Engaging older adults in the visualization of sensor data facilitated by an open platform for connected devices

Abstract

Abstract. BACKGROUND:The use of smart home sensor systems is growing primarily due to the appeal of unobtrusively monitoring older adult health and wellness. However, integrating large-scale sensor systems within residential settings can be challenging when deployment takes place across multiple environments, requiring customization of applications, connection across various devices and effective visualization of complex longitudinal data. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to demonstrate the implementation of a smart home system using an open, extensible platform in a real-world setting and develop an application to visualize data real time. METHODS:We deployed the open source Lab of Things platform in a house of 11 residents as a demonstration of feasibility over the course of 3 months. The system consisted of Aeon Labs Z-wave Door/Window sensors and an Aeon Labs Multi-sensor that collected data on motion, temperature, luminosity, and humidity. We applied a Rapid Iterative Testing and Evaluation approach towards designing a visualization interface engaging gerontological experts. We then conducted a survey with 19 older adult and caregiver stakeholders to inform further design revisions. RESULTS: Our initial visualization mockups consisted of a bar chart representing activity level over time. Family members felt comfortable using the application. Older adults however, indicated it would be difficult to learn to use the application, and had trouble identifying utility. A key for older adults was ensuring that the data collected could be utilized by their family members, physicians, or caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: The approach described in this work is generalizable towards future smart home deployments and can be a valuable guide for researchers to scale a study across multiple homes and connected devices, and to create personalized interfaces for end users.

How smart homes are used to support older people: An integrative review

“…The selected papers (Table ) included two qualitative interview studies (Peek et al, ; Ravishankar, Burleson, & Mahoney, ) and six descriptive quantitative studies (Akl, Snoek, & Mihailidis, ; Alberdi et al, ; Austin et al, ; Bock et al, ; Jekel, Damian, Storf, Hausner, & Frölich, ; Lussier et al, ). There were also five research papers on device tests (Blasco, Marco, Casas, Cirujano, & Picking, ; Cook, Schmitter‐Edgecombe, & Dawadi, ; Dawadi, Cook, & Schmitter‐Edgecombe, ; Sacco et al, ; Suryadevara & Mukhopadhyay, ).…”

“…They were published between 2012 and 2019. All of the studies included older people, two also included formal and informal caregivers (Blasco et al, ; Mehrabian et al, ) and one also included home care professionals (Bock et al, ). The main focus of five studies was smart home devices for daily activities and healthy living.…”

“…The main focus of five studies was smart home devices for daily activities and healthy living. Of the 16 studies we selected, seven looked at smart home devices with regard to the quality of daily activities (Alberdi et al, ; Blasco et al, ; Cook et al, ; Dawadi et al, ; Lussier et al, ; Ravishankar et al, ; Suryadevara & Mukhopadhay, ), four examined older people's safety related to physical environment (Bock et al, ; Cook et al, ; Dawadi et al, ; Pigini et al, ), four looked at physical activity (Austin et al, ; Dawadi et al, ; Gaugler et al, ; Pigini et al, ) and two focused on social isolation and loneliness (Austin et al, ; Jekel et al, ). Some of the studies looked at more than one area.…”

“…Seven of the studies were conducted in the United States (Akl et al, ; Austin et al, ; Bock et al, ; Cook et al, ; Dawadi et al, ; Gaugler et al, ; Ravishankar et al, ), two in France (Mehrabian et al, ; Sacco et al, ), one in Spain and United Kingdom (Blasco et al, ), one in Spain and the United States (Alberdi et al, ) and one each in Germany (Jekel et al, ), the Netherlands (Peek et al, ), New Zealand (Suryadevara & Mukhopadhay, ), Italy (Pigini et al, ) and Canada (Lussier et al, ).…”

“…The data transmitted by the motion sensors were used to calculate the probability of the older people's presence in a specific room at a particular time of day (Akl et al, ). Furthermore, the sensors that monitored the room spaces measured the amount of movement in the room (Bock et al, ; Cook et al, ; Dawadi et al, ; Lussier et al, ).…”