<p>Critical networks e.g. telecare services, telemonitoring, are implemented to provide the information security and reliability that the end user desires, especially during an emergency. Unlike business carrier systems that are planned for the general public’s use, critical communication systems are designed particularly for public protection and other serious communication situations. Availability and reliability of such networks is highly desirable. The following thesis works to compare and analyze a variety of communication access technologies to find out the best primary means of data transportation for health critical services and model reliable communication link by using redundancy. This study also provides an efficient failover mechanism to implement redundant links. This strategy is intended to provide the reliable communication and to protect the established communication link.</p>

Critical networks e.g. telecare services, telemonitoring, are implemented to provide the information security and reliability that the end user desires, especially during an emergency. Unlike business carrier systems that are planned for the general public’s use, critical communication systems are designed particularly for public protection and other serious communication situations. Availability and reliability of such networks is highly desirable. The following thesis works to compare and analyze a variety of communication access technologies to find out the best primary means of data transportation for health critical services and model reliable communication link by using redundancy. This study also provides an efficient failover mechanism to implement redundant links. This strategy is intended to provide the reliable communication and to protect the established communication link.

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of nurse-coordinated telephone monitoring among community-dwelling older adults with type 2 diabetes. In a randomized controlled trial 28 participants (aged 65-84yrs) with type 2 diabetes living in Southeastern Ontario were randomly assigned to an intervention group (15) and control group (13). The intervention group received weekly nurse-coordinated telephone monitoring and the control group received usual care from their family doctor. The main outcome measures were depression and diabetes-related stress as measured by measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Problem Areas In Diabetes (PAID) questionnaire at baseline and 12-weeks. All participants completed the study. At 12 weeks, mean scores for the intervention group were significantly lower for the GDS (p = .00) and the PAID (p = .03). Participants were receptive to the intervention. Nurse telephone monitoring may decrease depressive symptoms and diabetes-related stress among community-dwelling older adults. / Thesis (Master, Nursing) -- Queen's University, 2007-08-08 14:30:24.945

The present health, care and support mechanisms are unable to truly meet the demands made upon it. Between 1992 and 1996 the total number of home care hours increased by 50% while the number of households receiving the service declined by around 7%. A more intensive service is being delivered to a minority of people yet at the same time the number of people who may need support is increasing. Health spending on people aged 75 and over is 6 times that of the average for the rest of the population but between 1995 and 2025 the UK will see a 43.6% increase in the 60 and over age range. A similar trend is apparent across much of the developed world. In order to meet this new demand the use of technology has been suggested, yet a review of the literature indicates that little evidence exists to indicate if users would welcome technology and whether it would be effective. This research therefore seeks to answer the question ‘Are assistive technologies an enhancement to the present health, care and support mechanisms?’ The NHS and Community Care Act 1990 suggests that resources should move from hospitals and institutions to the community and therefore since 80% of older people want to stay in their own homes it would seem appropriate that assistance is provided to people in these locations. The literature review has also highlighted 4 key areas, which are addressed in this thesis, namely: user requirements, system modelling, cost analysis and service delivery. Currently relatively simple technology, refereed to as the community alarm system is used to assist, predominately older people, in the community. Using these people and the technology as a base level this research indicates that such users would welcome more advanced technology. Indeed, in a survey of 176 users, 77% welcomed automatic fall detection, 68% welcomed lifestyle monitoring where changes in the pattern of behaviour generates an automatic alarm, 57% welcomed telemedicine where medical parameters are measured in the users home and the doctor is contacted if necessary, and 46% welcomed videoconferencing. To assist people in their own homes telecare has been defined as an appropriate model with the community alarm system being defined as the 1st generation system. Several authors have attempted to define subsequent generations of telecare in generalities with no one defining the actual system and data flows. To address this insufficiency, and provide a structure to developments, based on the availability of technology and the views of users, a target system has been defined which could be available within 15 years. In order to move from the present 1st generation system to this 4th generation, 2 stepping stone systems have been defined and it is hoped that subsequent work will use these system definitions and create and trial the technology and systems suggested. Telecare is an emerging area of research and therefore little attention has been given to costeffectiveness, in order to address this area a financial model has been created using Excel worksheets. The results indicate that, in comparison to the present system a 2nd generation telecare system could potentially save £8.3m over the 10-year system life cycle. Various sensitivity analyses are performed and in each and every constraint the 2nd generation telecare system is more profitable than the present community alarm system. Extrapolating the results to represent the whole of the UK indicates that there is the potential to save £832m over the 10-year system life cycle. As with any system the introduction of a 2nd generation telecare system will inevitably change the way people work. In order to discover the impact that the introduction of such a system may have a model has been created to estimate the impact at the community alarm control centre, currently the centre of activity in the present system. The net result is that the number of calls increases by 321%, however many of these calls regard data that do not require human attention. When analysing the impact on service delivery the actual amount of time required speaking to people in need of assistance reduce by 55%. This is predominantly achieved by reducing the number of calls activated by mistake through the greater use of effective technology. Overall it could be argued that this research has added considerably to the knowledge base and the results indicate that telecare has tremendous potential to address the ageing population difficulties that the UK and other developed countries face.

