Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions

Conference Track:  Society & Technology

Selection1:       Paper

Language:         English

Keywords:         Assisted Living Technologies, Wireless Communications, Pervasive Computing, Elderly Care, Image & Video Processing and Analysis

Contact Title:    Dr.

Contact First Name: Oge

Contact Last Name:  Marques

University:       Florida Atlantic University (FAU)

Web:              http://www.cse.fau.edu/~oge/

Position:         Assistant Professor

Country:          USA

Email:            omarques@fau.edu

Fax:              +1-561-297-2800

Paper Title:

Wireless Multimedia Technologies for Assisted Living

Abstract:

The population of individuals 65 and over is growing significantly worldwide. In the United States alone, it is expected to increase by 76% between 2010 and 2030. Health care systems are struggling to meet the current needs of the elderly and a significant increase in the demand for aging services is a certainty. It is imperative that preparation for this challenge includes technology that can assist caregivers in providing both effective and economical care in the home and in long-term care facilities.

This paper describes our ongoing efforts toward improving the quality of life of homebound patients, in general, and elderly people, in particular. Our work is currently focused on the development of the Assisted Living Monitoring and Analysis System (ALMAS) project. ALMAS is an intelligent, multimodal tracking solution for Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs). It extends some of the concepts and ideas explored in a previous project, (CodeBlue: a wireless, web-enabled, health monitoring system) and employs video analysis algorithms for patient monitoring and tracking.

ALMAS employs wireless transceivers in the patients’ rooms and hallways, which constantly monitor the location and vital signs of the patients by communicating with wireless units worn by the patients. Any suspicious behavior exhibited by the patient triggers an event and the event in turn enables the capture of relevant video footage, which is then sent wirelessly to the health-care personnel’s PDA. Based on the information received, the health-care personnel can take the appropriate course of action.

Mailing Address:

Dept of Computer Science & Engineering

777 Glades Rd

Boca Raton, FL - 33431-0991

Phone: +1-561-297-3857

Authors:

Scott Bowser / scott@voyager.ee.fau.edu / FAU

Pavani Chilamakuri / bocapc@yahoo.com / FAU

Lakis Christodoulou / lakischrist@hotmail.com / FAU

Joy Woodworth / joy@cse.fau.edu / FAU

Oge Marques / omarques@fau.edu / FAU (P)