AAL 2011 Abstracts

Full Papers Short Papers
Full Papers
Paper Nr: 2
Title:

Motion Pattern Generation and Recognition for Mobility Assessments in Domestic Environments
Authors:

Thomas Frenken, Enno-E. Steen, Melina Brell, Wolfgang Nebel and Andreas Hein
Abstract: A novel approach to continuous and unobtrusive detection of motion patterns in domestic environments is presented. Motion patterns refer to motion primitives which can be detected via presence events emitted by ambient sensors. The approach enables adaption of the system to heterogeneous environments by building upon two pieces of information: a 2D/3D floor plan of the environment and a definition of available sensors. Using this input the system is capable of generating all information required for the monitoring. This minimizes effort for adaption of the system to other environments. A path-planning algorithm is used to automatically detect possible motion patterns and their length within the environment. A generated sensor-graph and finite state machines enable effective processing of sensor events on a common set-top-box. An experiment with 15 participants was conducted. The system is especially suitable for unobtrusive long-term trend analysis in self-selected gait velocity and does not require direct interaction with people monitored.
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Paper Nr: 3
Title:

On the Development of an Automatic ECG Monitoring System for Diabetic Patients
Authors:

Nuno Gonçalves and Luis Coelho
Abstract: Diabetes has become progressively common throughout the world due to changes in the lifestyle and in the eating habits. Among other consequences, this disease seriously affects the circulatory system, whose complications are the leading cause of death in diabetics. In this paper we present a new device, developed specifically for diabetics, which allows estimating blood glucose levels and, simultaneously, automatically detect potentially pathological electrocardiographic patterns. We will present the entire processing sequence system and will give special importance to the modules targeting the electrocardiogram (ECG) and its analysis. A set of reference databases has been used as support for performance evaluation. The system proved to be able to effectively detect changes in the ECG morphology for occurrences of different nature and in various contexts. The use of the ECG signal, whose acquisition is non-invasive, provides comfort to the user and has the advantage of allowing a continuous patient monitoring.
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Paper Nr: 6
Title:

Output Matters! Adaptable Multimodal Output for New Telerehabilitation Services for the Elderly

Authors:

António Teixeira, Carlos Pereira, Miguel Oliveira e Silva, Joaquim Alvarelhão, António Neves and Osvaldo Pacheco
Abstract: Technologies capable of being used by the older adults, with their specificities, to provide new services in the areas of telehealth and Ambient Assisted Living are needed. In this paper, we describe a new service, and its first prototype implementation, in the area of elderly health support at home. Special care was taken to improve the usability, adaptability to user and context and inclusiveness capabilities of the output. The basis for intelligent adaptation of the multimodal output – called AdaptO – is proposed and first versions of the needed services and agents were created.
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Paper Nr: 8
Title:

A Mobile Robotic Platform for Elderly Care
Authors:

J. Cunha, António J. R. Neves, José Luis Azevedo, Bernardo Cunha, Nuno Lau, Artur Pereira and António Teixeira
Abstract: This paper presents the proposal of a robotic platform for elderly care integrated in the Living Usability Lab for Next Generation Networks. The project aims at developing technologies and services tailored to enable the active aging and independent living of the elderly population. The proposed robotic platform is based on the CAMBADA robotic soccer platform, with the necessary modifications, both at hardware and software levels, while simultaneously applying the experiences achieved in the robotic soccer environment.
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Paper Nr: 10
Title:

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability of Health as a Conceptual Framework for the Design, Development and Evaluation of AAL Services for Older Adults
Authors:

Alexandra Queirós, Joaquim Alvarelhão, Anabela Silva, António Amaro, António Teixeira and Nelson Pacheco da Rocha
Abstract: The paper presents the International Classification of Functioning, Disability of Health (ICF) as a comprehensive model for a holistic approach for the design, development and evaluation of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) services for older adults. ICF can be used to systemize the information that influence individual's performance and to characterize users, theirs contexts, activities and participation. Furthermore, ICF can be used to structure a semantic characterization of AAL services and as a basis to develop methodological instruments for the services evaluation.
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Paper Nr: 11
Title:

On the Benefits of Speech and Touch Interaction with Communication Services for Mobility Impaired Users
Authors:

