H2Al—The Human Health and Activity Laboratory

Abstract

The Human Health and Activity Laboratory (H2Al) is a new research facility at Luleå University of Technology implemented during 2018 as a smart home environment in an educational training apartment for nurses and therapists at the Luleå campus. This paper presents the design and implementation of the lab together with a discussion on potential impact. The aim is to identify and overcome economical, technical and social barriers to achieve an envisioned good and equal health and welfare within and from home environments. The lab is equipped with multiple sensor and actuator systems in the environment, worn by persons and based on digital information. The systems will allow for advanced capture, filtering, analysis and visualization of research data such as A/V, EEG, ECG, EMG, GSR, respiration and location while being able to detect falls, sleep apnea and other critical health and wellbeing issues. The resulting studies will be aimed towards supporting and equipping future home environments and care facilities, spanning from temporary care to primary care at hospitals, with technologies for activity and critical health and wellness issue detection. The work will be conducted at an International level and within a European context, based on a collaboration with other smart labs, such that experiments can be replicated at multiple sites. This paper presents some initial lessons learnt including design, setup and configuration for comparison of sensor placements and configurations as well as analytical methods.

Correlation Analysis of Different Measurement Places of Galvanic Skin Response in Test Groups Facing Pleasant and Unpleasant Stimuli

“…In light of these, the literature review shows research interest in the measurement of stress-related signal location. From the Human Health and Activity Laboratory (H2AL) [ 24 ], we contribute to expanding the mass of knowledge about the galvanic skin response and wearable technologies available on the market, correlating stress-related biosignals from the right and the left forearm measured using Empatica E4 to those of the left fingers and inner side of the right foot gathered from using Shimmer3GSR.…”

“…The above insight was our primary motivation to conduct a preliminary technical study, to determine the variability of different GSR measuring places in a healthy test group, in preparation for conducting a more extensive study with a cohort from a specific group (ASD) in subsequent phases in our research program in the Human Health Activity Lab (H2AL) [ 24 ]. The present study aimed to locate a suitable body place for measuring GSR signals among a non-homogenous population (as a real commercial device will do), using two correlation analysis workflows for four signals gathered from different places (right and left wrists, left fingers, and the inner side of the right foot).…”

Correlation Analysis of Different Measurement Places of Galvanic Skin Response in Test Groups Facing Valence and Arousal Changes

“…In light of these, the literature review shows research interest in the measurement of stress-related signal location. From The Human Health and Activity Laboratory H2AL [40], we contribute to expanding the mass of knowledge about electrodermal behavior and wearable technologies available in the market, correlating stress-related biosignals from the right and the left forearm, and left fingers. The right foot's inner side was gathered from the wearable devices Shimmer3ECG, Shimmer3GSR, and Empatica E4.…”

Connected Health Living Lab

“…In order to maximise the impact of the connected health living lab (CH:LL) we have begun discussions with other living labs across Europe, namely the smart lab at University of Jaen (Spain) [5], the human health and activity laboratory, Lulea (Sweden) [6], and Halmstad intelligent home at Halmstad University (Sweden) [7]. This network of living labs, facilitated through the Horizon 2020 project REMIND, will allow for the sharing of best practices in the design and evaluation of connected health solutions, in addition to allowing developed solutions to be evaluated with an international cohort.…”