MOBECS

The goal of the "MOBECS (Mobility and Emergency Call System)" was to develop a mobile technology that offers older people assistance at their current location and automatically alerts a central service platform in emergency situations. Within the scope of the project, the objective was to combine familiar functions such as navigation aids and person tracking via GPS with new methods of automatic event and emergency detection. For this purpose, acceleration and motion sensors, GPS modules, microphones and cameras where integrated in portable devices as well as in clothing and accessories such as belts and wristwatches. By analysis and comparison of the various sensor data, the system is now able to automatically detect critical situations and then forward this information to a care provider via a web-based service platform. The scalable technology can be adapted to the needs of different user groups and can also be used with standard commercially available smartphones. Development of this technology can benefit independent older people and residents in assisted living facilities and care homes as well as people with physical or mental disabilities.

Responsibilities of Fraunhofer IDMT in Oldenburg

The task of the Fraunhofer IDMT's Oldenburg Branch for Hearing, Speech and Audio Technology HSA was to develop methods for acoustic event and emergency detection, fusion of data from sensor networks as well as alarm generation and forwarding. Accompanying studies on user acceptance and user-orientated design for operation of the technology where conducted in close cooperation with the care institutions participating in the project.