Carlos Galinho Pires, Fernando Miguel Pinto, Eduarda Mendes Rodrigues and Miguel Sales Dias
Abstract: Although technology for communication has evolved tremendously over the past decades, mobility impaired individuals still face many difficulties interacting with communication services, either due to HCI issues or intrinsic design problems with the services. In this paper we present the results of a usability study, conducted with a group of five mobility impaired users, comprising paraplegic and quadriplegic individuals. The study participants carried out a set of tasks with a multimodal (speech, touch, gesture, keyboard and mouse) and multiplatform (mobile, desktop) prototype, offering an integrated access to communication and entertainment services, such as email, agenda, conferencing and social media. The prototype was designed to take into account the requirements captured from these users, with the objective of evaluating if the use of multimodal interfaces for communication and social media services, could improve the interaction with such services. Our study revealed that a multimodal prototype system, offering natural interaction modalities, especially supporting speech and touch, can in fact improve access to the presented services, contributing to a better social inclusion of mobility impaired individuals.
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Short Papers
Paper Nr: 1
Title:

Reliable and Optimal Location System for Monitoring Geolocation Objects

Authors:

Hamid Mcheick and Abdelali Goundafi
Abstract: Location systems for remote objects (vehicle, person, commodity, etc.) are increasingly used today by several enterprises. These systems use positioning devices such as GPS and communication devices to send remote location data and monitor these objects. The constraint of GPS is that it does not provide a precise position at any time. The second constraint is to sending remote location data. Often, the communication devices used for this purpose are GSM modules that send data on the GSM network. The use of GSM network is expensive to send data periodically. To overcome these drawbacks, monitoring prototype is proposed to create a reliable and optimal location system using radio and GPS technologies.
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Paper Nr: 7
Title:

A New Living Lab for Usability Evaluation of ICT and Next Generation Networks for Elderly@Home

Authors:

António Teixeira, Nelson Rocha, Miguel Sales Dias, Daniela Braga, Alexandra Queirós, Osvaldo Pacheco, José Alberto Fonseca, Joaquim Sousa Pinto, Hugo Gamboa, Luís Corte-Real, João Fonseca, Joaquim Arnaldo Martins, António Neves, Paulo Bartolomeu, Catarina Oliveira, João Cunha and Carlos Pereira
Abstract: Living Usability Lab for Next Generation Networks (www.livinglab.pt) is a Portuguese industry-academia collaborative R&D project, active in the field of live usability testing, focusing on the development of technologies and services to support healthy, productive and active citizens. The project adopts the principles of universal design and natural user interfaces (speech, gesture) making use of the benefits of next generation networks and distributed computing. Therefore, it will have impact on the general population, including the elderly and citizens with permanent or situational special needs. This paper presents project motivations, conceptual model, architecture and work in progress.
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Paper Nr: 9
Title:

aal@home: A New Home Care Wireless Biosignal Monitoring Tool for Ambient Assisted Living
Authors:

Joana Sousa, Susana Palma, Hugo Silva and Hugo Gamboa
Abstract: In this article we describe a new wireless biosignal system which monitors in a long-term basis, the users at their homes. The system consists of wearable sensors that measure heart rate, blood oxygen saturation and physical activity levels, sending data to a mobile phone and from this to a remote monitoring station located in a clinical facility. Whenever an abnormal situation occurs, an alarm is triggered and caregivers can provide assistance. The system has been deployed at a major Portuguese public hospital and 30 patients under long-term oxygen therapy have been continuously monitored remotely. The results report that the patients feel comfortable and safe when they are continuously remote monitored and for caregivers the system allows them to optimize their time and give better and faster assistance.
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Paper Nr: 4
Title:

Real-time Biosignal Acquisition and Telemedicine Platform for AAL based on Android OS
Authors:

Hugo Silva, André Lourenço and Nuno Paz
Abstract: Among other strategic action points, the Ambient Assisted Living Joint Programme framework has defined telemedicine and remote monitoring as major applications for improved quality of care. With the advent of novel, game-changing mobile platforms, the technological basis is now in place to provide more capable and usable systems for this practice. In this paper, we present a real-time biosignal acquisition and telemedicine platform based on Android OS, as both the system and the available handsets present highly desirable features for the field. The proposed platform was used in the context of a continuous real time monitoring of ECG signal showing one simple example of its applicability.
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