SmartBEAT

SmartBEAT – Smart system for the management of Heart Failure in older adults is a system targeted to Heart Failure patients and their carers (formal and informal). Its aim is to reduce the need for hospital admissions and institutional care, and facilitates early discharge. The system comprises a telemonitoring kit, a user-friendly mobile solution, a caregiver portal and support applications.

Funding

AAL4ALL

AAL4ALL is an innovative project in the emerging area of Assistive Environments and comprises 27 partner institutions, among industries and R&D institutions. The goal of the AAL4ALL is the development of products and services in the scope of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) in order to provide assistance and increase the independence of seniors or disabled people.

Funding

Active@Home

Active@Home aims to enhance seniors’ participation in physical activities, so to they keep active and prevent falls. It consists of video games based on Tai-Chi and dance moves. Games are challenging, fun and personalized to each user. It enables also multi-players features.

Funding

AlzNav

This dissertation intended to investigate how two distinct navigation concepts affect the mobility and sense of safety of older adults and persons with mild dementia. This goal was pursued by developing a prototype of a pedestrian-oriented navigation application, to be used in mobile devices by these users.

AlzSense

“Environment-Aware System for Alzheimer’s Patients” – AlzSense is the name of an Msc Thesis developed at Fraunhofer AICOS.

Within this project, a small electronic device was created to collect valuable data regarding the condition and state of a person affected with Alzheimer’s Disease. It would do so by monitoring the user’s daily activities and the environment and sending automatic messages to the caregiver in emergency situations.

The device shouldn´t be intrusive and can be inserted in a belt so that the person can carry it around on a daily basis.

ANT+

ANT+ Medical Health Kit was developed during an MSc thesis and it allows the elderly to read their weight and blood pressure values with a mobile phone, while their clinicians monitor those values on a web application and may give them an appropriate feedback.

ChefMyself

The main goal of the ChefMyself project is to develop a solution to support elders in preparing meals and maintaining healthy eating habits. Using the Cloud, it will bring together a number of devices (TV, tablet, cooking robot…) to offer important services to older adults, like generating healthy meal plans for the week, generating shopping lists, supporting meal preparation or letting people share recipes over a social network.

Funding

CogniPlay

CogniPlay – Jogos Sérios para Seniores em Dispositivos Móveis is a tablet-based gaming platform that provides cognitive stimulation through games targeting several different areas of the cognitive domain, with its primary audience being the senior population.

CordonGris

CordonGris is a project in the area of nutrition for older adults. It addresses the aspects related to diets and nutrition choices, and also the issues related to the management of the budget for shopping ingredients. It will result in an intelligent system that will recommend healthy foods and meals to older adults based on health characteristics, lifestyle, culture, resources, availability, local production or season.

Funding

DActivPR

“DActivPR – Daily Activity Pattern Recognition Tool” is a Fraunhofer’s Master’s thesis which aim was the creation of a web application enabling the visualization of the information generated by the Smart Companion‘s system related to physical activity.

Dance! Don’t Fall

Dance! Don’t Fall (DDF) is an Android and Windows Phone application that monitors the user’s risk of falling while actively reducing it through fun exercise.
After the user performs choreographed moves, DDF gives feedback on their dancing performance and evaluates the risk of falling.

DEM – Deus ex machina

Deus ex-Machina (DEM) is a project that is focused on studying and understanding the environment, the user, their context and actions, and, on the other hand, on creating non-intrusive and assistive tools for everyday life in several domains, such as Health and well-being, Nutrition and Agriculture.

Funding

DeMind

DeMind is a Fraunhofer AICOS’ project that aims to study aspects related to technology acceptance. This projects is focused on the final end-users of mobile applications and its aim is to understand the factors that may improve or difficult their adherence to technology.

DEMSmartMoves

DEMSmartMoves is a Fraunhofer AICOS’ project in the area of physical activity monitoring. It uses inertial sensors to detect and recognize arm gestures. One of the practical application of this technology is the recognition of eating and drinking activities. This is of special interest for older adults, because they often miss out on meals, which might cause nutritional deficits.

DepSigns

The web service developed within this MSc Thesis detects depression symptoms through the analysis of the senior’s behavioral variance, using statistics techniques which result in a personal history of the seniors’ habits such as activities, communications or mood swings. These data are collected through smartphone usage. The application allows the psychologists and caregivers monitoring seniors and it detects early depression symptoms.

e-CAALYX

e-CAALYX is a project in the field of AAL – Ambient Assisted Living and its main objective is to develop health monitoring technological solutions.

