Communication technologies through an etymological lens: looking for a classification, reflections about health, medicine and care

Abstract

Information and communication technologies are widely used in healthcare. However, there is not still a unified taxonomy for them. The lack of understanding of this phenomenon implies theoretical and ethical issues. This paper attempts to find out the basis for a classification, starting from a new perspective: the structural elements are obtained from the etymologies of the lexicon commonly used, that is words like telemedicine, telehealth, telecare and telecure. This will promote a better understanding of communication technologies; at the same time, it will allow to draw some reflection about health, medicine and care, and their semantic and relational nature.

Keywords: Classification; Information and communication technologies; Taxonomy; Telecare; Telecure; Telehealth; Telemedicine.