Giraff+: Combining social interaction and long term monitoring for promoting independent living
The Giraff+ project aims at developing a system consisting of a network of home sensors that can be automatically configured to collect data for a range of monitoring services; a semi-autonomous telepresence robot; a sophisticated context recognition system that can give high-level and long term interpretations of the collected data and respond to certain events; and personalized services delivered through adaptive user interfaces for primary users.
The system will perform a range of services including data collection and analysis of long term trends in behaviours and physiological parameters (e,g, relating to sleep or daily activity); warnings, alarms and reminders; and social interaction through the telepresence robot. The latter is based on the Giraff telepresence robot, which is already in place in a number of homes. The social services of the Giraff robot have the advantage of making the system potentially more attractive to users in an initial phase. The system can then be adapted to additional users needs. Particular emphasis is put on user evaluation outside the laboratories. A distinctive aspect of the project is that 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 Giraff+ 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.
Project data: Small or medium-scale focused research project (STREP) ICT Call 7 FP7-ICT-2011-7
Combing social interaction and long term monitoring for promoting independent living Giraff+
Work programme topic addressed: ICT-2011.5.4 b) Smart and self-adaptive environments prolonging independent living
Contact person: Javier Gonzalez
Contents
The Consortium
The consortium of the Giraff project involves institutions and companies from six countries:
| Participant organisation name | Country |
| Örebro universitet (Coordinator) | Sweden |
| Lund universitet | Sweden |
| Universidad de Malaga | Spain |
| Giraff Technologies AB | Sweden |
| Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche CNR-ISTC | Italy |
| Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche ISTI | Italy |
| IntelliCare – Intelligent Sensing in Healthcare, Lda | Portugal |
| Tunstall Healthcare | UK |
| Mälardalen universitet | Sweden |
| Örebro County Council | Sweden |
| XLAB | Slovenia |
| Azienda sanitaria locale Roma/A | Italy |
| Distrito sanitario Costa del Sol | Spain |
One of the major responsabilities of the MAPIR group in this project aim at improving the mobility of the Giraff platform and coordinating the integration of the different sensors and components within a functional prototype.
Three major issues will be addressed here:
- Reliable but inexpensive surrounding perception. Among other alternatives we will study short range laser scanner and recently appeared 3D cameras (Kinect, from Microsoft).
- Giraff self-localization. We will implement specific self-positioning algorithms based on the data provided by the selected sensor.
- Reactive navigation to nearby places. This requires the implementation of algorithms for free space detection and Giraff motion generation toward the target while taking into account non-holonomic constraints and the shape of the platform.
Mass Media
Some International press release:
Spanish mass media have covered the results of the GiraffPlus project (please visit giraffplus.eu for a complete and updated list):
| 16/09/2014 | canalsur |
| 20/05/2014 | Heraldo.es |
| 20/05/2014 | diariodejerez.es |
| 20/05/2014 | Malagahoy.es |
| 20/05/2014 | periodistadigital.com |
| 20/05/2014 | europasur.es |
| 20/05/2014 | elalmeria.es |
| 20/05/2014 | laopiniondemalaga.es |
| 12/05/2014 | elmeridianodecordoba.com.co |
| 13/05/2014 | laflecha.net |
| 15/05/2014 | actualyciencia.es |
| 15/05/2014 | revistadeinnovacion.com |
| 19/05/2014 | elconfidencial.com |
| 19/05/2014 | ciencicola.com |
| 19/05/2014 | larazon.es (La Razon Digital) |
| 19/05/2014 | Actualidades.es |
| 20/05/2014 | periodistadigital.com |
| 20/05/2014 | eldiadecordoba.es |
| 20/05/2014 | diariodesevilla.es |
| 20/05/2014 | diariodecadiz.es |
| 05/05/2014 | agenciasinc.es |
| 05/05/2014 | Antena3.com |
| 05/05/2014 | Cadenaser |
| 05/05/2014 | eldiario.es |
| 05/05/2014 | Larazon.es |
| 05/05/2014 | Noticias.com |
| 05/05/2014 | presspeople.com |
| 05/05/2014 | telecinco.es |
| 05/05/2014 | tribunasur.es |
| 06/05/2014 | Cuatro.com |
| 06/05/2014 | elboletin.com |
| 06/05/2014 | eleconomista.es |
| 06/05/2014 | ibercampus.es |
| 06/05/2014 | La Gaceta De Los Negocios Online |
| 06/05/2014 | solidaridaddigital.com |
| 07/05/2014 | Telecomkh.com |
| 11/05/2014 | cuentamealgobueno.com |
Publications
Publications in the scope of this project:
