Giraff.X robot is improved from being tele-operated to being an autonomous body, navigating by RGB-D cameras and 2D laser scanner and guided by the VC. The use of small RF-ID tags attached to some everyday objects in combination with a RF-ID antenna mounted on Giraff.X is explored to assist elders to find lost objects with an innovative approach.
Specific clinical indexes of frailty are measured completely unobtrusively through smart objects: grip force through an anti-stress ball and gait step length and stability through insoles. A smart pen has been developed to collect motion and pressure data (“motion signature”) in normal hand-writing, providing indexes related to both physical and cognitive degradation. The real-time analysis of the voice picked up by the distributed microphone system and the smart phone is being explored to early detect cognitive decline. Along the same line, we have developed a new modality of providing clinical tests along specific cognitive dimensions: episodic and prospective memory, apathy, temporal orientation and confabulation, through distributed spot questions provided by the VC to the elder in different days. This new monitoring approach could be called transparent to the user because the elder is not aware of being monitored as the monitoring system is completely pervasive and distributed in the environment. Moveover, it allows acquiring the elder natural behavior without splitting the monitoring stage from the ordinary life and may set the ground for novel early detection of neurological decline.
For therapy adherence, we aim at a more effective reminder system, based on a multi-media approach.
We have developed a novel concept of a Community Based Activity Center: a multi-device platform that allows elders, who live in different houses, to do activity together and at the same time interact audio-video. The activity center becomes in fact a social engine. We also explore gamification in AAL setting as a tool to boost motivation to use the CBAC.
With this innovation MOVECARE impacts forseen are the following:
• To provide a multi-actors heterogeneous system to support the independent living of the elders, in terms of monitoring, assistance and suggestions. MOVECARE assembles off-the-shelf components in a robust and reliable way to get a low-cost system that can be deployed massively at elders’ home.
• To realize an autonomous integrated system with a robust design against errors or inaction of any specific actor. Redundancy of components in the MOVECARE system is exploited through technology equivalence, providing multiple devices and modalities for the different functionalities.
• To develop and test novel methodologies and metrics, both functional to describe user experience and technical to characterize the system functioning, for the assessment of a heterogenous multi-actors system.
• To increase elders safety and confidence in living independently at home longer by constant monitoring everyday life in a completely transparent and unobtrusive way.
• To study a new care model of elders living independently that empowers both the elders and informal caregivers, strengthening the relationship between users and caregivers producing a better coordination of the care.
• To empower elders. MOVECARE changes the personal behaviour and attitude to improve lifestyle.
• To improve social inclusion through a virtual community that connects elders and promotes socialization.
