About this Research Topic
Nowadays, we live in a technology society. Interactive systems and artificial intelligence pieces of software are all around us. Our patterns for enjoyment, communication, work, and interaction have changed by the influence of technology ecosystems. The technological ecosystems for the health domain, eHealth ecosystems, have a significant presence and importance in the current medical practice. Telemedicine, powerful surgery assistants, artificial intelligence agents for diagnosis are real examples that we can find in our hospitals.
Furthermore, technology could also help us to create novelty treatments -- for example, by the advanced technologies that exist today, we have managed to improve the cognitive capabilities of people with Down Syndrome, combat nutrition disorders, assist people with dementia, improve the well-aging of our older people, or connecting persons with a physical impediment. Game-based or gamified approaches are also being used to help people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. However, further advances are needed to ensure that technological contributions help people with some disabilities or suffering health setbacks. It is especially important to have evidence that the users of these technology products have a pleasant user experience, besides the help they receive to improve their health.
In this Research Topic, we welcome studies, cases, and experiences of the use of technology to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities or suffer from diseases. We are more interested in the effect of technology than in the technology itself. For this reason, we expect research works that have an empirical background of the usefulness of the technology-based or supported treatment. On the other hand, we also are interested in the ethical and privacy issues of the persons that are using these technological advancements. For these reasons, this article collection is highly focused on answering questions such as:
• Which technological ecosystems are being used to combat health issues?
• Which technological ecosystems are being used to help people with disabilities?
• How is the user experience of these eHealth ecosystems?
• What are the usability and accessibility problems in the eHealth ecosystems?
• What are the solutions for people who need the support of caregivers in distance geographical places?
• What are the privacy limitations of the eHealth ecosystems users?
The following types of papers are welcomed in the scope presented above: brief research report, case report, clinical trial, community case studies, data reports, hypothesis and theory, methods, opinion, original research, systematic review, technology and code, conceptual analysis, policy and practice reviews, study protocol, and policy brief.
Furthermore, technology could also help us to create novelty treatments -- for example, by the advanced technologies that exist today, we have managed to improve the cognitive capabilities of people with Down Syndrome, combat nutrition disorders, assist people with dementia, improve the well-aging of our older people, or connecting persons with a physical impediment. Game-based or gamified approaches are also being used to help people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. However, further advances are needed to ensure that technological contributions help people with some disabilities or suffering health setbacks. It is especially important to have evidence that the users of these technology products have a pleasant user experience, besides the help they receive to improve their health.
In this Research Topic, we welcome studies, cases, and experiences of the use of technology to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities or suffer from diseases. We are more interested in the effect of technology than in the technology itself. For this reason, we expect research works that have an empirical background of the usefulness of the technology-based or supported treatment. On the other hand, we also are interested in the ethical and privacy issues of the persons that are using these technological advancements. For these reasons, this article collection is highly focused on answering questions such as:
• Which technological ecosystems are being used to combat health issues?
• Which technological ecosystems are being used to help people with disabilities?
• How is the user experience of these eHealth ecosystems?
• What are the usability and accessibility problems in the eHealth ecosystems?
• What are the solutions for people who need the support of caregivers in distance geographical places?
• What are the privacy limitations of the eHealth ecosystems users?
The following types of papers are welcomed in the scope presented above: brief research report, case report, clinical trial, community case studies, data reports, hypothesis and theory, methods, opinion, original research, systematic review, technology and code, conceptual analysis, policy and practice reviews, study protocol, and policy brief.
Keywords: eHealth, aging, disabilities, technology, quality of life, technology-based treatment, health issues
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
