ABSTRACT
Distance learning has been described as 'the sort of study not led by teachers present in classrooms but supported by tutors and an organization at a distance from the student'. Distance learning is an important aspect of continuing medical education (CME) for health professionals. The communication components of a telemedicine system are basically the same as those used in telephone networks throughout the world. The existence of a comprehensive public telephone network system capable of transmitting the signals required by the users obviates the necessity for the capital costs of constructing a private network. Radio transmission can be either point-to-point or broadcast. The capacity of a broad-band channel is greater than that of a narrow-band one. A typical broad-band channel will carry a colour video signal and an associated audio channel. The medico-legal issue of client confidentiality when using a broadcast network for transmission of medical information can be overcome by the use of an encryption technique.
