Development of a Smart Home Simulator for Use as a Heuristic Tool for Management of Sensor Distribution
By Poland, Michael P.; Nugent, Chris D.; Wang, Hui; Chen, Liming; Technology and Health Care, Vol. 17, pp. 171-182Publication Date: 2009
Paper describes the development and functionality of a three dimensional (3D) virtual simulation tool for use in determining the distribution of sensors within a Smart Home. A Smart Home is defined as an assistive and protective environment enabling independent living for seniors. The Smart Home Simulator (SHS) supports the implementation, manipulation, and evaluation of specialized sensors within a virtual reality setting and supports interactions with a virtual patient (VP). The utility of the tool is its ability to test and optimize the placement and distribution of sensors in a virtual environment (VE) prior to their deployments in the physical environment. As such, this approach offers the potential of tailoring sensor distributions to the specific needs of the patient in a non-invasive manner. The SHS is a standard Windows based computer software application. Once a VE is loaded into the SHS, it is populated by a VP whose main aim is to interact with the sensor elements by which events are stored in a database in real time. Elements can be added to the VE in the form of objects and furniture. Shortcomings of the SHS discussed include the availability of only two types of sensors, a motion sensor and a pressure pad, for implementation in the VE, and no reference to wearable sensor devices. Implications for further development of the SHS are discussed.
Published by: IOS Press (Website:http://www.iospress.nl)
