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Naccarelli R, D’Agresti F, Roelen SD, Jokinen K, Casaccia S, Revel GM, Maggio M, Azimi Z, Alam MM, Saleem Q, Mohammed AH, Napolitano G, Szczepaniak F, Hariz M, Chollet G, Lohr C, Boudy J, Wieching R, Ogawa T. Empowering Smart Aging: Insights into the Technical Architecture of the e-VITA Virtual Coaching System for Older Adults. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:638. [PMID: 38276330 PMCID: PMC10818560 DOI: 10.3390/s24020638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
With a substantial rise in life expectancy throughout the last century, society faces the imperative of seeking inventive approaches to foster active aging and provide adequate aging care. The e-VITA initiative, jointly funded by the European Union and Japan, centers on an advanced virtual coaching methodology designed to target essential aspects of promoting active and healthy aging. This paper describes the technical framework underlying the e-VITA virtual coaching system platform and presents preliminary feedback on its use. At its core is the e-VITA Manager, a pivotal component responsible for harmonizing the seamless integration of various specialized devices and modules. These modules include the Dialogue Manager, Data Fusion, and Emotional Detection, each making distinct contributions to enhance the platform's functionalities. The platform's design incorporates a multitude of devices and software components from Europe and Japan, each built upon diverse technologies and standards. This versatile platform facilitates communication and seamless integration among smart devices such as sensors and robots while efficiently managing data to provide comprehensive coaching functionalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Naccarelli
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (S.C.); (G.M.R.)
| | | | - Sonja Dana Roelen
- Institut für Experimentelle Psychophysiologie GmbH, 40215 Düsseldorf, Germany; (S.D.R.); (Z.A.)
| | - Kristiina Jokinen
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIRC/AIST), Tokyo 135-0064, Japan;
| | - Sara Casaccia
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (S.C.); (G.M.R.)
| | - Gian Marco Revel
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (S.C.); (G.M.R.)
| | - Martino Maggio
- Engineering Ingegneria Informatica SpA, 00144 Roma, Italy; (F.D.); (M.M.)
| | - Zohre Azimi
- Institut für Experimentelle Psychophysiologie GmbH, 40215 Düsseldorf, Germany; (S.D.R.); (Z.A.)
| | - Mirza Mohtashim Alam
- Leibniz Institute for Information Infrastructure, FIZ Karlsruhe, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany;
| | - Qasid Saleem
- Institute for Applied Informatics (InfAI), 04109 Leipzig, Germany; (Q.S.); (A.H.M.); (G.N.)
| | - Abrar Hyder Mohammed
- Institute for Applied Informatics (InfAI), 04109 Leipzig, Germany; (Q.S.); (A.H.M.); (G.N.)
| | - Giulio Napolitano
- Institute for Applied Informatics (InfAI), 04109 Leipzig, Germany; (Q.S.); (A.H.M.); (G.N.)
| | - Florian Szczepaniak
- Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT), 91120 Palaiseau, France; (F.S.); (M.H.); (G.C.); (C.L.); (J.B.)
| | - Mossaab Hariz
- Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT), 91120 Palaiseau, France; (F.S.); (M.H.); (G.C.); (C.L.); (J.B.)
| | - Gérard Chollet
- Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT), 91120 Palaiseau, France; (F.S.); (M.H.); (G.C.); (C.L.); (J.B.)
| | - Christophe Lohr
- Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT), 91120 Palaiseau, France; (F.S.); (M.H.); (G.C.); (C.L.); (J.B.)
| | - Jérôme Boudy
- Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT), 91120 Palaiseau, France; (F.S.); (M.H.); (G.C.); (C.L.); (J.B.)
| | - Rainer Wieching
- Institute for Business Informatics & New Media, University Siegen, Kohlbettstr. 15, 57072 Siegen, Germany;
| | - Toshimi Ogawa
- Smart-Aging Research Center, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan;
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Stara V, Rampioni M, Moșoi AA, Kristaly DM, Moraru SA, Paciaroni L, Paolini S, Raccichini A, Felici E, Cucchieri G, Antognoli L, Millevolte A, Antici M, di Rosa M. The Impact of a Multicomponent Platform Intervention on the Daily Lives of Older Adults. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:3102. [PMID: 38131995 PMCID: PMC10742799 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11243102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Gerontechnology is an interdisciplinary field of research involving gerontology and technology in order to help older adults identify and slow down the effects of age-related physical and cognitive decline. It has enormous potential to allow individuals to remain in their own homes and improve their quality of life. This study aims to assess the impact of a multicomponent platform, consisting of an ambient sensor, wearable devices, and a cloud application, as an intervention in terms of usability and acceptance as primary outcomes and well-being, quality of life, and self-efficacy as secondary outcomes in a sample of 25 older adults aged over 65 after 21 days of non-supervised usage at home. This research involved the use of a mixed-methods approach, in which both qualitative and quantitative data were collected in three different measurements. Overall, the participants shared good engagement with the integrated platform. The system achieved positive results in terms of both usability and acceptance, especially the smartwatch. The state of complete well-being slightly improved over the period, whereas self-efficacy remained stable. This study demonstrates the ability of target users to use technology independently in their home environment: it strengthens the idea that this technology is ready for mainstream use and offers food for thought for developers who create products for the aging population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Stara
- Model of Care and New Technologies, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Via Santa Margherita 5, 60124 Ancona, Italy; (V.S.); (E.F.); (G.C.); (L.A.)
| | - Margherita Rampioni
- Model of Care and New Technologies, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Via Santa Margherita 5, 60124 Ancona, Italy; (V.S.); (E.F.); (G.C.); (L.A.)
| | - Adrian Alexandru Moșoi
- Department of Psychology, Education and Teacher Training, Transilvania University of Brasov, B-dul Eroilor 29, 500036 Brașov, Romania;
| | - Dominic M. Kristaly
- Department of Automatics and Information Technology, Transilvania University of Brasov, B-dul Eroilor 29, 500036 Brașov, Romania; (D.M.K.); (S.-A.M.)
| | - Sorin-Aurel Moraru
- Department of Automatics and Information Technology, Transilvania University of Brasov, B-dul Eroilor 29, 500036 Brașov, Romania; (D.M.K.); (S.-A.M.)
| | - Lucia Paciaroni
- Neurology Department, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Via della Monta-gnola 81, 60100 Ancona, Italy; (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.R.)
| | - Susy Paolini
- Neurology Department, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Via della Monta-gnola 81, 60100 Ancona, Italy; (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.R.)
| | - Alessandra Raccichini
- Neurology Department, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Via della Monta-gnola 81, 60100 Ancona, Italy; (L.P.); (S.P.); (A.R.)
| | - Elisa Felici
- Model of Care and New Technologies, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Via Santa Margherita 5, 60124 Ancona, Italy; (V.S.); (E.F.); (G.C.); (L.A.)
| | - Giacomo Cucchieri
- Model of Care and New Technologies, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Via Santa Margherita 5, 60124 Ancona, Italy; (V.S.); (E.F.); (G.C.); (L.A.)
| | - Luca Antognoli
- Model of Care and New Technologies, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, Via Santa Margherita 5, 60124 Ancona, Italy; (V.S.); (E.F.); (G.C.); (L.A.)
| | | | - Marina Antici
- Laboratorio delle Idee, Via G.B. Miliani 36, 60044 Fabriano, Italy; (A.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Mirko di Rosa
- Unit of Geriatric Pharmacoepidemiology and Biostatistics, IRCCS INRCA-National Institute of Health and Science on Aging, 60124 Ancona, Italy;
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