A Context-Aware Architecture for Personalized Elderly Care in Smart Environments

Much research has focused recently on the development of smart environments and services for human-centered applications for personalized care and improved quality of life. This is especially relevant to support the elderly to lead an active and independent life. Recent efforts exploited the state of art development in the Internet of Things, Smart Sensors grid, Embedded and Wearable systems as well as Cloud Computing to build mathematical models of personal behavior and lifestyle largely driven by big data analytics. In order to overcome the range of challenges associated with the size and heterogeneity of the related data, hardware and software, as well as of the human and social factors involved, a context-aware architecture appropriate for smart environments is needed. This paper describes ACTiVAGE (ACTiVe AGeing sErvices), a conceptual framework for developing Personalized Elderly Care services that leverage big data analytics for context-awareness in smart environments

Desenvolvimento de uma plataforma laboratorial para aquisição de biosinais

Para onde quer que olhemos vemos a tecnologia incutida em qualquer local, aplicação e área. A evolução tecnológica nos últimos anos foi grande e notável em todos os aspectos. A fiabilidade, tamanho e relação qualidade-custo dos dispositivos electrónicos é das melhores de sempre. Contudo, com as novas imposições e necessidades do quotidiano fazem com que os organismos e individualidades da área das engenharias continuem em constante pesquisa e investigação à procura de melhorar o que já existe e até criar algo novo. Assim sendo, com a evolução já conseguida, é muitas vezes necessário voltar ao básico para que uma nova evolução e até “descomplicação” dos mecanismos já existentes sejam exequíveis. Desta forma, e tendo em conta toda a literatura existe sobre os vários componentes electrónicos e mecanismos/fenómenos existentes, é necessário pegar nessa teórica e passar à prática. Ou seja, é necessário criar laboratórios experimentais por forma a testar alguns conceitos básicos para que, a partir daí, seja possível evoluir. Com isto, pretende-se com esta dissertação, desenvolver dois laboratórios experimentais onde os conceitos teóricos básicos são apresentados bem como alguns mecanismos que tornam possível a execução dos laboratórios. Ao longo dos mesmos são ainda fornecidos os passos essenciais a seguir neste tipo de trabalhos.Wherever we look we see technology inculcated in any location, and application area. Technological developments in recent years have been great and remarkable in every aspect. The reliability, size and quality-cost of electronic devices are the best ever. However, the new requirements and needs of everyday living make organizations and individuals in the area of engineering remain in constant research and investigation, looking to improve what already exists and to create something new. Thus, with the development already achieved, it is often necessary to go back to basics for a new evolution and even the simplification of existing mechanisms are feasible. Thus, taking into account all literature existent on various electronic components and mechanisms / phenomena, it is necessary to take that theory and put into practice. I.e., it is necessary to create experimental laboratories in order to test some basic concepts so that from there, you can evolve. It is intended with this thesis, to develop two experimental laboratories where theoretical concepts are presented, as well as some mechanisms that make the implementation of laboratories possible. Along we are further provided the essential steps to follow in this type of work

A Survey of the European Security Market

This document synthesizes the results of the research made on the European security market. It deals with questions of interest regarding the provision of security goods and services for protecting society from terrorism and organised crime. It explores issues such as market revenues, demand and supply, industrial capabilities, technology, research and development, innovation, business strategies, competition as well as market structure, agents' conduct and economic performance. The research has been based upon desk analysis of open source information related to the security market. Economic theory and critical analysis has been applied to understand the gathered information, derive knowledge, point out key issues and assess trends and drivers that will likely shape the sector's future. The study is the outcome of the working package number 5 included in the research project A new Agenda for European Security Economics (EUSECON). This project with code number 218195 has been financed by the European Commission within the 7th European Research Framework Programme. The task has been performed by the company ISDEFE according to the scope and work plan described in the EUSECON proposal. The author wishes to express his appreciation to all the individuals that have provided input and valuable comments to this study, including anonymous referees. Any flaws or omissions contained in this document are solely the responsibility of the author