Asarnusch Rashid

When users become collaborators: towards continuous and context-aware user input

Current requirements engineering practices for gathering user input are characterized by a number of communication gaps between users and engineers, which might lead to wrong requirements. The problem situations and context which underlie user input are either gathered back in time, or submitted with wrong a level of details. We think that making user input a first order concern of both software processes and software systems harbours many innovation opportunities. We propose and discuss a continuous and context-aware approach for communicating user input to engineering teams and other users, by a) instrumenting the problem domain, b) proactively recommending to share feedback and c) annotating graphical interfaces.

Adopting Pervasive Computing for Routine Use in Healthcare

This paper discusses three crucial factors for the adoption of pervasive computing in healthcare: proof of medical benefit, user participation, and financial clarification. This system could also differentiate healthy from unhealthy people by measuring the participants step amplitude and velocity.

Home-based system for physical activity monitoring in patients with multiple sclerosis (Pilot study)

BackgroundLimitations in physical activity are considered as a key problem in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Contemporary methods to assess the level of physical activity in PwMS are regular clinical observation. However, these methods either rely on high recall and accurate reporting from the patients (e.g. self-report questionnaires), or they are conducted during a particular clinical assessment with predefined activities. Therefore, the main aim of this pilot study was to develop an objective method to gather information about the real type and intensity of daily activities performed by PwMS in every-day living situations using an accelerometer. Furthermore, the accelerometer-derived measures are investigated regarding their potential for discriminating between different MS groups.MethodsEleven PwMS that were able to walk independently (EDSS ≤ 5) were divided into two groups: mild disability (EDSS 1–2.5; n = 6) and moderate disability (EDSS 3 –5; n = 5). Participants made use of an activity monitor device attached to their waist during their normal daily activities over 4 measurements. Activity parameters were assessed and compared for the time of each participant’s first measurement and follow-up measurement. Furthermore, differences between both subgroups, and the correlation of activity parameters with the clinical neurological variable (EDSS) were investigated.ResultsParticipants showed significant decline in step count (p = 0.008), maximum walking speed (p = 0.02) and physical activity intensity (p = 0.03) throughout the study period. Compared to the mild subgroup, moderate affected participant accumulated less number of steps (G1: 9214.33 ± 2439.11, G2: 5018.13 ± 2416.96; p < 0.005) and were slower (G1: 1.48 ± 0.19, G2: 1.12 ± 0.44; p = 0.03). Additionally, the EDSS correlated negatively with mean walking speed (r = - 0.71, p = 0.01) and steps count (r = - 0.54, p = 0.08).ConclusionsIn this study, we used a portable activity monitoring sensor to gather information about everyday physical activity in PwMS at home. We showed that objective measurements using simple 3D accelerometers can track daily physical activity fluctuation. Furthermore, they track disability changes better than clinical measures. Thus, they can help to develop activity based treatments for PwMS.

Which AAL Middleware Matches My Requirements? An Analysis of Current Middleware Systems and a Framework for Decision-Support

This work analyses and summarizes current middleware systems which are potential candidates to be used in Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) environments. In total 43 middleware systems from industry, open source communities and research institutions were analysed. In parallel, out from 65 AAL requirements eight mandatory ones were identified. According to these requirements ten promising middleware systems were chosen, and each of them was analysed in detail according to all 65 requirements. The results give developers an overview about existing middleware systems and to choose the best matching middleware for own AAL purposes.

Rettungshubschrauber im Flight for Stroke

Der systematische Einsatz des Luftrettungsmittels unterstützt im ländlichen Raum die Schlaganfallversorgung, sodass mehr Patienten mit Verdacht auf akuten Schlaganfall innerhalb des Lysezeitfensters in eine Stroke Unit gebracht und lysiert werden.

Methods and Tools for Ontology-Based Configuration Processes of AAL Environments

In the last few years, technologies with a semantic middleware were established under the AAL platforms. These technologies simplify the reaction to various and rapidly changing needs of assisted elderly. Building on this established semantic basis, the set-up and configuration of individual use cases can be simplified. Up to now it is hardly possible to set up an AAL environment without technical knowledge. This paper presents how the process of set-up and configuration of AAL environments based on ontologies could proceed. The support starts with the developers of the use cases, continues with the integration in the middleware and ends up in the maintenance during operation. At the end, different configuration support tools based on the semantic middleware universAAL will be described.

Technik für ein langes Leben

Megatrend Ambient Assisted Living - Im Jahr 2035 wird in Deutschland jeder dritte Mensch älter sein als 60 Jahre. Die Nachfrage nach Dienstleistungen und unterstützenden Systemen wird steigen. Technische Assistenzsysteme für Pflegende, Pflegebedürftige und deren Angehörige sollen das Leben im Alter sicherer und bequemer machen.

