Tutorial: Basic IMAC Concepts Technology Overview

Current technology and perspective of future technology related to IMAC are discussed in terms of hardware as well as software. Items covered are: computers, communication, file media, data acquisition, display, image data compression, AI, opto- electronic devices, software, standardization, and future IMAC. Important specific items such as calculation speed, communication speed, archiving capability, and bit cost are quantitatively depicted and predicted. Three axes, communication speed axis, data volume axis, and time axis are taken as x, y, and z axis respectively and key technologies are expressed by vectors in this xyz space. Performance of present IMAC and prediction of it are illustrated as the sum of these vectors. Deficiency in technology, standing problems to be solved and obstacles to be broken through are pointed out and the methods in what way they could be done with are proposed. Finally, integrated IMAC systems in future inside and outside of hospitals are proposed being based upon conclete development prediction such as functional assignment of LAN for each work and ISDN application.