HOME ASSURANCE SYSTEMPaul Cuddihy, GE Global Research

General Electric is moving forward rap-idly with technology to help families withan elderly parent living independently inhis or her own home. The Home Assur-ance system will augment a traditional in-home panic button with a gateway mod-ule capable of transmitting additionalinformation to family caregivers in near-real time via a secure Web site.

The system can collect data usingwireless motion sensors and window ordoor sensors already common in manyhomes. If desired, these small wirelesssensors can monitor specific areas, suchas the refrigerator door or movement inthe bathroom. Additional sensors canmonitor the temperature and detectwater leaks, smoke, or carbon monox-ide. The system sends sensor activationsoffsite, where a computer-processingcenter translates them into useful activ-ity summaries that family caregivers canaccess via the Internet.

Researchers at GEs Global ResearchCenter have collected over 1,200 daysof data from the homes of seniors,demonstrating the ability to detect activ-

ity patterns and alert the family when ahome is unusually quiet. Figure 1 showsquiet times in a home as peaks that growhigher as the home remains quiet. Whendays are stacked behind each other, nor-

mal sleep becomes a large ridge, anddaytime quiet periods are smaller free-standing peaks. The appearance of anunusual peak on this surface can prompta call to a family member.

The systems rollout later this yearholds promise that pervasive sensingand computing is finding its way intothe homes of seniors. More powerful andexciting applications that can enhanceindependent living are truly on thehorizon.

For more information, contact PaulCuddihy at cuddihy@research.ge.com.

Successful AgingEDITORS INTRODUCTION

Editor: Anthony D. Joseph UC Berkeley adj@cs.berkeley.edu

Works in Progress

48 PERVASIVEcomputing Published by the IEEE CS and IEEE ComSoc 1536-1268/04/$20.00 2004 IEEE

This issues Works in Progress department presents six abstracts for projects that are develop-

ing interesting solutions to the elderlys quality-of-life challenges. The first two abstracts discuss

projects that will help provide the elderly with freedom and independence by instrumenting

their environments with supportive technology. The next two abstracts discuss projects build-

ing specialized user interfaces to address some of the challenges associated with aging, such as

vision impairment. The final two abstracts present projects that will aid independence for the

elderly by providing remote monitoring and assistance. Anthony D. Joseph

EDITORS INTRODUCTION

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Figure 1. An activity summary from General Electrics Home Assurance system.

ILLUMINATION-BASEDLOCATOR ASSISTSALZHEIMERS PATIENTS Roderick T. Hinman, Al-ThaddeusAvestruz, Elmer C. Lupton, GaryLivshin, and John I. Rodriguez,Talking Lights

Steven B. Leeb, MassachusettsInstitute of Technology

Corinne M. Clark, Kathy J. Horvath,Ladislav Volicer, E.R. Rogers VAHospital

Context-aware computing representsan important opportunity to assist theelderly, infirm, and physically chal-lenged. However, most methods forproviding location information insidebuildings require extensive hardwareand installation effort. Accurately gaug-ing indoor location with a portablecomputing device remains a challenge.

Talking Lights, in collaboration withMITs Electrical Engineering and Com-puter Science Department, is using mod-ulated illumination as a locator meansfor context-aware systems. The systemsuse ordinary fluorescent fixtures, incan-descent table lamps, and compact fluo-rescent lamps with standard bulbs andwiring to provide an inherent spatialsampling. An appropriate power elec-tronic circuit can modulate illuminationto encode information without percep-tible visual flicker.1 Simply replacing afluorescent lamp ballast turns the lampinto a Talking Light transmitter.

The optical illumination signal is nat-urally at a higher power level than otherdedicated transmitters (such as Bluetooth,IR beacons, or wireless LANs). The mod-ulated illumination supplies a unique sig-nal precisely associated with its location.A mobile computer or PDA equippedwith an optical receiver then processes thesignal. The resultant specific locationinformation lets application softwareachieve context awareness.2

We previously reported on this tech-nology as a prototype guiding systemfor traumatic brain injury patients.3 Wealso have used the system to address thetendency of Alzheimers patients to seek

exits. In preliminary trials, patients fol-lowed audio guidance and werentantagonized or disoriented by the dis-embodied voices emanating from theportable devices.

