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Evaluation of a Smartphone-based Human Activity Recognition System in a Daily Living Environment
Published on: December 11, 2015
A mobile phone-based safety support system for wandering elderly persons.
Hidekuni Ogawa1, Yoshiharu Yonezawa, Hiromichi Maki
1Department of Information and Intellectual Systems, Hiroshima Institute of Technology, Hiroshima 731-5193, Japan.
Summary
This study introduces a novel safety system for elderly individuals prone to wandering. The system uses a personal handy-phone system (PHS) and personal computer (PC) to alert caregivers of a person's location.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Ubiquitous Computing
- Wireless Sensor Networks
Background:
- Increasing prevalence of elderly individuals with wandering behaviors.
- Need for effective and non-intrusive monitoring solutions for elder care.
- Limitations of existing tracking systems in terms of accuracy and user-friendliness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a new safety support system for detecting and notifying caregivers about wandering elderly individuals.
- To determine the system's effectiveness in monitoring the location of elderly persons within a defined area.
- To provide timely alerts and location information to caregivers.
Main Methods:
- Development of a safety support system utilizing a low transmitting power personal handy-phone system (PHS) and a personal computer (PC).
- The PHS is designed as a wearable pendant for the elderly person.
- Location identification is achieved within 100 meters using receiving antenna IDs, enabling in-home or out-of-home detection.
Main Results:
- The system successfully detects when an elderly person leaves their designated home area.
- Automated voice notifications are sent to caregivers when the individual wanders.
- The system transmits the elderly person's current location map via e-mail to the caregiver.
Conclusions:
- The developed safety support system offers a reliable method for monitoring wandering elderly individuals.
- The system enhances caregiver response times through immediate voice alerts and location data.
- This technology has the potential to improve the safety and well-being of vulnerable elderly populations.