Funding

Early Parkinson detection

This Master thesis proposes the development of a smartphone application to help to diagnose Parkinson’s disease in early stages. The application will provide an objective assessment of the disease helping general practitioners to better distinguish common age-related changes from symptoms of the disease. With this assessment, general practitioners will be more certain when recommending patients to see a neurologist.

EMGesture

In the scope of the Master Thesis EMGesture, an algorithm is being developed that detects arm movements and also recognizes hand gestures captured by sensors of electromiography and inertial sensors. This knowledge can be applied in the context of Human-Computer Interaction and in the fields of functional rehabilitation and fall prevention.

ExerBalance

The Master Thesis ExerBalance – “Balance-board based system for rehabilitation of patients with balance disorders” aims to develop a system to improve standing balance in patients with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) through game-based exercises. This type of exercises might increase the motivation and the adherence to the treatment and complement the traditional rehabilitation therapy. The system collects relevant data from the sensors and the results can be assessed by physiotherapists.

EzNav

In the scope of the Master Thesis “EzNav – A Web browser for elderly users”, an application is under development at Fraunhofer AICOS to improve older adults’ navigation on the internet. With the aim of creating a browser specifically designed for seniors, a study on the seniors’ interests regarding the themes they look for on the internet is being carried out, as well as usability research on their needs and preferences regarding the layout and the icons of the mobile interfaces.

FallSensing

FallSensing is a project that addresses the problem of falls amongst the elderly population. It is a technological intervention of fall risk screenings covering multiple risks of falls with inertial sensors, a balance board and questionnaires. Furthermore, it has a platform with personalized exercise plans so that the user can reduce his/her fall risk and prevent future falls. The system enables healthcare professionals and caregivers to follow the evolution of the user.

Funding

FCC – Fall Competence Center

The Fall Competence Center (FCC) of Fraunhofer AICOS aims to investigate all fall related aspects, including activity monitoring and human motion analysis. The knowledge gathered in the FCC will be applied to viable solutions based on smartphones not only for fall detection, but also fall risk assessment and fall prevention.

The project FCC Fall Risk Assessment is integrated within the Fall Competence Center of Fraunhofer AICOS and aims to make a fall risk assessment of individuals at higher risk of falling.

Funding

FCCFAM

This project aims to develop integrated solutions for activity monitoring, falls detection, falls prevention and security, targeting older persons living in the community.

GSenses

ICT4Dgui

The MSc Thesis/ Fraunhofer AICOS project named “Graphical User Interface recommendations for ICT4D” aims to study the elements in Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) regarding different cultures and literacy levels. The project is running within our competence center ICT4D-Information and Communication Technologies for Development, which targets users in African countries and rural areas.

Kinteract

Kinteract is a Fraunhofer project (integrating the Fall Competence Center) that uses game concepts to develop applications for physical rehabilitation and therapy targeting elderly people and people who suffered strokes or spinal cord injuries. These applications use common sensors to measure body movements, specially the upper limb and hands.

Kinteract – Gesture recognition for natural interaction with applications

KneeGraphy

In the scope of the Master Thesis “Classification of knee arthropathy with accelerometer-based vibroarthrography” (KneeGraphy) researchers are developing a accelerometer-based system for knee data acquisition and differentiation between a pathological and a non-pathological knee in terms of knee osteo-arthropathy.  In the future, this system could be used as a non-invasive assessment tool for people with arthritic knee joints.

LiteracyTracker

In the scope of the Master Thesis entitled LiteracyTracker, it has been developed a mobile application to access and monitor the literacy level of children from Sub-Saharan Africa. The application consists of a small group of exercises, in English, that requires short answers and based on gamification techniques.

mActivityClassify

MalariaScope

Malaria is one of the most severe public health problems worldwide. In 2010 it was responsible for approximately 655,000 deaths, 91% of them in the African Region and mostly related with misdiagnosis or late diagnosis. Thus, there is an urgent need of new tools that can facilitate the rapid and easy diagnosis of Malaria, especially in areas with limited access to quality healthcare services.
The project aims to create a mobile-based solution that can provide an effective pre-diagnosis of Malaria to be used in medically underserved areas. The solution could work as a first triage framework for isolated laboratories, where a technician with no special skills in terms of Malaria diagnosis, collects blood from a patient, prepares the blood smear and uses the system to analyse the blood sample and shares results in order to provide the correct medication.

