> Book an appointment with your doctor with your TV
- 25 Jul 07, 11:15 AM
A recent trial to allow patients to book appointments with their doctor via digital TV has been successfully completed and will be made available to more than 1,000 general practices across the country.
It is an interesting concept and a good use of technology. Just by pressing the interactive button on the TV remote control, a user can book, re-arrange or cancel an appointment with their doctor.
This week, a survey also found that one in four patients found it difficult to make advance bookings with their doctor. Having an additional way of doing this may help reduce that number.
I can see it having wide appeal, not least amongst those that do not have a computer. My grandfather, for instance might be tempted into giving this a go, and at 94, he’s not going to learn how to use a pc.
It may also appeal to low income families. Not everyone can afford a computer, but nearly all households in the UK have a TV. And with the digital switchover coming, the means to do it should be widely available.
But what about you? Is this something you'd be likely to use? Tell us in the comments.
Thinking of my grandfather raises another issue. He is partially sighted. One thing that would stop him from trying this out is the thought of pressing his nose up against the screen to see what he is doing.
If this kind of interactivity is to become commonplace on digital TV, then the need for a universally accessible set-top box is all the more important.
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Unfortunately, this service would currently be totally irrelevant for blind people, as there are no accessibility features for set-top boxes. While previously we were worried about entertainment features such as selecting from a program guide or ordering a pay-per-view on-demand movie, now, we're barred from the potentially useful ability to make a doctor appointment through our TV? Wow! Once again, our consumer orgs fall down on the job with respect to accessibility evangelism. I'm actually not aware of any scenario where set-top box accessibility has been addressed at all, at least not outside the purely R&D arena. I'd love to be proven wrong on this point...
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