the development of an intelligent health monitoring and emergency response system to support aging-in-place

该研究项目的重点是计算机视觉和决策理论算法在医疗技术领域的发展和应用，特别是支持老年人的智能家居。老年人是加拿大增长最快的人口群体。为希望继续在自己家中独立生活的老年人提供支持是一个日益受到社会关注的问题，特别是对那些独居的老年人。通常需要以任务指导的形式提供支持和协助，例如提醒如何完成特定任务，确保安全，例如对跌倒和事故作出反应，以及健康评估，特别是对人员的健康和保健水平（包括行动能力）进行全面跟踪。到目前为止，我们已经开发了能够执行这些不同功能的单个系统，并收集了数据来支持它们的功效。然而，通过对所需系统算法和技术的更彻底的探索，我们也确定了需要解决的关键限制。我们未来五年的目标是继续发展健康监测和应急响应系统，重点是改进系统，克服现有技术的局限性。我的科学目标是继续展示计算机视觉、规划算法和其他人工智能领域（例如语音识别）在这一特定领域的有用应用。此外，我们将致力于开发一个综合系统，包括在家中支持老年人所需的功能。这个研究项目是将复杂的计算机科学概念应用于这一领域的首批尝试之一。更好地了解在这些类型的系统中最有效的技术，老年人可以选择在自己的家中呆更长时间，并有助于减轻照顾者的负担和压力，从而受益。这种方法的科学重要性在于计算机视觉，决策理论技术和语音识别的发展，在一个独特的和高度相关的现实世界的应用。

This research program is focused on the development and application of computer vision and decision-theoretic algorithms in the domain of healthcare technologies-- specifically, intelligent homes to support older adults. Older adults constitute the fastest growing population group in Canada. Providing support to older adults who want to continue to live independently in their own homes is a growing social concern, especially for those who live alone. Support and assistance is typically required in the forms of task guidance, such as providing reminders on how to complete a particular task, ensuring safety, such as responding to falls and accidents, and health assessment, in particular overall tracking of the person's levels of health and wellness, including level of mobility. To date, we have developed individual systems that can perform these various functions, and have collected data to support their efficacy. However, we have also identified key limitations that need to be addressed, through a more thorough exploration of the required system algorithms and techniques. Our objectives over the next five years is to continue with the development of the health monitoring and emergency response system started during my first Discovery Grant, focusing on improving the system and overcoming the limitations of existing technologies. My scientific goal is to continue to demonstrate the useful application of computer vision, planning algorithms, and other areas of AI (e.g., speech recognition) within this specific domain. Furthermore, we will aim to develop an integrated system incorporating the functions required to support an older adult in the home. This research program is in one of the first attempts to apply sophisticated computer science concepts in this domain. With a better understanding of the techniques that are most effective in these types of systems, older adults may benefit by being given the option to remain in their own homes longer, and help to reduce caregiver burden and stress. The scientific importance of this approach is the development of computer vision, decision-theoretic techniques, and speech recognition, in a unique and highly relevant real-world application.