Relation between Image Detection Time and Thumbnail Image Size for Satellite-based Telemedicine

Abstract

We considered a support system for medical image-based diagnosis over satellite communication which can be used by doctors in a remote disaster area who have little experience of the system. Quick image-based diagnosis is difficult to perform using satellite since satellite communication lines are characterized by long delays and low transmission speeds. Therefore, it is necessary to design a visual interface that enables inexperienced doctors to work quickly and accurately. The purpose is to clarify the characteristics of thumbnails for images selection quickly for a support system of medical image-based diagnosis over satellite communication. The relation between the size of thumbnail image and the detection time of desired image in low speed network was investigated for the accomplishment of the purpose. We proposed an experimental method for clarification of the thumbnail image size for the selection of a desired image from among many images. We analyzed the time in which the subjects were able to find a desired image from among 10 images. The relation between detection time and thumbnail size had a minimum because satellite communication is associated with a long delay. Our experiment showed that the optimal size if thumbnails for fast image transmission can be calculated based on the shortest image detection time.