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Chuck Adams
2009 President, IEEE Standards
Association
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Chuck
Adams has put a business-oriented stamp on his
academic and professional career in
engineering and computer science. Currently, as
Program Director of Standards and Open Source at
IBM, he is responsible for worldwide
standardization and intellectual property
coordination, as well as global open source
software policy management. He is the IEEE
Standards Association President-Elect and Chair of
the International Strategy Committee.
IEEE:
You are involved in developing global
standards. How does that work with medical-device
standards?
Adams:
The medical standards are our precursor
into joint development activity with the
International Standards Organization. Jointly
developing these standards with ISO broadens
the awareness and usability of the technology,
moving the standards down to the national
level, so that countries adopt them as
national standards.
IEEE:
Is IEEE working internationally with
businesses as well?
Adams:
Yes, and by working with Continua Healthcare Alliance (a
large, cross-industry consortium formed in
2006 in response to demands for
interoperability from the consumer-health movement)
we are seeing the standards develop into
actual devices and products.
IEEE:
Do manufacturers compete with each other
during the formation of standards, and if so, how
does IEEE handle this?
Adams:
IEEE is able to take a leadership role in
addressing the future needs of global healthcare
interoperability requirements. In short, it creates
a level playing field. The creation of
standards involves an open consensus process,
meaning all interested parties can participate.
We’ve established common protocols and
data structures for the delivery of information.
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