Hardware for recognition of human activities: a review of smart home and AAL related technologies

Activity recognition (AR) from an applied perspective of ambient assisted living (AAL) and smart homes (SH) has become a subject of great interest. Promising a better quality of life, AR applied in contexts such as health, security, and energy consumption can lead to solutions capable of reaching even the people most in need. This study was strongly motivated because levels of development, deployment, and technology of AR solutions transferred to society and industry are based on software development, but also depend on the hardware devices used. The current paper identifies contributions to hardware uses for activity recognition through a scientific literature review in the Web of Science (WoS) database. This work found four dominant groups of technologies used for AR in SH and AAL—smartphones, wearables, video, and electronic components—and two emerging technologies: Wi-Fi and assistive robots. Many of these technologies overlap across many research works. Through bibliometric networks analysis, the present review identified some gaps and new potential combinations of technologies for advances in this emerging worldwide field and their uses. The review also relates the use of these six technologies in health conditions, health care, emotion recognition, occupancy, mobility, posture recognition, localization, fall detection, and generic activity recognition applications. The above can serve as a road map that allows readers to execute approachable projects and deploy applications in different socioeconomic contexts, and the possibility to establish networks with the community involved in this topic. This analysis shows that the research field in activity recognition accepts that specific goals cannot be achieved using one single hardware technology, but can be using joint solutions, this paper shows how such technology works in this regard

Graphene Biosensors for Diabetic Foot Ulcer Monitoring

The prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) in the twenty-first century has increased drastically, consequently, the incidence of DM-related complications has increased as well. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2021, globally one in every ten adults aged from 20 to 79 years had DM. Approximately 15-34% of individuals with DM are likely to develop a Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) throughout their lifetime. Unmonitored and in- fected DFU can lead to non-traumatic lower extremity amputation and worst-case cause morbidity. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop effective, rapid production, bio- compatible, low-cost, flexible, wearable, sustainable sensors to monitor objectively the ulcer healing state. This dissertation aims to meet this need through the development of tempera- ture and pH laser-induced graphene (LIG) sensors on paper, that could be included in smart bandages and medical wound dressings. During this dissertation, LIG on paper fabrication parameters were studied to obtain the most reproducible, durable, and good electrical per- formance. The production condition of the LIG used for the development of the sensors had an average sheet resistance value of 24.9Ω/ with 1.2 Ω/ of standard deviation. The ther- moresistive sensor developed is characterized by a negative temperature coefficient with a highly linear response, and a sensitivity of 0.71 %℃−1 from 26℃ to 40℃, a suitable interval for its application. The electrochemical cell produced works as a potentiometric pH sensor. Its working electrode (WE) was electropolymerized with polyaniline (PANI) a pH-sensitive bio- compatible electrolyte. The sensor demonstrated a Nernstian behavior with a sensitivity of 53.0 / and 2.3 / of standard deviation on the interval from 2 pH to 9 pH.A prevalência da Diabetes Mellitus (DM) no século XXI aumentou drasticamente, con- sequentemente, a incidência de complicações relacionadas com a DM também aumentou. Segundo a Federação Internacional de Diabetes em 2021, globalmente um em cada dez adultos com idades compreendidas entre os 20 e os 79 anos tem DM. Aproximadamente 15- 34% dos indivíduos com DM são suscetíveis de desenvolver uma úlcera do pé diabético (DFU) durante toda a sua vida. A DFU não monitorizada e infetada pode levar a uma amputa- ção não traumática das extremidades inferiores e causar morbilidade no pior dos casos. Por conseguinte, é de grande importância desenvolver sensores eficazes, de produção rápida, biocompatíveis, de baixo custo, flexíveis, viáveis e sustentáveis para monitorizar objetivamen- te o estado de cicatrização da úlcera. Esta tese visa responder a esta necessidade através do desenvolvimento de sensores de temperatura e pH induzidos por laser (LIG) em papel, que poderiam ser incluídos em ligaduras inteligentes e curativos médicos de feridas. Durante esta dissertação, foram estudados parâmetros de fabrico de LIG em papel para obter o mais re- produtível, durável, e bom desempenho elétrico. O valor da resistência da folha média da condição de produção utilizada para o desenvolvimento foi de 24.9 Ω/ com um desvio padrão de 1.2 Ω/. O sensor termoresistivo desenvolvido é caracterizado por um coeficiente de temperatura negativa com uma resposta altamente linear, e uma sensibilidade de 0.71 %℃−1 entre os 26℃ e 40℃, um intervalo adequado para a sua aplicação. A célula ele- troquímica produzida funciona como um sensor de pH potenciométrico. O seu elétrodo de trabalho (WE) foi electropolimerizado com polianilina (PANI) um eletrólito biocompatível sensível ao pH. O sensor demonstrou um comportamento Nernstiano com uma sensibilidade de 53.0 / e desvio padrão de 2.3/ no intervalo de 2 a 9 pH

