Overcoming the digital divide: Assessing and developing video conferencing-based tele-health solutions in bandwidth-constrained rural and remote Areas

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With aging population and growing demands in quality healthcare in Canada, healthcare costs are expected to significantly increase in the coming decades. Tele-health solutions have great potentials in reducing the cost and improving the accessibility of health care. However, in rural communities or remote areas, existing Internet connectivity is inadequate to allow for high-quality video transmission, and existing video conferencing technologies lack the ability to work effectively under extremely low bandwidth conditions on low-cost accessible mobile consumer devices. In this project, we will address the afore-mentioned challenges in two stages. First, we will evaluate the performance of a state-of-the-art videoconferencing solution on mobile and web-based platforms. Evaluations will be conducted in both controlled as well as field environments. Second, based on the quantitative measurement study and qualitative insights gained from the first stage, we will develop adaptation techniques that automatically select codecs and communication modalities using both in-band signaling (e.g., via RTCP) as well as out-band measurements (e.g., packet pairs) to optimize MOS in low-bandwidth conditions. The outcome of the project not only is beneficial in extending quality care to remote communities in Canada but also can make Canada-based companies more competitive in global healthcare markets.