Sensors for Gait, Posture, and Health Monitoring Volume 2


Book Description

In recent years, many technologies for gait and posture assessments have emerged. Wearable sensors, active and passive in-house monitors, and many combinations thereof all promise to provide accurate measures of physical activity, gait, and posture parameters. Motivated by market projections for wearable technologies and driven by recent technological innovations in wearable sensors (MEMs, electronic textiles, wireless communications, etc.), wearable health/performance research is growing rapidly and has the potential to transform future healthcare from disease treatment to disease prevention. The objective of this Special Issue is to address and disseminate the latest gait, posture, and activity monitoring systems as well as various mathematical models/methods that characterize mobility functions. This Special Issue focuses on wearable monitoring systems and physical sensors, and its mathematical models can be utilized in varied environments under varied conditions to monitor health and performance




VRST


Book Description




Virtual Reality


Book Description

Despite widespread interest in virtual reality, research and development efforts in synthetic environments (SE)â€"the field encompassing virtual environments, teleoperation, and hybridsâ€"have remained fragmented. Virtual Reality is the first integrated treatment of the topic, presenting current knowledge along with thought-provoking vignettes about a future where SE is commonplace. This volume discusses all aspects of creating a system that will allow human operators to see, hear, smell, taste, move about, give commands, respond to conditions, and manipulate objects effectively in a real or virtual environment. The committee of computer scientists, engineers, and psychologists on the leading edge of SE development explores the potential applications of SE in the areas of manufacturing, medicine, education, training, scientific visualization, and teleoperation in hazardous environments. The committee also offers recommendations for development of improved SE technology, needed studies of human behavior and evaluation of SE systems, and government policy and infrastructure.




Advances in Intelligent Robotics and Collaborative Automation


Book Description

This book provides an overview of a series of advanced research lines in robotics as well as of design and development methodologies for intelligent robots and their intelligent components. It represents a selection of extended versions of the best papers presented at the Seventh IEEE International Workshop on Intelligent Data Acquisition and Advanced Computing Systems: Technology and Applications IDAACS 2013 that were related to these topics. Its contents integrate state of the art computational intelligence based techniques for automatic robot control to novel distributed sensing and data integration methodologies that can be applied to intelligent robotics and automation systems. The objective of the text was to provide an overview of some of the problems in the field of robotic systems and intelligent automation and the approaches and techniques that relevant research groups within this area are employing to try to solve them.The contributions of the different authors have been grouped into four main sections:• Robots• Control and Intelligence• Sensing• Collaborative automationThe chapters have been structured to provide an easy to follow introduction to the topics that are addressed, including the most relevant references, so that anyone interested in this field can get started in the area.




Inertial and Magnetic Tracking of Limb Segment Orientation for Inserting Humans Into Synthetic Environments


Book Description

Current motion tracking technologies fail to provide accurate wide area tracking of multiple users without interference and occlusion problems. This research proposes to overcome current limitations using nine-axis magnetic/ angular/rate/gravity (MARG) sensors combined with a quaternion-based complementary filter algorithm capable of continuously correcting for drift and following angular motion through all orientations without singularities. Primarily, this research involves the development of a prototype tracking system to demonstrate the feasibility of MARG sensor body motion tracking Mathematical analysis and computer simulation are used to validate the correctness of the complementary filter algorithm The implemented human body model utilizes the world-coordinate reference frame orientation data provided in quaternion form by the complementary filter and orients each limb segment independently. Calibration of the model and the inertial sensors is accomplished using simple but effective algorithms. Physical experiments demonstrate the utility of the proposed system by tracking of human limbs in real-time using multiple MARG sensors. The system is "sourceless" and does not suffer from range restrictions and interference problems. This new technology overcomes the limitations of motion tracking technologies currently in use. It has the potential to provide wide area tracking of multiple users in virtual environment and augmented reality applications.




Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists


Book Description

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is the premier public resource on scientific and technological developments that impact global security. Founded by Manhattan Project Scientists, the Bulletin's iconic "Doomsday Clock" stimulates solutions for a safer world.




Human Factors in Simulation and Training


Book Description

Discussing issues and concepts relating to human factors in simulation, this book covers theory and application in fields such as space, ships, submarines, naval aviation, and commercial aviation. The authors develop and expand on concepts in simulator usage particularly specific characteristics and issues of simulation and their effect on the validity and functionality of simulators as a training device. The chapters contain in depth discussions of these particular characteristics and issues. They also incorporate theories pertaining to the motivational aspects of training, simulation of social events, and PC based simulation.




Simulating Humans


Book Description

The area of simulated human figures is an active research area in computer graphics, and Norman Badler's group at the University of Pennsylvania is one of the leaders in the field. This book summarizes the state of the art in simulating human figures, discusses many of the interesting application areas, and makes some assumptions and predictions about where the field is going.




Understanding Motion Capture for Computer Animation


Book Description

Understanding Motion Capture for Computer Animation discusses the latest technology developments in digital design, film, games, medicine, sports, and security engineering. Motion capture records a live-motion event and translates it into a digital context. It is the technology that converts a live performance into a digital performance. In contrast, performance animation is the actual performance that brings life to the character, even without using technology. If motion capture is the collection of data that represents motion, performance animation is the character that a performer represents. The book offers extensive information about motion capture. It includes state-of-the-art technology, methodology, and developments in the current motion-capture industry. In particular, the different ways to capture motions are discussed, including using cameras or electromagnetic fields in tracking a group of sensors. This book will be useful for students taking a course about digital filming, as well as for anyone who is interested in this topic. - Completely revised to include almost 40% new content with emphasis on RF and Facial Motion Capture Systems - Describes all the mathematical principles associated with motion capture and 3D character mechanics - Helps you budget by explaining the costs associated with individualized motion capture projects




Antenna and Sensor Technologies in Modern Medical Applications


Book Description

A guide to the theory and recent development in the medical use of antenna technology Antenna and Sensor Technologies in Modern Medical Applications offers a comprehensive review of the theoretical background, design, and the latest developments in the application of antenna technology. Written by two experts in the field, the book presents the most recent research in the burgeoning field of wireless medical telemetry and sensing that covers both wearable and implantable antenna and sensor technologies. The authors review the integrated devices that include various types of sensors wired within a wearable garment that can be paired with external devices. The text covers important developments in sensor-integrated clothing that are synonymous with athletic apparel with built-in electronics. Information on implantable devices is also covered. The book explores technologies that utilize both inductive coupling and far field propagation. These include minimally invasive microwave ablation antennas, wireless targeted drug delivery, and much more. This important book: Covers recent developments in wireless medical telemetry Reviews the theory and design of in vitro/in vivo testing Explores emerging technologies in 2D and 3D printing of antenna/sensor fabrication Includes a chapter with an annotated list of the most comprehensive and important references in the field Written for students of engineering and antenna and sensor engineers, Antenna and Sensor Technologies in Modern Medical Applications is an essential guide to understanding human body interaction with antennas and sensors.