Giraff+
Combing social interaction and long term monitoring for promoting independent living
Contatti
Abstract
Early detection and adaptive support to changing individual needs related to ageing is an important challenge
in today society. The Giraff+ project aims at developing a system that addresses such a challenge. The system
consists of a network of home sensors that measure e.g. blood pressure or temperature, or detect e.g. whether
somebody occupies a chair, falls down or moves inside a room. The data from these sensors are interpreted
by an intelligent system in terms of activities, e.g. the person is going to bed, and health and wellbeing, e.g.
the person is tired or well rested. These activities can then trigger alarms or reminders to the person or his/her
caregivers, or be analysed over time by a health professional. The system should automatically adapt to perform
specific services such as checking the person’s sleeping patterns. There is also a telepresence robot, the Giraff,
which can be moved around in the home by somebody connected to it over internet, e.g. a caregiver. The Giraff
is effectively a mobile communication platform, equipped with video camera and display, and microphone and
speakers, and it helps the user to maintain his/her social contacts. Particular emphasis is put on user evaluation
outside the laboratories. The Giraff+ system will be installed and evaluated in at least 15 homes of elderly people
distributed in three European countries (Sweden, Italy and Spain). These evaluations will drive the development
of the system. The concept of “useworthiness” will be central in order to assure that the Giraff+ system provides
services that are easy and worth using. In addition, by using existing and affordable components (besides the
Giraff robot also sensors from two participating companies: Tunstall and IntelliCare) we strive to achieve a
system that is affordable and close to commercialization.
Durata
36 Months
Istituto finanziario
Unione Europea