We continue to research using illumi-nation as locators for context awareness.Illumination transmitters and receiversare available from Talking Lights forother workers in the field to evaluate anduse.

For more information, contact NeilLupton at neil@talking-lights.com.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSNational Institute on Aging grant 1R43AG17772supported this work.

REFERENCES

1. S.B. Leeb et al., Dual Use Electronic Trans-ceivers for Wireless Data Networks, USpatent 6,198,230, Patent and TrademarkOffice, 2001.

2. E.C. Lupton et al., Communication Sys-tems, US patent 6,400,482, Patent andTrademark Office, 2002.

3. D.T. Burke et al., Using Talking Lights toAssist Brain-Injured Patients with DailyInpatient Therapeutic Schedule, J. HeadInjury Trauma, vol. 16, no. 3, 2001, pp.284291.

CONTEXT-AWAREINVISIBLE INTERFACES

Bjorn Landfeldt, Judy Kay, Robert Kummerfeld, Aaron Quigley, and David West,University of Sydney

Trent Apted and Gavin Sinclair,National ICT Australia

Project Nightingale researchers aredeveloping a context-aware data man-agement system across a suite of per-sonal computing devices with an appliedfocus on applications that stimulateintellectual and social fitness in the eld-erly. The projects goal is to substitutethe classic desktop interface with invis-ible and ambient interfaces that let indi-viduals or groups engage in reminis-cence-oriented group activities.

Our user studies have identified a

broad range of simple technologies andphysical objects currently in use thatstir and support these activities. Ourgoal is to develop systems and applica-tions for reminiscing that can be usedas naturally as current tangible devicessuch as photo albums, scrapbooks, andcommunal table environments. We aimto realize this by incorporating tech-nologies for memory collection, meta-data specification, shared table systems,pen-paper control, voice control, andhaptic and ambient feedback.

To support such natural environments,weve developed a virtual personal-server-space architecture. This architec-ture supports varying network topolo-gies but relies on each individual carryinga device ranging from a personal serverto an identifier for a logical home server.The server space incorporates twoplanesdata and contextin support ofapplications.

The data plane manages synchro-nization, caching, migration, and secu-rity as the individual personal area net-work moves through different networktopologies. The context plane managesdevice characteristics, service availabil-ity, modalities, and learning. In practice,applications require these services to beoffered from devices within the PANwhen decoupled from the network.However, they might use services resid-ing in the nearby computing environ-ment as they become available.

For more information, contact AaronQuigley at aquigley@it.usyd.edu.au;www.cs.usyd.edu.au/~aquigley.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSmart Internet CRC and National ICT Australia grantssupported this work.

A USER-CENTERED APPROACHTO DESIGNDavid J. Haniff, Roy Kalawsky,David Atkins, and Martin Lewin,Loughborough University

Loughborough University is one of 40partners involved in The Application

APRILJUNE 2004 PERVASIVEcomputing 49

Home Initiative, funded by the US De-partment of Trade and Industry. OneTAHI research area is how technologycan support users with disabilities and theelderly. However, because the elderly tendto be more resistant to change, theyretypically late to adopt new technology.

So, at Loughborough University, weare working with our Ergonomics andSafety Research Institute to produceergonomically sound applications. Ourhope is that by producing systems thatare easy to use, we can better communi-cate to the elderly the benefits and use-fulness of ubiquitous computing. Onepotential application could place pres-sure-sensitive pads next to an elderly per-sons bed to indicate whether that per-son has left the bed. Another applicationcould open curtains electronically.

