The MOBECS consortium is formed by a research institution, a communication service provider, hard- and software manufactures and end user organisations. The target focus group is formed by elderly people. Subgroup 1 is formed by elderly people who live independently in their homes. Subgroup 2 lives in (part-time) assisted living environments. Members of subgroup 3 already live in a retirement home or suffer from either cognitive or physical impairments. We address all subgroups, each characterised by its own needs and degrees of mobility, by a modular service and system architecture. We incorporate automatic emergency detection methods by using sensors (such as accelerometers, gyrometers, microphones, GPS modules, cameras) built in wearable technology, clothing and mobile devices. The proposed system can be accessed via a barrier-free human-machine-interface to account for age- and health-related impairments, which will lead to a maximum on end-user-acceptance and operability.
Objectives
MOBECS aims to enable and preserve the independence and mobility of older people via the development of small, non-stigmatising, easy-to-use, re-configurable and scalable stand-alone wearable emergency call and service systems. Tracking and localisation of a user, navigation, manual and automated alarm generation, voice control etc. are features to be integrated in close cooperation with the three defined end-user groups. The devices will be interoperable with a MOBECS service platform, existing smart-phones and domestic emergency call systems.
Expected results and impact
The MOBECS project results will maintain high quality services in the field of care and supervision of older persons. The complete service and its individual components will be used in the end-user organisations to both support the (in-)formal care givers in their work and to provide assistance/guidance in terms of mobility, security and safety. A transfer of the project results into other user segments is foreseen, while strengthening the project partners in the field of access service and user interfaces, communication infrastructure, end device manufacturing, prototyping and software development.
Partners
Partners involved in the MOBECS project
- Project name: MOBECS – A Non-stigmatizing (MOB)ility and (E)mergency (C)all (S)ystem Ensuring A Safe Outdoor Mobility Chain
- Website: www.mobecs.eu
- Coordinator: Fraunhofer
- Duration: 36 Months
- Starting Date: 01.07.2012
- Total budget: € 3.132.431
- Public contribution: € 1.989.650
Contact
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Wallhoff
E.: Frank.Wallhoff@idmt.fraunhofer.de
T.: +49 (0) 441 2172 432
