To provide for a coordinated Federal program to accelerate development and dissemination of applications of high-performance computing and high- speed networking, and for other purposes.
"(a) In General.--The Plan shall specify projects to develop and apply high-performance computing and high-speed networking technologies for use in the health care sector. The Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control, shall be the lead agency for implementing the activities required by this section.
"(b) Clinical Information Systems.--In accordance with subsection (a), applications related to clinical information systems shall include--
"(1) testbed networks for linking hospitals, clinics, doctor's offices, medical schools, medical libraries, and universities to enable health care providers and researchers to share medical images and to develop computer-based records;
"(2) software and visualization technology for visualizing the human anatomy and analyzing diagnostic images and records;
"(3) virtual reality technology for simulating surgical and medical procedures;
"(4) collaborative technology to allow several health care providers in remote locations to provide real-time treatment to patients;
"(5) database technology to provide health care providers with access to relevant medical information and literature; and
"(6) database technology for storing, accessing, and transmitting patients' medical records while protecting the accuracy and privacy of those records.
"(c) Health Information to the Public.--In accordance with subsection (a), applications related to delivery of health information to the public shall include--
"(1) development, testing, and evaluation of database and network technologies for the storage of consumer-oriented, interactive, multimedia materials for health promotion, and for the distribution of such materials to public access points, such as community health and human service agencies, schools, and public libraries;
"(2) pilot programs to develop, test, and evaluate the effectiveness and cost efficiency of interactive, multimedia materials to assist patients in deciding among health care options;
"(3) development and demonstration of human/computer interfaces to allow nonspecialists in computing and networking technologies ease of access to and use of databases of health information and networks providing health information services; and
"(4) development, testing, and evaluation of database and network access technologies to provide individuals with health information, including health risk appraisal, preventative medical advice, and disease treatment options, which is oriented to nonhealth professionals and which is customized to take into consideration an individual's medical history.
"(d) Health Delivery Systems and Population Data Sets.--In accordance with subsection (a), applications for health delivery systems and for gathering population data sets shall include--
"(1) testbed networks and software that permits collaborative communication among local public and private health and human service providers, such as health centers, clinics, entitlement offices, and school-based clinics, to enable health and human service providers to work together in delivering coordinated services for at-risk populations;
"(2) pilot programs to develop high speed communications networks and software for providing health care providers with--
"(A) immediate, on-line access to up-to-date clinic-based health promotion and disease prevention recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and other Public Health Service agencies; and
"(B) a two-way communications link with prevention specialists in State and local health departments, and other agencies with information germane to clinic-based health promotion and disease prevention; and
"(3) development, testing, and evaluation of database technologies to provide clinicians with access to information to guide and assist them in providing diagnosis, providing treatment, and providing advice regarding health promotion and disease prevention to patients, and to facilitate the gathering of systematic population data sets in compatible formats on the efficacy of treatments and on national health trends.
"(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the purposes of this section, $24,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, $70,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, $82,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, $94,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and $94,000,000 for fiscal year 1998.
"(a) In General.--The Plan shall specify projects to develop technologies for 'digital libraries' of electronic information. The National Science Foundation shall be the lead agency for implementing the activities required by this section.
"(b) Digital Libraries.--In accordance with subsection (a), activities to support the development of digital libraries shall include--
"(1) development of advanced data storage systems capable of storing hundreds of trillions of bits of data and giving thousands of users simultaneous and nearly instantaneous access to that information;
"(2) development of high-speed, highly accurate systems for converting printed text, page images, graphics, and photographic images into electronic form;
"(3) development of database software capable of quickly searching, filtering, and summarizing large volumes of text, imagery, data, and sound;
"(4) encouragement of the development and adoption of common standards and, where appropriate, common formats for electronic data;
"(5) development of computer-based means to categorize and organize electronic information in a variety of formats;
"(6) training of database users and librarians in the use of and development of electronic databases;
"(7) development of means for simplifying the utilization of networked databases distributed around the Nation and around the world; and
"(8) development of visualization methods for quickly browsing large volumes of imagery.
"(c) Development of Prototypes.--In accordance with subsection (a), the Plan shall provide for the development of prototype digital libraries to serve as testbeds for the systems, software, standards, and methods developed under subsection (b). The prototype digital libraries shall be accessible by the public via the Internet. In carrying out this subsection, an evaluation shall be conducted of the suitability and utility of distributing electronic information over the Internet, including cataloging and evaluating the kinds of uses and determining barriers that impair use of the Internet for this purpose.
"(d) Development of Databases of Remote-Sensing Images.--The National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall develop databases of software and remote-sensing images to be made available over computer networks.
"(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated--
"(1) to the National Science Foundation for the purposes of this section, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, $35,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, $44,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and $44,000,000 for fiscal year 1998; and
"(2) to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the purposes of this section, $6,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, $16,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1998.