Intelligent home monitoring with MMS technology
Scientists at the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) developed the concept of Unattended Autonomous Surveillance (UAS). UAS employs the latest technology to satisfy the public's growing needs for safety and independence without compromising privacy. UAS was applied in the framework of the INMOVE IST project in order to increase the autonomy of elderly persons as well as those with significant health problems. An intelligent home monitoring system was created that takes advantage of Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) technology. Image and video content is collected with adaptive optics camera equipment and is analysed continuously. Unexpected changes of state occur, such as someone falling, the system initiates attempts to communicate with the resident and alternatively with emergency services. The advantage is that crucial information, in the form of images or video, can be transmitted directly to emergency services, ensuring the fastest, most effective response. The information can be sent via email, Short Message Service (SMS), streaming video or MMS. Home monitoring system was successfully tested by real-world users during INMOVE, indicating its potential to allow the elderly to live unassisted in their own home longer. TNO is looking to convert the system prototype into a real product and market it to the housing industry.
