Technology and Health: theme edition of EOS Magazine with contributions of several mict-researchers

(22-10-2020) The EOS theme edition about Technology and Health is available online!

For this edition of the EOS-magazine several mict-ers were asked to share their insights or current projects. Senior researcher dr. Jeroen Stragier points out how wearable technology can assist in reducing sedentary behavior, Prof. dr. ing. Jelle Saldien explains how the sensor data of our spin-off 'Creative Therapy' quantifies human balance and provides data for fall prediction for the elderly, dr. Klaas Bombeke and Jessica Morton explain how our MobileDNA-app is used to detect cognitive decline and dr. Bas Baccarne and Ben Robaeyst show how a smartspeaker can help elderly citizens to cope with loneliness.

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How can wearable technology assist in reducing sedentary behavior?

Prolonged sitting increases the risk for conditions as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. By giving insight into people’s sitting time and giving timely reminders to interrupt sitting, wearables can be a valuable tool for behavior change interventions.

More information? Contact dr. Jeroen Stragier

Creative Therapy

Our spinoff Creative Therapy motivates in current rehabilitation practices, and will use their sensor data to quantify human balance and provide fall prediction for the elderly.

More information? Contact Prof. dr. ing. Jelle Saldien

Research project 'City of people: Hello Jenny'

Loneliness is a common issue where a lot of people are being confronted with. Especially elderly citizins within the urban context tend to have loneliness issues due to the loss of their social network and problems regarding physical mobility. In accordance to this issue, mict collaborated with the city of Ghent in order to develop an innovative elderly-proof smartspeaker which tries to tackle this issue. As a result, Hello Jenny was developed. This smartspeaker is able of estimating when a senior citizen is in need of social contact, using different kinds of data. Next, the speaker proactively asks the senior citizen whether a contact is needed. When applicable, a buddy (volunteer) is being asked to visit the senior. During this visit, the buddy and senior have a conversation or do a fun activity together. Here the project aims to facilitate social contact by using innovative technologies to support the relationship between senior and buddy. By addressing such a societal relevant problem, Hello Jenny cought the attention of the special issue of the EOS science magazine. In this issue, Hello Jenny was presented as a technology which makes a city less lonely.

More information? Contact dr. Bas Baccarne or Ben Robaeyst

Research project 'Smartphone for forgetting'

We want to detect cognitive decline on the basis of digital data obtained from smartphone use. We do this on the basis of a self-developed app "mobileDNA". For example, suppose someone unlocks his or her smartphone but then forgets what he or she wanted to do, or that difficulties arise in switching between apps and the usage pattern changes over time. With this innovative solution, cognitive difficulties could be noticed more quickly, and thus elderly with early dementia complaints would be helped more quickly (even before the extensive examination at the GP or in the hospital).

The target group is 55 and over and has an (Android) smartphone available. Participants download an app and let it run in the background for 6 months. They also complete an online questionnaire at the start and end of the survey. So no contact is required in this survey, all information to participate and download the app is explained on this website.

More information about the project? Contact dr. Klaas Bombeke or Jessica Morton

More information about the MobileDNA-app? Contact dr. Wouter Durnez, Kyle Van Gaeveren or Floor Denecker