Introduction

State of the Art Grid Technology
“Grid” computing has emerged as an important new field, distinguished from conventional distributed computing by its focus on large-scale resource sharing, innovative applications, and, in some cases, high-performance orientation. Grid computing is increasingly being viewed as the next phase of distributed computing. Built on pervasive Internet standards, Grid computing enables organizations to share computing and information resources across department and organizational boundaries in a secure, highly efficient manner. Organizations around the world are utilizing Grid computing today for a whole host of different applications such as collaborative scientific research, drug discovery, financial risk analysis, product design, etc. Grid computing enables, for example, research-oriented organizations to solve problems that were infeasible to solve due to computing and data-integration constraints. Grids also reduce costs through automation and improved IT resource utilization. Finally, Grid computing can increase an organization’s agility enabling more efficient business processes and greater responsiveness to change. Over time Grid computing will enable a more flexible, efficient and utility-like global computing infrastructure.

Virtual Organizations (VOs) are a set of individuals and/or institutions that have direct access to computers, software, data, and other resources, and to share resources in a highly controlled manner, with resource providers and consumers defining clearly and carefully just what is shared, who is allowed to share, and the conditions under which sharing occurs. VOs vary tremendously in their purpose, scope, size, duration, structure, community, and sociology yet they all involve a broad set of common concerns and requirements, namely: the need for highly flexible sharing relationships, ranging from client-server to peer-to-peer; for sophisticated and precise levels of control over how shared resources are used, including fine-grained and multi-stakeholder access control, delegation, and application of local and global policies; for sharing of varied resources, ranging from programs, files, and data to computers, sensors, and networks; and for diverse usage modes, ranging from single user to multi-user and from performance sensitive to cost-sensitive and hence embracing issues of quality of service, scheduling, co-allocation, and accounting.

Current distributed computing technologies do not address the above concerns and requirements, and it is here precisely where Grid technologies come on the scene.


State of the Art Telemedicine and eHealth
From its inception, the goal of telemedicine has been to overcome the time and distance barriers that separate the caregiver from the patient. Widespread adoption of the technology has been hampered by a number of technological, regulatory and other barriers. Innovations such as computer-based patient records, remote consultations, clinical information systems, computer-based decision support tools, mobile and wireless terminals, community health information networks, and new ways of distributing health information to professionals and consumers are supported by, and in some cases reliant on, the widespread use of networked telemedicine technologies.

Grid technology acquires more importance today. The main advantage of application of Grid technology for eHealth is the new and effective opportunities for establishment and creation of eHealth networks as well as of implementation of clinical information systems and databases.