Table 1.

Comparison between pointer technologies in telemedicine

Telepointer	Pointer manipulation/ Relationship	Hardware requirements	Advantage	Disadvantage
Laser	One to many	•Mounted laser pointer	•Expert can point directly to the specific point on the patient	•Not sufficient enough to lead the direction
		•Video camera
		•Computer devices
			•Save the search time with more accurate location
		•Video display
			•Easily incorporated into the modern operating theatre
			•Low cost installation.
Cursor	One to one	•Computer devices	•Easily incorporated into the modern operating theatre since computer is important devices at hospital for management and etc.	•Small graphical pointer on the screen display
	One to many	•Videoconferencing devices
				•Movement may not be noticeable especially in large screen
				•Doctor at local side needs to look repeatedly at the projected image to see the exact location of the expert’s pointer
			•Low cost installation.
				•Having to learn how to operate the mouse
				•Insufficient for an effective collaboration
Sketching	One to many	•Portable computer devices (PDA / Tablet)	•Freedom to draw anything without any restriction	•Doctor at local side needs to look repeatedly at the projected image to see the exact location of the expert’s pointer
		•Videoconferencing devices	•Multiple shape and size of pointer increase viewer awareness
		•Telestrator devices
		•Stylus pen
Hands	One to one	•Computer devices	•Can form many shapes of hand gestures	•High cost for installation
		•Face video camera
				•High bandwidth
				•Complex algorithm
		•Overhead video camera
		•Screen video camera
		•Wearable devices