MASPARK

Project MASPARK aims to develop a system of rhythmic sensory stimuli at frequencies related to the speed and cadence of the march, especially developed for people with Parkinson’s disease. Another goal of the project is to assess the acceptability of the system and its impact on users’ quality of life.

Funding

Melanoma Detection

The main objective of this project is to create a prototype for a patient-oriented system of skin lesion analysis using a smartphone. This work aims to implement a self-monitoring system that collects, processes and storages information of skin lesions through its automatic classification. This classification is based on the ABCD rule, which consists in 4 visual features highly relevant for skin cancer detection (asymmetry, border, color and differential structures), and for which were developed algorithms to measure and quantify them.

Mobile Gesture-based Interaction Design Patterns for Older Adults

This research project aims to extend existing knowledge regarding gesture-based interaction on smartphones for older adults.
Older adults undergo several cognitive, psychomotor and sensorial declines as a result of the aging process. These alterations make their specific needs and characteristics distinct from those of younger adults.

mscWESEJ – Design of wearable sensing devices

This Master thesis/ Fraunhofer’s project aims to study the factors that influence and determine the creation of wearable devices for seniors. The factors are related to physical, ergonomics, psychological and usability issues. All these constraints will be considered when co-designing new wearable sensing devices for older adults.

myAHA

“My Active and Healthy Ageing” (myAHA) is a new European project that aims to reduce physical, cognitive and social frailty amongst seniors. Researchers are developing tools to motivate seniors to remain healthy and active. The solution will address many factors such as daily habits and characteristics related to health, nutrition, sleep, social activities and hobbies. The engagement of seniors in the active living habits will reduce risk of physical and mental disease.

Funding

NeuropathyDetect

“Early Detection of Peripheral Neuropathy in Diabetes Patients” (NeuropathyDetect) is the name of a master thesis that consists in the gait analyses of people with diabetes using sensors, enabling to analyze the walking patterns. Its goal is to identify early signs of peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients.

Personal Finances App

This Fraunhofer project aims to create a smartphone application that helps seniors to manage their personal finances. The application will match the needs and preferences of seniors on personal finances management, so, seniors are a crucial part in the whole research process.

PhysicAAL

The main goal of this thesis is to develop elderly-oriented, body positioning Android games for the Google TV using the Kinect sensor. Games can act as motivational tools through a wide range of mechanisms, and they provide good home-based rehabilitation exercises, reducing costs with health care and motivating patient compliance.

PIL – Precise Indoor Location

It is a smartphone-based indoor localisation system, using magnets and gait analysis which allows for numerous possibilities on and beyond the Ambient Assisted Living field.

REMPARK

The specific and ultimate goal of the REMPARK project is to develop an application with closed loop detection, response and treatment capabilities for management of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) patients.It consist of a wearable monitoring system able to identify in real time the motor status of the PD patients, and evaluating ON/OFF/Dyskinesia status in operation during ambulatory conditions. A gait guidance system able to help the patient in real time during their daily activities will also be developed.
At a second level, the intelligent analysis of data provided by the first level, supported with a disease management system will allow the neurologist in charge to access accurate and reliable information to decide about the treatment that best suits the patient, improving the management of their disease, in particular to adjust the therapeutic window.

Funding

S4S

Smartphones for Seniors (S4S) is a QREN project that aims to create smartphone applications that improve the quality of life of older adults, by fostering their autonomy, promoting their social interaction and providing tools that unobtrusively monitor their health.

Funding

SAL – Service Assisted Living

This project is being developed in partnership with Glintt – Healthcare Solutions S.A. and the Engineering Faculty of the University of Porto (FEUP). Its purpose is to create solutions that enable, on the one hand, citizens/patients to have an active role in the management of their health and, on the other hand, new healthcare services that support health care professionals.

Funding

SleepDiary

Within this MSc Thesis, researchers at Fraunhofer AICOS are developing a system composed of external sensors and an Android application for smartphones that is able to autonomously analyse sleep quality and efficiency. The system detects fluctuations in normal sleep-wake patterns and can help study sleep disorders such as insomnia, excessive sleepiness and circadian-rhythm disorders. The system must also be able to analyse sleep by using the sensors from the smartphone only.