Enhancing Activity Recognition by Fusing Inertial and Biometric Information

Activity recognition is an active research field nowadays, as it enables the development of highly adaptive applications, e.g. in the field of personal health. In this paper, a light high-level fusion algorithm to detect the activity that an individual is performing is presented. The algorithm relies on data gathered from accelerometers placed on different parts of the body, and on biometric sensors. Inertial sensors allow detecting activity by analyzing signal features such as amplitude or peaks. In addition, there is a relationship between the activity intensity and biometric response, which can be considered together with acceleration data to improve the accuracy of activity detection. The proposed algorithm is designed to work with minimum computational cost, being ready to run in a mobile device as part of a context-aware application. In order to enable different user scenarios, the algorithm offers best-effort activity estimation: its quality of estimation depends on the position and number of the available inertial sensors, and also on the presence of biometric information

Defining Requirements and Related Methods for Designing Sensorized Garments

Designing smart garments has strong interdisciplinary implications, specifically related to user and technical requirements, but also because of the very different applications they have: medicine, sport and fitness, lifestyle monitoring, workplace and job conditions analysis, etc. This paper aims to discuss some user, textile, and technical issues to be faced in sensorized clothes development. In relation to the user, the main requirements are anthropometric, gender-related, and aesthetical. In terms of these requirements, the user’s age, the target application, and fashion trends cannot be ignored, because they determine the compliance with the wearable system. Regarding textile requirements, functional factors—also influencing user comfort—are elasticity and washability, while more technical properties are the stability of the chemical agents’ effects for preserving the sensors’ efficacy and reliability, and assuring the proper duration of the product for the complete life cycle. From the technical side, the physiological issues are the most important: skin conductance, tolerance, irritation, and the effect of sweat and perspiration are key factors for reliable sensing. Other technical features such as battery size and duration, and the form factor of the sensor collector, should be considered, as they affect aesthetical requirements, which have proven to be crucial, as well as comfort and wearability

Photonic sensors based on flexible materials with FBGs for use on biomedical applications

This chapter is intended for presenting biomedical applications of FBGs embedded into flexible carriers for enhancing the sensitivity and to provide interference-free instrumentation.This work was fully supported by the Algoritmi’s Strategic Project UI 319-2011-2012, under the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology grant Pest C/EEI/UI0319/2011

Electronically active textiles

Electronically Active Textiles (e-textiles) are a type of textile material that has some form of electronic functionality. This can be achieved by attaching electronics onto the surface of the textile, incorporating electronic components as part of the fabrication of the textile itself, or by integrating electronics into the yarns or fibers that comprises the textile. The addition of electronic components can give textiles a wide range of new functions from lighting or heating to advanced sensing capabilities. As such, e-textiles have provided a platform for developing a range of new novel products in fields, such as healthcare, sports, protection, transport, and communications. The purpose of this volume is to report on the advances in the integration of electronics into textiles, and presents original research in the field of e-textiles as well as a comprehensive review of the evolution of e-Textiles. Topics include the fabrication and illumination of e-textiles and the use of e-textiles for temperature sensing

Enabling Remote Responder Bio-Signal Monitoring in a Cooperative Human–Robot Architecture for Search and Rescue

