Rob Tweed HANDI Health Apps

Advances in JavaScript and Browsers and their impact on Healthcare IT

Rob TweedM/Gateway Developments Ltd

Twitter: @rtweedEmail: [email protected]

Tuesday, 19 November 13

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Bet on JavaScript for Healthcare• The UI of choice for Healthcare applications

should be the browser, for both desktop & mobile

• The capabilities of JavaScript are advancing at an incredible pace, driven by the demands of social media, designers and game companies

• Healthcare can exploit these new capabilities to provide long-needed functionality simply, easily and cheaply


Where all the action is:• Browsers• JavaScript

• The coolest, most exciting, most interesting developments in IT today are happening in this arena


The World is Changing

Browser WebServer EHR

HTTPRequest




HTTPRequest Run some stuff




Return some stuff




Web page/fragmentJavaScript

JSON

HTTPResponse


Key technologies• HTML5

– Extending the browser’s capabilities– Most new features are interfaced via

JavaScript


Key technologies• WebSockets

– Bi-directional persistent socket from browser to back-end– Event-driven at each end– Breaks free of HTTP’s request/response behaviour

• Canvas & WebGL– 2D & 3D Graphics, access to GPU

• WebRTC– real-time communication– access to video, audio

• asm.js


Javascript technologies• High-end frameworks, eg

– ExtJS: desktop applications• Comprehensive UI widgets

– Sencha Touch: mobile devices• Indistinguishable from native app

– Charting– Drag and Drop– JSON store-driven components


Javascript technologies• High-end frameworks, eg

– Twitter Bootstrap• “responsive” design, “mobile-first”

– write once– application adapts to hardware in a

predictable way


Key technologies• Node.js

– Javascript on the server• One language for front-end & back-end


Examples• 1: ewdMonitor Application:

– Management/monitoring tool for ewdGateway2 /EWD Lite

– Node.js– 100% WebSockets– Event-driven client-server– Advanced ExtJS usage– JSON-driven UI components– Event-driven charting


Examples• 2) Drag & Drop & UI responding to

external events• Oroville Hospital Scheduler

– ExtJS– Node.js– EWD


Examples• 3. Responsive design using Bootstrap

– Oroville Hospital Patient Portal– Desktop, Tablet, Phone

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3D Graphics• WebGL

– Real-time 3-d rendering in the browser– Uses Canvas

• Which, in turn, accesses the graphics processor

• Significance:– The 3D design world sees the browser as

the next platform and JavaScript as the language


Examples• 3D visualisation of population data

– http://newnaw.com/pub/js/webglglobe/chinaanduspop/

• three.js: 3D JavaScript/WebGL framework

– http://threejs.org• Oroville Hospital: 3D medical proof of

concept


http://newnaw.com/pub/js/webglglobe/chinaanduspop/

http://newnaw.com/pub/js/webglglobe/chinaanduspop/

http://threejs.org

http://threejs.org

Examples• 5. WebRTC

– Oroville Hospital Patient Portal• online consultation with a doctor• Skype-like functionality• peer to peer• secured

– Note: no plug-ins

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The Games Industry

• BananaBread: 1st-person shooter– https://developer.cdn.mozilla.net/media/uploads/demos/a/z/azakai/3baf4ad7e600cbda06ec46efec5ec3b8/

bananabread_1368053467_demo_package/index.html

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https://developer.cdn.mozilla.net/media/uploads/demos/a/z/azakai/3baf4ad7e600cbda06ec46efec5ec3b8/bananabread_1368053467_demo_package/index.html




And if that wasn’t enough• Mozilla Foundation: asm.js

– Subset of Javascript– Enabled browser can compile it Just In Time



– Subset of Javascript– Enabled browser can compile it Just In Time– 50% the speed of raw C



– Subset of Javascript– Enabled browser can compile it Just In Time– 50% the speed of raw C

• Significance of asm.js:– Positions the browser as the new ubiquitous platform

for the gaming industry– JavaScript as the language for game developers


Example• Port of Unreal Engine to Mozilla/Firefox

– Unreal Tournament in a browser - without plugin

– http://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2013/03/27/mozilla-is-unlocking-the-power-of-the-web-as-a-platform-for-gaming/

– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O83-d0t0Ldw&feature=youtu.be


http://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2013/03/27/mozilla-is-unlocking-the-power-of-the-web-as-a-platform-for-gaming/




Conclusion• All the action is now based around:

– Browser as the UI platform– JavaScript as the language

• Focus for Healthcare application UI modernisation

• The browser is here to stay


Conclusion• Lessons to be learnt and skills to be gained

from the games & social media world– Visualisation of Big Data– Healthcare is all about Big Data– How to recruit and retain new developers with this

expertise– Make Healthcare IT as exciting and cool as the

gaming and social media industries?


Last word from Brendan Eich

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Rob Tweed HANDI Health Apps

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