Introdução: O processo de envelhecimento mundial traz consigo mudanças no perfil epidemiológico e no aumento da demanda por cuidado e autocuidado. A teleassistência como proposta tecnológica de monitoramento à distância pode contribuir com o envelhecimento no lugar e qualidade de vida de idosos que residem sozinhos. Objetivos: Identificar se há sensação de segurança por parte dos idosos que residem sozinhos e de sua rede de suporte com o uso dos alarmes pessoais; identificar as causas e frequências do acionamento do alarme; identificar junto ao idoso e sua rede de suporte a percepção de utilidade e facilidade dos alarmes; identificar junto aos idosos se houve dificuldades no manuseio do equipamento; identificar junto a rede de suporte pessoal se houve mudanças a partir da implantação do sistema de teleassistência. Materiais e Métodos: Pesquisa longitudinal, exploratória, do tipo intervenção, de caráter quantitativo e qualitativo. Casuística: 20 participantes, sendo 10 idosos acima de 70 anos, que residem sozinhos e 10 pessoas da rede de suporte pessoal indicadas pelo idoso participante. Instrumentos de coleta utilizados: (1) Questionário de Aceitação de Tecnologias; (2) Questionário de Aceitação de Teleassistência; (3) Questionário socioeconômico; (4) Ecomapa; (5) Entrevista com questões abertas e múltipla escolha no início e término da pesquisa. Os dados coletados foram analisados pelo método de Análise de conteúdo de acordo com Bardin (2011), a partir das seguintes categorias de análise pré-estabelecidas: percepção de segurança, uso do equipamento e motivos do acionamento. Resultados: Participaram 10 idosos (8 mulheres e 2 homens), com média de idade de 79 anos, 8 anos de estudo, a maioria aposentada, viúvos e que residem sozinhos. A rede de suporte pessoal dos participantes é composta em sua maioria (n=9) por cuidadores informais, do sexo feminino e com nível superior completo. No que se refere à percepção de segurança, os idosos destacam a segurança, a proteção, a tranquilidade, o acompanhamento e a certeza de ajuda se necessário. Após seis meses de uso do sistema de monitoramento de teleassistência, alguns idosos (n=4) alteraram sua percepção de segurança quando notaram que o equipamento não estava adequado às suas necessidades sensoriais e a falta de informações sobre o uso do equipamento. A rede de suporte pessoal refere sentimento de segurança em face à assistência rápida e desoneração temporária da tarefa. Após o período de uso do equipamento, a rede de suporte pessoal dos idosos acima de 75 anos relatou sentir mais tranquilidade e segurança se comparadas à rede de suporte pessoal dos idosos abaixo desta faixa etária e com menor perda de capacidade funcional. Quanto ao uso do equipamento, o alarme pessoal foi considerado como de fácil entendimento e manuseio, porém houve variação no seu uso durante as AVDs e dificuldades de adaptação ao modelo e design do acionador portátil. No âmbito dos motivos de acionamento do dispositivo móvel, este fora principalmente usado como busca de apoio emocional dos idosos para com as atendentes do serviço, ao invés de solicitação por urgências médicas. Conclusão: O alarme pessoal traz segurança e tranquilidade para os idosos usuários e também sua rede de suporte. A percepção de utilidade pode ser alterada em face a não adequação do equipamento em relação às alterações sensoriais do idoso e falta de alcance em diferentes ambientes da residência, assim como o não reconhecimento de necessidade pelos idosos mais funcionais. O sistema de monitoramento teve impacto positivo para os idosos que os acionavam não intencionalmente por motivo de sentirem-se sozinhos. Considera-se que a teleassistência pode ser um importante aliado ao processo de \"envelhecimento no lugar\" e contribuir para a segurança e qualidade de vida dos idosos que residem sozinhos. / Introduction: The global aging process brings with it changes in the epidemiological profile and the increased demand for care and self-care. The telecare technology as proposed monitoring distance can contribute to aging in place and quality of life of elderly people living alone. Objectives: To identify whether the use of personal alarms provide sense of security