Fraunhofer Center for Assistive Information and Communication Solutions – AICOS26.7.2017
Boccia was the game chosen by Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS and Centro Algoritmi (University of Minho) to promote elderly’s physical activity. The iBoccia paper will be presented at the 14th International Conference on Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics (ICINCO), taking place from 26th to 28th of July, in Madrid (Spain).
The purpose of iBoccia is to promote elderly’s physical activity by monitoring their performance when playing the boccia game and given suggestions on how to improve it. The simplicity and easy adaptability to the physical limitations of the elderly is an advantage for the target.
The iBoccia is a novel framework to monitor elderly while playing Boccia game, through wearable sensors, Mio Fuse band and pandlet (inertial sensor), as well as a non-wearable device, Kinect camera. The paper expects that several performance metrics are going to be measured during the gameplay. Using the pandlet, it is calculated wrist rotation angles and force applied during ball throw; using the Kinect, it is recognised facial expressions; and from the Mio Fuse band, it is retrieved heart rate.
On the last years, the ageing population enlarged and was necessary to find new ways to increase their quality of life. Promoting a non-sedentary life can help in disease prevention and disability reduction, leading to an independent living with quality. Therefore, the practice of physical exercise can decrease fall risks and its consequences. The solutions developed in this context must be accessed by anyone, with a low inherent cost.