Greener clinical laboratory IT solutions may be needed

The future of clinical laboratory IT solutions may centre on being able to find new technologies to reduce their power consumption and carbon emissions.

A report from Rice University in Houston notes how development in the ICT sector has, for some time, been all about maintaining Moore's Law and its prediction of how processing power will evolve.

But little attention has been given to the environmental impact of clinical laboratory IT solutions and uses of computing technology the world over.

Rice University computer scientist Krishna Palem says: "In the face of growing global concerns over greenhouse carbon emission, the key for the industry is finding new technologies that deliver more performance for each kilogram of CO2 emitted."

However, the analyst also points out the ICT industry's history of innovation and embracing new technologies - and the options that are already on the table which could help to meet environmental concerns for the future.