Smart Objects in Ambient Assisted Living
Introduction
The focus of the project will be to explore the use of intelligent objects, aka augmented objects, or smart objects in the development of context aware applications for monitoring well-being and supporting independent living. These objects allow us to infer something about the user. The objects of interest are primarily those commonly found in the home. An intelligent object is a physical object containing a networked embedded system, comprising sensors and actuators. The object may react to the user based on its internal state (Siegemund 2007).
Background
AAL researchers develop methodologies to automatically understand and model interactions between a human-user and the environment, to infer the cognitive state or physical capability of a person, build profiles for a person's behavior and detect changes. Given knowledge of context, the environment can respond appropriately to assist and provide support.
Just as sensors embedded in the building fabric can provide context information to support context-aware applications, additional information about a person’s cognitive state and physical capability can be inferred from interactions with familiar objects in the environment. Monitoring well-being, in the context of AAL, seeks to automate the diagnostic assessment process through the use of embedded technology. The interaction is a continuous process whereby the environment and intelligent objects within are responsive to the user; eliciting further interaction from the user.
The streaming observations are analyzed automatically for diagnostic value.
The benefits of augmenting mundane objects mean AAL can be employed to support independent living.
The development of an augmented / intelligent object for supporting assisted living requires a collaborative effort from a number of disciplines; from computer science, and robotics to mechanical and material engineering and health / medicine (Cahill-a 2007, Cahill-b 2007). Other fields such as human-computer interaction, psychology and statistics are needed to understand the human dimension e.g. acceptance.
Brief Work Plan
The development of an augmented / intelligent object for supporting assisted living requires a collaborative effort from a number of disciplines; from computer science, and engineering to health / medicine. The project will focus on the computer science aspects of the problem developing algorithms e.g. Bayesian formalism (Bayes networks) to analyse the manner in which a person interacts with a smart object.
- Literature review in the areas of ambient assisted living and augmented objects for physical and cognitive assistance;
- Investigate requirements to support a person with mild physical and/or cognitive decline in the home and define a use case with input from stakeholders
- Select a household object to augment.
- Develop a design framework to provide a solution for the use case and apply framework to a demonstrator within the Living Lab
- Validation and assessment of a demonstrator
References
- Cahill, S. et al, , Technology in dementia care, Technology and Disability 19 (2007) 55–60
- Siegemund, F., A Context-Aware Communication Platform for Smart Objects, Proc. 2nd International Conference on Pervasive Computing (Pervasive 2004)
- Cahill, S., “It gives me a sense of independence” – Findings from Ireland on the use and usefulness of assistive technology for people with dementia, Technology and Disability 19 (2007) 133–142
- Sixsmith, A., Using technology to help older people live independently: THE SOPRANO PROJECT, SFU, Vol. 17 No. 1 2008
Personnel Involved
First Supervisor: Monekosso, DN Dr
Second Supervisor: Grigorash, AV Dr
Collaboration: This project does not involve collaboration with another establishment