The roles of emergency responders are challenging and often physically demanding, so it is essential that their duties are performed safely and effectively. In this article, we address real-time bio-signal sensor monitoring for responders in disaster scenarios. In particular, we propose the integration of a set of health monitoring sensors suitable for detecting stress, anxiety and physical fatigue in an Internet of Cooperative Agents architecture for search and rescue (SAR) missions (SAR-IoCA), which allows remote control and communication between human and robotic agents and the mission control center. With this purpose, we performed proof-of-concept experiments with a bio-signal sensor suite worn by firefighters in two high-fidelity SAR exercises. Moreover, we conducted a survey, distributed to end-users through the Fire Brigade consortium of the Provincial Council of Málaga, in order to analyze the firefighters’ opinion about biological signals monitoring while on duty. As a result of this methodology, we propose a wearable sensor suite design with the aim of providing some easy-to-wear integrated-sensor garments, which are suitable for emergency worker activity. The article offers discussion of user acceptance, performance results and learned lessons.This work has been partially funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Gobierno de España, projects RTI2018-093421-B-I00 and PID2021-122944OB-I00. Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

Applications of the Internet of Medical Things to Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (DM1) is a condition of the metabolism typified by persistent hyperglycemia as a result of insufficient pancreatic insulin synthesis. This requires patients to be aware of their blood glucose level oscillations every day to deduce a pattern and anticipate future glycemia, and hence, decide the amount of insulin that must be exogenously injected to maintain glycemia within the target range. This approach often suffers from a relatively high imprecision, which can be dangerous. Nevertheless, current developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and innovative sensors for biological signals that might enable a continuous, complete assessment of the patient’s health provide a fresh viewpoint on treating DM1. With this, we observe that current biomonitoring devices and Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) units can easily obtain data that allow us to know at all times the state of glycemia and other variables that influence its oscillations. A complete review has been made of the variables that influence glycemia in a T1DM patient and that can be measured by the above means. The communications systems necessary to transfer the information collected to a more powerful computational environment, which can adequately handle the amounts of data collected, have also been described. From this point, intelligent data analysis extracts knowledge from the data and allows predictions to be made in order to anticipate risk situations. With all of the above, it is necessary to build a holistic proposal that allows the complete and smart management of T1DM. This approach evaluates a potential shortage of such suggestions and the obstacles that future intelligent IoMT-DM1 management systems must surmount. Lastly, we provide an outline of a comprehensive IoMT-based proposal for DM1 management that aims to address the limits of prior studies while also using the disruptive technologies highlighted beforePartial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

IoT Based Architecture for Basketball Supervision

Basketball is one of the most played games in the world with a huge amount of fan following and has a great number of basketballers. Sometimes players get severe lower body wounds such as ankle sprains, shortage of breath, head, teeth, hand, and fingers. Female players have a higher risk of knee injuries than male players. These are health issues that players face while playing basketball. Sports organizations spend millions to train fresh basketball players or for the development of the previous basketball players. The internet of things (IoT) made everyday things readable, controllable and recognizable through the internet and the wireless sensor networks. It is simply the network of interconnected devices that are embedded with sensors, software, and connectivity modules.Nowadays, with this growing technology it is possible to protect the life of players in the game as well as in training sessions, if we detect the problems early in players and appropriate actions will be taken to reduce adverse health effects which can be very dangerous. In this paper, we will propose an architecturefor basketball based on the internet of things (IoT). The main goal behind this approach is to introduce a healthcare system based upon sensors, actuators, devices and telecommunication technologies to communicating real-time stats

Mobility recorded by wearable devices and gold standards: the Mobilise-D procedure for data standardization

Wearable devices are used in movement analysis and physical activity research to extract clinically relevant information about an individual's mobility. Still, heterogeneity in protocols, sensor characteristics, data formats, and gold standards represent a barrier for data sharing, reproducibility, and external validation. In this study, we aim at providing an example of how movement data (from the real-world and the laboratory) recorded from different wearables and gold standard technologies can be organized, integrated, and stored. We leveraged on our experience from a large multi-centric study (Mobilise-D) to provide guidelines that can prove useful to access, understand, and re-use the data that will be made available from the study. These guidelines highlight the encountered challenges and the adopted solutions with the final aim of supporting standardization and integration of data in other studies and, in turn, to increase and facilitate comparison of data recorded in the scientific community. We also provide samples of standardized data, so that both the structure of the data and the procedure can be easily understood and reproduced