News
06.07.2010 European scientist are working on a first PAMAP prototype (English version)
Scientists in the European research project PAMAP are working on a first prototype to measure physical activities to support healthier and independent living for elderly people.
Active and healthy in later years – The digital fitness coach for seniors
In the European research project PAMAP (Physical Activity Monitoring for Aging People), scientists of the DFKI research department “Augmented Reality” work on a prototype, which measures the physical activities of elderly and motivates them to stay active and healthy as retired. Within this project, an international team of experts of sensors, biomechanics, and medicine investigates the question: How can modern information and sensor technology help elderly people to improve their lives?
Kaiserslautern, Saarbrücken, Bremen und Berlin, 06.07.2010
“Our assistance system can be used for both prevention and rehabilitation”, says Professor Didier Stricker, the head of the DFKI research department in Kaiserslautern. “Based on small inertial sensors, it detects the physical activities and informs the wearer. The system can also exactly determine the movements of the upper body using a biomechanical model of the upper body. This can be used for specific exercises during functional rehabilitation.”
Like a fitness coach, the PAMAP system monitors the user, corrects her movements and warns her about overstraining. Thus the system helps to perform the exercises correctly. The recorded movements are displayed on the TV screen. In case of incorrect execution correcting instructions, such as “you must fully extend your arm”, are displayed. The relevant data are stored in an electronic health record and can be viewed later by the user and her family, and they can be analyzed by medical specialists. The doctors and physical therapists can thus provide early diagnosis, measure how successful therapies are, and give users interactive assistance to follow their treatment.
“With the support of the PAMAP system, seniors can manage their health and quality of life independently and in their known environment”, says Professor Stricker.
Medical research shows that a balanced physical activity has positive effects on health and extends the life expectancy. The motivation to sustain a balanced physical activity is crucial, especially for elderly people.
A video describing the PAMAP system and furhter project information can be found on the Internet:
http://www.pamap.org/news.html
http://www.pamap.org/
22.06.2010 Overview of the first PAMAP system
18.05.2010 PAMAP presentation at the 2nd InterMedia Summer School
The concept of the PAMAP system will be presented in a session dedicated to Novel ICT Solutions for Supporting Healthier and Independent Living. In the context of the 2nd InterMedia Summer School
The workshop will take place in Minoa Palace, Platanias, Chania, Crete, Greece
May 25 - 26, 2010
12.03.2010 AALIANCE
The first results of the PAMAP project have been presented to a broad audience of AAL stakeholders at the AALIANCE conference in Malaga, Spain. The accompanying paper "Healthy Aging using Physical Activity Monitoring" mainly addresses senor-based activity recognition, which is a core part of our developments.
The video shows how several Colibri sensors are used to track upper body motion.
08.03.2010 PAMAP presented in Paris
Presentation of the PAMAP project to surgeons and rehabilitation physicians at Robert Debré Hospital in Paris.
02/06.03.2010 CeBIT
PAMAP has been presented at the world's largest trade fair CeBIT. The demonstrator showcases possible use of the monitoring system for functional rehabilitation and general activity monitoring. Visitors of CeBIT's future parc could themselves test the personal trainer (one component of the PAMAP system) live. The personal trainer supervises rehabilitation exercises using inertial motion sensors that are attached to the respective limbs. The exhibit was very successful resulting in new business and research contacts as well as new ideas for how to exploit the developed tracking technology in other application domains.
21.02.2010 Colibri
The miniature Inertial Motion Tracker Colibri is now available as a product from Trivisio Prototyping GmbH. The Colibri together with the associated software development kit are the first commercial outcome of PAMAP. Trivisio has shipped demo units for testing to distributors and potential clients worldwide and the sales have started out successfully.
