) and the JAVA 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE). The tool developed in this work has been tested and usability assessment conducted among medical practitioners and a number of clients. Result shows that the solution will be useful in providing health care services to semi-literates (those who cannot communicate in official language) without a physical contact with the doctors, in a rural setting. Ethical and legal modalities are being worked out for national usage of this solution.
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