Central to our work is an adaptable,user-centered design approachfor ex-ample, an elderly person with visionimpairments might need to enlarge anelectronic displays components. The user-centered approach consists of involvingpotential pervasive-technology users inworkshops geared toward ascertainingservices that the user requires. The userinterface will also be evaluated usingstandard metrics such as questionnairesand the measurement of performancetime.

For more information, contact DavidHaniff at d.haniff@lboro.ac.uk.

NEXT-GENERATION TELECARESYSTEMSteve J. Brown, BT Exact

BT Exact has received funding underthe UK Department of Trade and Indus-trys Next Wave Technologies and Mar-kets program to establish and managethe Care in the Community Center. Thecenter aims to develop and demonstratea next-generation telecare system thatcan monitor an elderly persons well-being. The center includes partnersfrom the universities of Bristol, Dundee,Liverpool, and Loughborough.

Well-being monitoring aims to pro-vide stakeholders in the care domain

with an intuitive early-warning systemto facilitate appropriate care-providerintervention. Such a system couldreduce governmental care costs whileincreasing an individuals quality oflife.

Work within the center started inFebruary 2003 by developing an under-standing of what constitutes well-being.Results indicate that well-being consistsof person and context factors that affectthe type of daily activities performedand also the experience gained fromperforming those activities. A changein an individuals well-being will leadto a change in one or more of that indi-viduals daily activities. Some activitieswere currently focusing on includeleaving and returning home, having vis-itors, preparing food, sleeping, main-taining personal appearance, and per-forming leisure activities.

Were currently developing sensorsfor monitoring these activities. To helpkeep cost and power requirements to theabsolute minimum, where possible, thesystem will tap into existing sensor sys-tems such as security alarms, smokedetectors, and, in the future, smartappliances.

Within the next few months, we willbegin deploying sensors in a real envi-ronment to model the activities. Thiswill lead to developing an intelligentdata-analysis system that can monitorchanges in the well-being of individu-als using Bayesian statistics and fuzzylogic techniques. The intent is to have afully working demonstrator toward theend of 2004.

For more information, see www.btexact.com/research/researchprojects/currentresearch?doc=80064 or www.nextwave.org.uk/centres/care.htm.

LINKPING UNIVERSITYSVIRTUAL COMPANION PROJECT Nahid Shahmehri, Johan Aberg,Dennis Maciuszek, and IoanChisalita, Linkping University

The virtual companion project at IISLAB(the Laboratory for Intelligent Infor-

mation Systems) aims to increase eld-erly peoples independence and qualityof life by realizing an always-availableaid that assists with daily activities andconsiders individual needs and currentcontext.

To deal with the diversity of individ-ual needs, were developing a toolkitthat automatically generates personal-ized companions. The user, caregivers,and experts in relevant domains canmake selections from the toolkit re-garding activities to be supported (driv-ing, meal planning, and so forth) andtypes of support (monitoring, guid-ance, and so forth). They also specifyuser characteristics (such as drivingskills and food preferences) and theenvironment (street map, kitchen archi-tecture, and so on), from which modelsfor adaptivity and context-awarenessare generated.

Safety monitoring for driving andmeal-planning guidance are two serv-ices were currently implementing.Accident statistics prove the importanceof assisting elderly drivers, and theprevalence of malnutrition among theelderly highlights the importance ofmeal-planning guidance. Our approachto safety monitoring for driving isbased on peer-to-peer and ad hoc net-work communication of safety-relatedinformation (such as road conditions)between cars on the same road, andbetween the car and nearby base sta-tions along the road. Our system ana-lyzes the information and alerts theuser when necessary.

Our meal-planning guidance systemis based on a new approach to recom-mender algorithms (using decision net-works) that considers the users pref-erences and context (for example,dietary restrictions, nutritional data,and available ingredients). Addition-ally, the toolkit allows the creation ofmany similar services that together willincrease independence and quality oflife.

For more information, see www.ida.liu.se/labs/iislab or contact Johan Abergat johab@ida.liu.se.

WORKS IN PROGRESS

W O R K S I N P R O G E S S

50 PERVASIVEcomputing www.computer.org/pervasive