Dušan Šimšík

Design of inertial module for rehabilitation device

The paper describes design and functions of the prototype of the inertial module for motion analysis of rehabilitated persons by an robotic rehabilitation device. Described device should be used for motion analysis and progress monitoring during rehabilitation processes. In control system of rehabilitation device, inertial module may be used for safety monitoring of rehabilitation process.

Study of spondylolisthesis using videomotion analysis

This abstract describes the human movement analysis of the patients with indicated diseases of motion apparatus. The clinical study is dealing with the spondylolisthesis, which represents serious medical problem. Asymptomatic spondylolisthesis occurs with a small slipping. The higher slipping is followed by pain and neurological symptoms, and surgery is very often needed. We evaluated several patients after the operation of degenerative spondylolisthesis, hospitalised at the Rehabilitation clinic in KosiceSaca, in this study.

MonAMI platform, trials and results

The goal of this paper is to supply information about implemented MonAMI platform as result of 6.FP project focused on social and ICT based services to provide higher level quality of life by improving safety, autonomy and comfort for seniors. The paper is divided into three main parts. The first part describes technology platform used in seniors household environment. The background of the trials is introduced in the second part. Summary overviews of results from trials are described in the last part of the paper.

Implementation of wearable sensors for fall detection into smart household

The proposed paper describes implementation of wearable sensors into smart household environment. Wearable sensor prototype is based on MEMS inertial measurement unit, containing accelerometer and gyroscope. Fall detection using wearable sensors has been determined as suitable function in several implementations. Fall detection algorithm, considering information about acceleration, tilt and angular velocity was developed and tested. Communication of IMU with PC is described as well as experimental verification of the algorithm.

Ambient technology and social services for seniors

Paper is focused at connections between human patterns, social care systems and mainstream technologies. Ambient technology should provide higher level of autonomy, security and quality of life. This means usability of those services easy and effective to use, comfortable, and easy to operate with. Important point of assistive support based on mainstream systems are features of design for all. Services are presented at FU Laboratory at Technical university of Kosice as result of MonAMI project. The target groups are seniors and persons with disabilities living alone or in sheltered households.

Intelligent rehabilitation devices and user interfaces

The paper presents a brief overview of the projects integrating the development of ICTs with the rehabilitation system for people with risk of fall that are solved under the Ambient Assistive Technology (AAL) programme. The paper includes description of our concept of the diagnostic and rehabilitation system with preventative features to decrease the risks of fall and its consequences in elderly. It integrates functions of two systems developed within the two research projects MonAMI (6FP) and SMILING (7FP) where we participated. The main goal is to ensure higher safety for seniors who are in risk of falls and are living alone. The first module of the integrated rehabilitation system is aimed to identification of falls and emergency communication system for the households of elderly living alone. The platform for that is system developed under the 6FP - MonAMI. The second module of the diagnostic and rehabilitation system plays a preventive role as a home rehabilitation device used for regular training of gait during daily activities. The device is based on an innovation of the motorized mechatronic shoe TUKE developed under the 7FP project SMILING. Users train their walk ability during performance of everyday tasks while solving unexpected perturbations simulating influence of external environment by surmounting the uncertainty when stepping on. The complex system is undertaking the challenge to come in market where we see an absence of preventive, diagnostic-rehabilitation centers aimed on people (elderly) with risk of fall. The end users will be rehabilitation clinics, geriatric centers, social services and condition centers, but preferably individual users, mostly seniors.

An experience from testing an ambient intelligence, devices for household — case study

Paper presents a practical experience from testing intelligent devices for household aimed for mainstream usage in practical life. They are developed with intelligent functions that make them accessible and usable also for people with weakened sensor and physical abilities, including people with impairments and elderly people. Testing process was conducted in Padeborn, Germany, in C-lab in cooperation with Siemens company. The paper consists of particular findings from testing household devices with intelligent features made by person with visual impairment. The results of the testing concluded to a case study summarizing experience of the potential end-user.

Wearable Non-Invasive Computer Controlled System for Improving of Seniors Gait

INTRODUCTION A fall is one of the most common events that threaten the independence of older adults. Each year, up to a third of older adults living in the community suffers a fall. About half of all people in nursing homes fall each year. Most falls result in a minor injury of some type, most often bruises and scrapes. However, 10—15% of falls result in a broken bone or other serious injury. These falls can be serious for elderly people and infl uence their daily life, cause physical problems, emotional trauma, avoid to move and be active. To be able to eliminate the number of falling, avoid the effective way to counteract falls is to improve movement capabilities. This may be achieved by training and rehabilitation programs focused on the process of recovery of the performance. Such research has been provided within the international project SMILING Self Mobility Improvement in the eLderly by counteractING falls, contract number 215493.

Some aspects in e-learning for persons with disabilities

The paper deals with several aspects of e-learning accessibility while supporting students with disabilities. The crucial problem is to enable support for blind persons. There are available efficient tools as screen readers enabling access to text information. However, there are still weak points when using web, and accessing a graphical information. Authors describe our activities to improving access to Mathematics at our University for blind students, but not only to them.

Ambient assisted living development in east slovakia

Authors describe preliminary results and some new plans in the development project of the new social service in Kosice city in East Slovakia. On 20 users group of Kosice citizens it is shown how applied research has been translated into practical innovation of regional social service based on ICT technology. Results were obtained in frame of the International European project MonAMI --- Mainstreaming on Ambient Intelligence, supported by the 6-th framework program of the European Commission. It shows how ambient technology platform MonAMI and related ICT services were adapted into society in a city and rural area too in Slovakia. MonAMI is European project focusing on ambient assisted living concept to increase autonomy, enhance ICT services for monitoring purposes for carers and support safety of vulnerable people living alone. Current plans for further development and implementation in praxis in cooperation with the SME are described.