Patient monitoring: on-line computing.

On-line computing represents a further extension of the senses of attendant staff in intensive care situations. Smaller computers will contribute as scientific processors, by extending the capability of instrumental systems or enabling new means of measurement and calculation. The fullest use of computer-aid will provide systems of data acquisition from multiple sources, rapid processing correlation, analysis in mathematical and diagnostic forms, and resultant output in simply intelligible displays: later, some direct control of therapy may be applied.