Research for Electronic Equipment

Telemedicine (TM) is an umbrella term that covers various technologies used to transmit information for health services. TM uses electronic information and communication technologies to provide and support health care when distance separates the participants. In an effort to enhance medical services at sea, the Navy is considering taking TM beyond the demonstration phase by installing the equipment on over 300 ships and Fleet Marine Force units. Because this would be a significant investment, the Surgeon General has asked CNA to determine the cost-effectiveness of the technology. We conducted a cost-benefit analysis on four telemedicine modalities: telephone and fax, e-mail and internet, video-teleconferencing, and teleradiology. These TM modalities can be enhanced with various digitized diagnostic instruments. We also conducted a cost-benefit analysis on the following instruments: dermascope, ophthalmoscope, otoscope, stethoscope, endoscope, electrocardiogram and defibrillator, and ultrasound.

This paper analyzes the effects on a ship's equipment of delaying an overhaul. Equipment condition is measured with data on CASREPTs for destroyer-type ships in 1970-1975; and regression analysis is used to measure the effects of delaying an overhaul.

Statistics of narrow-band extremely low frequency (ELF) noise for use in Sanguine systems analysis were obtained at locations in Malta and Guam. Discusses the results of four seasons of ELF atmospheric noise measurements.

Data on frequencies actually used by Navy ships and communications stations is used to compare indicators of quality for those frequencies predicted by DNC-14 to propagate well with those predicted to propagate more poorly. The results indicate the extent to which attention paid to DNC-14 predictions can be expected to pay off in reduction of effort required to maintain circuit continuity.