IoT Smart Flooring Supporting Active and Healthy Lifestyles

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Wearable Technology
• Smart Environments

Background:

• Sedentary lifestyles are a major public health concern, necessitating innovative strategies to promote physical activity.
• The Internet of Things (IoT) offers potential for developing engaging solutions to incentivize active living.
• Outdoor recreational spaces can be enhanced to foster greater user engagement and physical exertion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the design and implementation of a smart, interactive flooring system as a demonstrator for the PLEINAIR project.
• To explore the use of IoT and "Outdoor Smart Objects" (OSO) to make physical activity more appealing and rewarding.
• To validate the technical feasibility and conceptual effectiveness of an interactive OSO in a public setting.

Main Methods:

• Development of a smart flooring system using anti-trauma materials, incorporating piezoresistive pressure sensors and LED visual feedback.
• Implementation of a distributed intelligence architecture for OSOs, utilizing MQTT protocol for cloud connectivity.
• Creation of companion mobile applications for user interaction with the PLEINAIR system.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication and testing of smart flooring prototypes in a public environment.
• Positive user feedback regarding the interactive and personalized experience offered by the OSO.
• Demonstration of the system's ability to enhance user engagement with physical activity.

Conclusions:

• The developed smart flooring system effectively demonstrates the potential of OSO for promoting physical activity.
• Addressing challenges in pressure sensitivity and system scalability is crucial for widespread adoption.
• The PLEINAIR concept offers a promising framework for creating engaging and rewarding outdoor exercise experiences.