| Designed by: |
| Localised and Assisted on the Move |
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Context This use case illustrates some future assistance services for elderly persons, search supported by indoor localization technologies and context-aware applications. The indicated features and services are at the core of Ambient Assisted Living in general, order and will therefore, after following a user-centered design approach, serve as source of generic and AAL-specific requirements for the Future Internet. Private and public spaces like home and supermarkets will serve as AAL platforms and can thus provide added value services. The use case highlights the commonalities between the different spaces and the seamless service provision expected from the Future Internet based society when moving from one AAL space to another.
Scenario
The little box is a simple mobile phone with the screen and keys adapted to fit her vision capabilities. In addition, when crossing the threshold of the house the box is ready for the outdoor location with integrated GPS. When walking to the supermarket, the box will indicate the direction to go by a big arrow. Lina knows the road that she has gone for years. But sometimes, taken over by her thoughts, she forgets what to do and the arrow will remind her where to go. Furthermore, if she got lost, the little box would connect her with her son. But this has only happened a few times so far. Since she has started following the diet prescribed by the doctor, the moments of loss are increasingly rare. Actually, the AAL system at home and the little box on the move help her to keep everything under control, including her health condition. For example, the box reminds her to take the appropriate pills at the right time, and measures her blood pressure and glycaemia.
Furthermore, when Lina has finished shopping, Gabriel can check if she needs help to carry the packages home. It is Lina’s favourite time: she knows the little box can help her with transportations, but she takes the opportunity to be picked up by her son and to spend some time with him. So, in the meantime, she starts out slowly from the supermarket - in any case, Gabriel manages to find her and picks her up by car.
Involved Technologies A number of technologies are involved in this use case:
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Lina is a 78-year old person, who lives alone but she has adult children who care about her. While living away from Lina, the children are always aware of her whereabouts and they are confident that the AAL system installed at her home would alert them in time in case of problems.
At home, a passive localization system is installed, able to follow Lina’s movements and to warn other subsystems of the current position of Lina. Lina is now aware of the advantages of the system; she knows that, in case of need, simply by touching a button, wherever she is, she can always communicate with her loved ones via her phone, and will see the conversation partner on the TV if available.
In fact, she knows that this system has also been installed at other places, and when she noticed that the supermarket, where she usually went to, has got one, she resumed to go shopping there, carrying a little box with her. (The AAL system at home will remind her to take the box before leaving home.)
Also, it helps her to buy the rights diet products at the supermarket. The little box always knows where she is located inside the supermarket. Since Linda’s eyes cannot read the labels on the shelves from distance anymore, the box will tell her what products are around her and if food is good or not for her. The little box also knows what Lina is allowed to eat - she just needs to get the box close to the shelf.
Lina is particularly grateful for the little box when she goes to the cashier to pay. She has always hated to carry money along, as she has always been afraid of being robbed. She does not trust in credit cards too, as she never knows how much banks charge for them. Instead, with her box his son Gabriel is able to check the validity of the invoice and to pay on behalf of her. When Lina approaches the register, Gabriel is informed of everything she does; he realizes that Lina is at the supermarket and he checks that payments are correct.