Prehospital Telemedical Emergency Management of Severely Injured Trauma Patients

BACKGROUND  Trauma is a global burden. Emergency medical services (EMS) provide care for individuals who have serious injuries or suffered a major trauma. OBJECTIVE  This paper provides a comprehensive overview of telemedicine applications in prehospital trauma care. METHODS  We conducted a systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines. We identified articles by electronic database search (PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, SpringerLink, LIVIVO, DARE, IEEE Xplore, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect) using keywords related to prehospital settings, ambulance, telemedicine and trauma. Search terms and inclusion criteria were specified a priori by the PICOS template and revised throughout a configurative approach iteratively, to outline the complexity and variety of different telemedical concepts. RESULTS  A final sample of 15 records was systematically selected. Most interventions were piloted and/or evaluated in Germany for trauma victims in prehospital settings. Six studies were simulated scenarios. Telemedical assistance (TMA) via real-time telemetry systems (RTS), enabling video and audio conferencing between EMS by tele-emergency physicians (TEP) were associated with a higher treatment quality and a shorter time-to-treatment in invasive procedures. By initiating in-hospital preparations based on telemedical prehospital notification (TPN), loss of information during the clinical handover was reduced and in-hospital protocols were activated with high accuracy. Remotely guided ultrasound (Tele-Ultrasound) by TEP showed an overall high diagnostic accuracy in simulations. Technical solutions were reliable, seemed practical and auspicious. CONCLUSION  The review indicates that TMA and TPN are accompanying telemedical concepts in out-of-hospital trauma care. Well-designed populated studies are needed to fully assess the effect of telemedicine in acute trauma care. Therefore, evidence regarding the effectiveness of telemedicine in prehospital setting for trauma patients is still limited.

Digitalisierte Gesundheitsnetzwerke mit Telemedizin: Produktive Netzwerkmedizin am Beispiel Schlaganfall

Fur den Ausbau der ambulant-stationaren Vernetzung sind sowohl die internen Strukturen in Krankenhausern durchgangig zu digitalisieren als auch sichere und flexible Plattformen zur Vernetzung eines Krankenhauses mit Arztpraxen, anderen Einrichtungen und den Patienten zu etablieren. Hierfur stellt der Beitrag den Ansatz der WebEPA+ zum sektorenubergreifenden Care Management vor, die im Sinne der Netzwerkmedizin patientenorientierte Behandlungsprozesse fordern soll. Die WebEPA+ verbindet ein Krankenhaus mit anderen Einrichtungen und macht die Daten des Krankenhauses fur andere Einrichtungen und den Patienten selbst zuganglich. Zugleich kann auf Daten anderer Einrichtungen zugreifen und diese in einer vernetzten Patientenakte zusammenfuhren. Anhand der Pilotstudie „Stroke Manager“ demonstriert dieser Beitrag den Effekt der WebEPA+ auf die sektorenubergreifende Vernetzung. Die Studie zeigt auf, dass der Stroke Manager Service positiven Einfluss auf Lebensqualitat und Gesundheitszustand der Patienten nimmt und von den Patienten als nutzlich wahrgenommen wird. Die Produktivitat des Gesundheitsnetzwerkes nimmt dann zu, wenn der Service zu einem spurbaren Zeitgewinn bei Arzten und Pflegekraften fuhrt. Dies wird in der aktuell laufenden Folgestudie untersucht.

Living Labs als Forschungsinstrument für Ambient Assisted Living Technologien

Zusammenfassung Seit über vier Jahren setzt das FZI Forschungszentrum Informatik die Living Lab Methode zur Forschung an Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) Technologien ein. Ca. 15 wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiter aus unterschiedlichen Projekten und Disziplinen arbeiten hier zusammen, um innovative Assistenzsysteme für ältere bzw. körperlich und kognitiv eingeschränkte Menschen zu entwickeln. Das Living Lab erwies als sehr hilfreich, um zum einen techni-sche Möglichkeiten aufzuzeigen und zum anderen Benut-zerakzeptanzanalysen und Usability Tests von AAL Tech-nologien durchzuführen. Dieser Beitrag beschreibt den theoretischen Rahmen der Living Lab Methodik und die Erfahrungen mit der Umsetzung des Living Lab zur For-schung an AAL Technologien. Abstract For over four years, the FZI Forschungszentrum Informatik has been using the method of living labs for its research into Ambient Assisted Living (AAL). About 15 scientists from different projects and disciplines work together to develop innovative assistance systems for elderly or physically and cognitively disabled people. The living lab proved to be very advantageous to reveal technical opportunities as well as to perform user accep-tance analyses and usability tests of AAL technologies. This article describes the theoretical framework of the living lab methodology and the experiences with the implementa-tion of the living lab for research into AAL.