Skip to main content

Presenting a Real-Time Activity-Based Bidirectional Framework for Improving Social Connectedness

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Advances in Computational Intelligence (IWANN 2017)

Abstract

New research on ambient displays within ambient assisted living (AAL) environments, demonstrates solid potential for the application of bidirectional activity-based context aware systems for promoting social connectedness between the elderly and their caregivers. Using visual, auditory or tactile modalities, such systems can reveal subtle information concerning health and well-being and stimulate co-presence between the pair. In this paper, we present the design and development of an activity-based framework aimed at enabling the real-time viewing of bidirectional activity states between the elderly and their caregivers. This framework seeks to overcome the limitations of existing ambient displays deployed in AAL settings, which are in most cases unidirectional and confined to the homes of its users. Our bidirectional activity-based framework, is based on an extensive literature review, expert advice and user feedback, which informed the design decisions about the product features and functionality. The system exploits a highly accurate activity recognition model to facilitate real-time activity awareness and an “always connected” service through portable interactive devices for stimulating social connectedness within the AAL domain.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. 1.

    https://www.developers.meethue.com/documentation/how-hue-works.

  2. 2.

    http://www.batteryspace.com/samsung-lithium-18650-rechargeable-cell-3-7v-2600mah-9-62wh---icr18650-26f---un38-3-passed.aspx.

References

  1. Bennett, T.R., Wu, J., Kehtarnavaz, N., Jafari, R.: Inertial measurement unit-based wearable computers for assisted living applications: a signal processing perspective. IEEE Sig. Process. Mag. 33(2), 28–35 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Consolvo, S., Everitt, K., Smith, I., Landay, J.A.: Design requirements for technologies that encourage physical activity. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 457–466. ACM (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Consolvo, S., Roessler, P., Shelton, B.E.: The carenet display: lessons learned from an in home evaluation of an ambient display. In: Davies, N., Mynatt, E.D., Siio, I. (eds.) UbiComp 2004. LNCS, vol. 3205, pp. 1–17. Springer, Heidelberg (2004). doi:10.1007/978-3-540-30119-6_1

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  4. Davis, K., Feijs, L., Hu, J., Marcenaro, L., Regazzoni, C.: Improving awareness and social connectedness through the social hue: insights and perspectives. In: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Interactive Technology and Ageing Populations, pp. 12–23. ACM (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Davis, K., Owusu, E., Bastani, V., Marcenaro, L., Hu, J., Regazzoni, C., Feijs, L.: Activity recognition based on inertial sensors for ambient assisted living. In: 2016 19th International Conference on Information Fusion (FUSION), pp. 371–378. IEEE (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Davis, K., Owusu, E., Hu, J., Marcenaro, L., Regazzoni, C., Feijs, L.: Promoting social connectedness through human activity-based ambient displays. In: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Interactive Technology and Ageing Populations, pp. 64–76. ACM (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Davis, K., Owusu, E., Marcenaro, L., Feijs, L., Regazzoni, C., Hu, J.: Evaluating human activity-based ambient lighting displays for effective peripheral communication. In: Proceedings of the 11th EAI International Conference on Body Area Networks, BodyNets 2016, pp. 148–154. ICST (Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering), Brussels (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hazer, O., Boylu, A.A.: The examination of the factors affecting the feeling of loneliness of the elderly. Procedia-Soc. Behav. Sci. 9, 2083–2089 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. He, W., Goodkind, D., Kowal, P.: An aging world: 2015, pp. 1–165. US Census Bureau (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Mankoff, J., Dey, A.K., Hsieh, G., Kientz, J., Lederer, S., Ames, M.: Heuristic evaluation of ambient displays. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 169–176. ACM (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Markopoulos, P., Ruyter, B.D., Mackay, W.: Awareness Systems: Advances in Theory Methodology and Design, 1st edn. Springer, London (2009)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  12. Matthews, T., Rattenbury, T., Carter, S.: Defining, designing, and evaluating peripheral displays: an analysis using activity theory. Hum.-Comput. Interact. 22(1–2), 221–261 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Rowan, J., Mynatt, E.D.: Digital family portrait field trial: support for aging in place. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 521–530. ACM (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Van Bel, D.T., IJsselsteijn, W.A., de Kort, Y.A.: Interpersonal connectedness: conceptualization and directions for a measurement instrument. In: CHI 2008 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 3129–3134. ACM (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Vastenburg, M.H., Visser, T., Vermaas, M., Keyson, D.V.: Designing acceptable assisted living services for elderly users. In: Aarts, E., Crowley, J.L., Ruyter, B., Gerhäuser, H., Pflaum, A., Schmidt, J., Wichert, R. (eds.) AmI 2008. LNCS, vol. 5355, pp. 1–12. Springer, Heidelberg (2008). doi:10.1007/978-3-540-89617-3_1

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  16. Visser, T., Vastenburg, M.H., Keyson, D.V.: Designing to support social connectedness: The case of snowglobe. Int. J. Des. 5(3), 129–142 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Weiser, M., Brown, J.S.: The coming age of calm technology. In: Weiser, M., Brown, J.S. (eds.) Beyond Calculation, pp. 75–85. Springer, New York (1997)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate (EMJD) in Interactive and Cognitive Environments (ICE), which is funded by Erasmus Mundus under the FPA no. 2010–2012. Many thanks to the participants who gave useful insights and perspectives toward the design and implementation of our system. Also, we would like to express our appreciation to Mr. Danny Jansen and Mr. Jasper Sterk for their assistance with this project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kadian Davis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this paper

Cite this paper

Davis, K. et al. (2017). Presenting a Real-Time Activity-Based Bidirectional Framework for Improving Social Connectedness. In: Rojas, I., Joya, G., Catala, A. (eds) Advances in Computational Intelligence. IWANN 2017. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 10306. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59147-6_31

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59147-6_31

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-59146-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-59147-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics