Tero Kivimäki

User interface for social networking application for the elderly

Elderly people with no or limited skills of using computers are in risk of social isolation as social life moves to the Internet. This paper describes the design process and implementation of a user interface and device for the elderly for a social networking application. The idea is that people with no previous experience on using computers are able to use the device immediately and that the device is not considered to be a computer. An iterative and user-centred design process is used to ensure that all the needs and views from the users are taken into account. The user interface and the device have been tested in long lasting field trials and the results are presented in this paper. Based on the results the implemented device seems to qualify the needs of elder users.

Building a Client-Server Social Network Application for Elders and Safety Net

Social inclusion is one of the major challenges for the elderly living alone. An active social life is connected in many ways to both mental and physical well-being. As the online social networks are getting more common in peoples social lives, there is therefore a growing need for social applications that are designed for the elderly. In this paper we present design and implementation of the AMCOSOP system that enables the elderly to stay connected with their families, friends and safety network even though they are living by themselves. Consisting of a touchscreen user interface and web-based solutions, the AMCOSOP system was used in field trials in two countries for several months.

Capacitive 3D user tracking with a mobile demonstration platform

In this paper, we describe a 3D mobile demonstration platform that can passively track the location and posture of multiple persons walking on a segmented floor. The presented tracking system is fully unobtrusive and requires the user to neither wear any tags or perform any special action, such as talk, to be tracked. Thus, it promotes the concept of calm technology by pushing the sensing actions to the background. The system is based on capacitive measurements in transmit-mode which are performed using a commercial capacitance-to-digital converter. The user position on the floor level is calculated by measuring the placement of feet on different transmitting floor segments. The vertical head position is measured using a large receiver electrode placed above the tracking area and the result is used to determine the user posture. The implemented system is provided for hands-on evaluation for conference attendees with a 1.8x3.0 m floor space which enables the tracking of five persons at the same time. The position and the three-state posture of the persons walking on the floor are displayed to the demo attendees in real-time.

AMCOSOP: a social networking system for the elderly

Aging people are in risk of social isolation due to direct or indirect effects of aging. Social isolation decreases the quality of life, health and acts against independent living, which is important for both the elderly people and society. Social networking can provide elders a sense of presence with their relatives, friends and healthcare personnel which counteract the effects aging causes to their social connections. In this research a special social networking system is designed and provided for the elderly to answer their communication needs. To collect information on the achieved benefits of the system, a selected group of elders will use the system in their everyday lives in field trials for several months.

Reliability of the TileTrack capacitive user tracking system in smart home environment

This paper presents a short reliability analysis of the passive and device-free human positioning system called TileTrack. The presented tracking system is fully unobtrusive and requires the user to neither to wear any tags nor to perform any special action, such as talk, to be tracked. Thus, it promotes the concept of calm technology by pushing the sensing actions to the background. The system uses capacitive measurements to determine the placement of feet on different transmitting floor segments. The systems reliability and capability to track moving humans was tested in a real apartment, and the test results are presented as well as analyzed in this paper.

Ambient communication and sense of presence device

The number of elderly people is increasing rapidly both in absolute numbers and in relation to younger population. It is the benefit for both the elders and the communities that elderly people continue to live in their own homes as long as possible. Therefore technology should be used to help the elders in their homes. As loneliness and social isolation have negative impact on the health and happiness of the older population, ambient devices and social networking may be used to help the elderly connect with their friends and families. In this paper we will demonstrate our solution, the Amcosop system, which will help elders feel safe and keep connected with their nearest and dearest.

Gesture Control System for Smart Environments

This paper presents a system to control lighting, heating, ventilation and entertainment electronics in smart environments using gestures. Until now, there has not been general control method for intelligent environments available. In addition to the actual control system a pilot platform, where the system can be tested in a real environment, has been implemented. Usability and functionality of the system are verified by initial end-user testing and the results are presented in this paper. According to initial test results the solution is easy to use and expandable to be used in any smart environment to control various devices.