Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
delivered and, based on several static and dynamic parameters - such as the user
profile, the configuration made by the care-givers, the importance of the event to be
notified, the surrounding context - what the proper formats for the delivery are (e.g.
only text, text and audio message, text and sound, etc.)
Allows the user to proactively use the platform by pressing a single “soft” button on the
graphical user interface (GUI) to ask assistance from the care-givers. This can be
accomplished by pressing with a finger on a help button which triggers the sending of
notification messages in the form of SMS or email, or a button for receiving a video-
conference session
Stimulates the cognitive capabilities of mild-dementia affected people by displaying
information that helps them in maintaining the structure of the day (e.g. date and time)
and the memories (e.g. slide show of personal pictures meaningful to them). Provides
possibility to the elderly to confirm an activity by pressing a single “soft” button on
GUI if elderly is able to interact with the system
The intelligent software module running on the device is constantly in communication with
a central server module and is capable to enable/disable in real-time every single service
provisioned, based on the configuration decided by a care-giver. Accordingly, it repaints the
GUI elements displayed on the screen adding or removing them dynamically, for example
by adding a new upcoming event in the list of “Next events”. In addition to this, the module
constantly considers the user context, leveraging the device equipment (e.g. the embedded
web camera) or data coming from other devices (e.g. domotic sensors) and takes decisions
based on the current situation.
Here follow some examples:
During the night time the system enters an energy saving mode by turning off the
screen. Such modality is interrupted (the screen is displayed again) if movement is
detected in the surrounding by the context monitoring module
Multimedia alarm messages related to dangerous conditions in the home (e.g. a fire
alarm or a cooker left on for a long time) are played on the device speakers and shown
on the device screen on behalf of the domotic module. In this way, the elderly person
can react to the situation (e.g. switching off the cooker) or, in case he/she does not
within a pre-configured timeframe, alarm messages are sent to the care-givers and
relatives in form of SMS and email
In case of external conditions that temporarily prevent the module to provide some of
the functionalities (e.g. instable network connection), it changes the display layout
showing proper notification messages which inform of the unavailability of one or more
services. At the same time, a server side module is capable of detecting the error
conditions and of alerting the proper actors (for example the service support team) to
take action. As soon as the error conditions disappear, the module automatically
returns in full-operation mode. Notifications are sent also to the care-givers.
The layout of the GUI displayed on the Carebox and the related contents are strongly
dependent on the settings made by the care-givers for each end-user. As already mentioned,
the system is quite flexible, so that the care-givers can enable/disable at runtime a different
set of services for each user depending on the level of cognitive impairments. Such
configuration is made by accessing the web portal. Anyway, there is a core set of essential
