A Cloud-Based Smartphone Solution for Transmitting Bio-Signals From an Emergency Response Vehicle

Most developing countries are currently unable to provide adequate, let alone advanced healthcare support to rural areas. Telemedicine combines the capability of information technology and dedicated people working towards the common goal of providing good quality healthcare in remote areas. In this article, the authors propose a system that can be used to transmit patient vitals like pulse rate, oxygen saturation, and perfusion index readings to a doctor in a remote area, while a patient is in transit. This system uses a smartphone application, a pulse oximeter, and the real-time data transferring capabilities of Firebase (a cloud database). The application has been tested under various network conditions which includes connection types such as 2G (2nd Generation), 3G (3rd Generation), 4G (4th Generation), and Fiber To The Home (FTTH). The work also discusses the possible reasons for the higher performance found in 4G networks over 3G and 2G cellular connections.