SmartCompanion

SmartCompanion (SC) is an Android customization that was specially designed to address seniors’ goals and needs. It aims to be a permanently available companion to support seniors in their daily activities, through a number of tools, from messaging to medication reminder applications. SmartCompanion intends to create 2 ecosystems: a technological one where seniors can use multiple different gadgets like smartphones, tablets, tv’s, bracelets, external sensors, weight scales, multimedia car systems, etc. On the other hand, SmartCompanion also wants to support a social ecosystem where primary users (seniors) can interact with informal caregivers, family, friends and formal caregivers.

SmartCueing

This project/MSc Thesis aims to develop a system to help Parkinson’s Disease patients improve their walking. In order to improve the way patients walk, auditory cues are applied. The cueing determines a rhythm that is used by the patients as guidance to adjust their movements.

SmartFeet – ExerGames for Fall Prevention

It’s an application of games for seniors based on a television and a smartphone. It encourages seniors to perform exercises for balance control, mobility and flexibility, and, in this way, it helps reduce fall risks amongst older adult players.

SmartMedBoxes

SmartMedBoxes – “Monitoring of medication boxes using wireless sensors” is a master thesis that addresses the problem of non-adherence to medication therapy amongst seniors. Furthermore, it enables the monitorization of the proper medication intake, as it detects the opening of the medication boxes. This prototype comprises a medication box, sensors and a smartphone.  It will help seniors to follow the medication therapy schemes prescribed, even if they are complex for an older adult, as this prototype will avoid seniors to forget to take the medication.

SmartMoves

In the scope of the project SmartMoves, researchers at Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS are using sensors to measure hip and knee angles during gait, lateral steps and knee bending. The study of gait parameters will provide important knowledge that will be applied in the area of falls and physical activity monitoring.

Smartphone based human activity prediction

This Master Thesis focuses on the motion sensors of the smartphone in order to predict the activity that the user is performing. Recognizing human activities with sensors next to the body has become important research area, aiming to create or improve innovative applications (e.g. Health care, Fitness monitoring, etc.).

SmartRecovery

Within the project/master thesis “SmartRecovery – Gait analysis in patients recovering from total joint replacement using body fixed sensors” researchers are developing an application for the assessment and analysis of several gait parameters in patients after Total Knee Replacement (TKR). This application will enable a quantitative gait analysis to objectively measure patients’ functional improvements.

SmartReminders

SmartReminders is a master thesis under development at Fraunhofer AICOS. This project consists in the study of the utilization of sensors to detect the movements of the arms and then identify the activities of eating or drinking. The target population is older adults, who, therefore, may use the sensors and receive notifications about meals.

SousChef

This project aims to design and create a smartphone application that provides nutritional plans according to the nutritional guidelines and that, at the same time, adapts the generated recommendations to the anthropometrical characteristics and the food preferences of the users.

STAlz

STAlz is a smartphone application that can be used by doctors to provide a more personalized and adapted treatment for their patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), while at the same time helping them succeed in identifying possible problems and acting upon them.
STAlz is a system in which: a) doctors use their mobile devices to remotely ask their patients to perform well-known tests that allow for the screening of AD; b) patients receive the information on their own mobile devices and perform the tests sent by doctors; and c) the data, which can be efficiently retrieved from the device and neatly organized for further processing, is then sent back to doctors, so that it is professionally analyzed and used.

TouchSense

This MSc thesis aims to help evaluate elderly users’ smartphone usage patterns. Information extracted from the smartphone touchscreen, the accelerometer and gyroscope is combined in order to detect and characterize touch events and improve the user interaction experience with the smartphone. This information will be very useful in future usability tests, because the algorithms developed detect:
-where the smartphone is (on a surface, being held still or moving);
-all touch events;
– impact force of the touch event;
-which finger is being used to touch the smartphone screen (index finger or thumb);
-which hand is holding the device (right or left).

User interface design recommendations for fitting smartphone applications to persons with Parkinson

The goals of this Master thesis goals are to study the impact of the Parkinson’s Disease in the interaction with the smartphone and to develop a series of recommendations to fit smartphone applications to persons with Parkinson.