Health and lifestyle information: anytime, anywhere
Healthsat, funded by the European Commission under the IST field of the Fifth Framework Programme, is a project aimed at providing lifestyle information as and when required, allowing people to make informed decisions about their health. The project, which will develop an integrated satellite plus web plus WAP platform for the first health and lifestyle specific rich-media, is due to commence by January 2001 and will last for three years. The project aspires to bring information direct to people anywhere and anytime, making use of the most advanced and open technologies relating to satellite, the Internet and mobile telecommunication. Personalised services will also be provided. Healthsat will create an efficient organisation between companies and organisations with skills in information technologies, health and broadcasting, who will work together to produce television programmes as well as web and WAP services combining quality, credibility and relevance of medical information with attractiveness of lifestyle content. Programming will be adapted to all multi-cultural and multi-lingual aspects of every EU Member State. The combination of 'anytime, anywhere' access, its use of various media outlets and its multi-linguistic programming make Healthsat a highly innovative project, says MMC Europe, one of the project partners.