ESCTAIC dates back to 1989, and is an established forum for communication between the clinical disciplines of anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine, and the technical disciplines including engineering and computer science. Since then 20 annual meetings have been held and the community of technologically interested anaesthestists and intensivists as well as medically oriented engineers and computer scientists continues to grow.

ESCTAIC meetings include something for all those interested in computational and technological solutions to clinical problems, including prominent speakers, tutorials and workshops in ESCTAIC's key topic areas.

In addition, ESCTAIC meetings often provide CME accreditation for the Anaesthetist or Intensivist. For those wishing to publish, all abstracts resulting from annual meetings are published in the Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing (http://www.springerlink.com/content/102923/). For the first time in 2009 authors of selected abstracts from the ESCTAIC meeting will be requested to write full articles for a special issue of the Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing. For industry the combination of practicing clinicians, scientists and technology developers provides a forum for discussion with customer and developer alike.

On average ESCTAIC meetings attract 150 participants. The meetings are always a mixture of scientific work, the exchange of ideas, practical advice and small talk with good friends in an informal atmosphere. This tradition is one of the strengths of a small focused society where newcomers are as welcome as experts.

The objectives of ESCTAIC are:

• The promotion of European scientific and practical activities and ideas in the field of computing and technology in anaesthesia and intensive care.
• The initiation and promotion of co-operation between European institutions working in the field of computing and technology in anaesthesia and intensive care.
• The promotion of informal transfer and co-operation between individuals, scientific institutions and commercial companies.
• The supply of information about computing and technology in this field.
• Communication with other societies working in this field.
• The promotion of teaching and training in this field.
• The utilization of knowledge and experience in this field.

ESCTAIC's key areas

The main topics discussed at ESCTAIC include research, development and application of the following technologies in anaesthesia and intensive care.

• 1. Ergonomics, workflow analysis and design.
• 2. Human Computer Interaction.
• 3. Monitoring.
• 4. New sensor technology.
• 5. Neurophysiological monitoring.
• 6. Mechanical ventilation.
• 7. The electronic operating room.
• 8. Patient Data Management, web based patient records.
• 9. Artificial intelligence and decision support.
• 10. Smart alarms.
• 11. Wireless networking.
• 12. Internet applications and remote monitoring.
• 13. Virtual textbooks.
• 14. Simulation.
• 15. Closed-loop systems.
• 16. Patient controlled analgesia.
• 17. Target controlled Infusion.
• 18. Economic benefits of technology.
• 19. Standardisation of data sets, e.g. for quality assurance.
• 20. Standards for technical devices.