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A Framework for Managing the Experimental Evaluation of Ambient Assisted Living Systems

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Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing & Ambient Intelligence (UCAmI 2023) (UCAmI 2023)

Abstract

Designing, setting up and running experiments is a key phases of studies, but it can be quite tedious due to the need to synchronise signals from data-collecting sensors, change variables between experiments, and manage volunteers. This article presents the architecture of a framework for managing and running experiments. It allows to easily manage the parameters of each of the tests assigned to the users and the information about them. It also enables the remote control of experiments via TCP communication, the integration and synchronisation of different devices via OpenViBE, and storage of data and signals in time series databases via InfluxDB. To illustrate the capabilities of the framework more clearly, we will also present a case study in an augmented reality environment using the HoloLens2 device. It describes the use of the framework in an experiment involving the display of different appearances of assistive drones to study participants to analyse their acceptance. After viewing the different drones in an augmented environment, participants are asked to provide subjective feedback through questionnaires and objective feedback through heart rate and eye-tracking sensors. This case study shows how the use of this framework streamlines testing by allowing test configuration, uniquely identifying the information provided by each participant and synchronising the information obtained from the different sensors.

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Acknowledgements

This paper has been funded by Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha and by European Regional Development Fund (SBPLY/21/180501/000030), by Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (2022-GRIN-34436), and by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way to make Europe” (PID2020-115220RB-C21). This work was also partially supported by CIBERSAM of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III.

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Correspondence to Javier Jiménez-Ruescas .

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Jiménez-Ruescas, J., Sánchez, R., Maya, Y., Fernández-Caballero, A., García, A.S., González, P. (2023). A Framework for Managing the Experimental Evaluation of Ambient Assisted Living Systems. In: Bravo, J., Urzáiz, G. (eds) Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing & Ambient Intelligence (UCAmI 2023). UCAmI 2023. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 835. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-48306-6_13

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