to the elderly who live alone and his support network; identify aspects of the causes and frequency of alarm activation; identify with the elderly and their network support the perception of usefulness and ease of alarms; identify with the elderly if there were difficulties in handling the equipment; identify with the support network possible changes from the implementation of telecare system. Materials and Methods: Longitudinal research, exploratory type intervention, qualitative. Casuistry: 20 participants, 10 seniors over 70 who live alone and 10 people support network indicated by the participating elderly. Instruments used: (1) Mini-Mental State Examination; (2) Geriatric Depression Scale; (3) Functional Activities Questionnaire Pfeffer. (4) Technology Acceptance Questionnaire; (5) Telecare Acceptance Questionnaire; (6) Socioeconomic Questionnaire; (7) Ecomap; (8) Interview with open questions and multiple-choice at the beginning and end of the research. The collected data were analyzed by the method of content according to Bardin Analysis (2011), from the following pre-established categories of analysis: perception of safety, use of equipment and reasons activation. Results: A total of 10 elderly patients (8 women and 2 men) with a mean age of 79 years, 8 years of study, the most retired, widowed and living alone. The RS of participants is composed mostly (n = 9) by informal caregivers, female and college degrees. With regard to the perception of security, the elderly emphasize security, protection, tranquility, monitoring and help sure if necessary. After six months of use of telecare monitoring system, some elderly (n = 4) changed their perception of safety when they noticed that the equipment was not suited to their sensory needs and the lack of information on the use of the equipment. The RS refers sense of security in the face of rapid assistance and temporary relief of the task. After the period of use of the equipment, the elderly of the RS over 75 reported feeling more relaxed and safe compared to RS elderly below this age and with less loss of functional capacity. Regarding the use of the equipment, personal alarm was considered easy to understand and handling, but there was variation in its use during daily life activities and difficulties in adapting to the portable drive model and design. In the context of the driving reasons mobile device, this was mostly used as search elderly emotional support for attendants to the service, rather than request for medical emergencies. Conclusion: The personal alarm brings security and peace of mind to elderly users, and support network. The perception of usefulness can be changed in the face of unsuitability of equipment in relation to the elderly sensory changes and lack of scope in different environments of the residence, as well as nonrecognition of the need for more functional elderly. The monitoring system had a positive impact for the elderly that They used unintentionally by reason of feeling alone. It is considered that telecare can be an important ally in the process of \"aging in place\" and contribute to the safety and quality of life of the elderly living alone.

Introdução: O processo de envelhecimento mundial traz consigo mudanças no perfil epidemiológico e no aumento da demanda por cuidado e autocuidado. A teleassistência como proposta tecnológica de monitoramento à distância pode contribuir com o envelhecimento no lugar e qualidade de vida de idosos que residem sozinhos. Objetivos: Identificar se há sensação de segurança por parte dos idosos que residem sozinhos e de sua rede de suporte com o uso dos alarmes pessoais; identificar as causas e frequências do acionamento do alarme; identificar junto ao idoso e sua rede de suporte a percepção de utilidade e facilidade dos alarmes; identificar junto aos idosos se houve dificuldades no manuseio do equipamento; identificar junto a rede de suporte pessoal se houve mudanças a partir da implantação do sistema de teleassistência. Materiais e Métodos: Pesquisa longitudinal, exploratória, do tipo intervenção, de caráter quantitativo e qualitativo. Casuística: 20 participantes, sendo 10 idosos acima de 70 anos, que residem sozinhos e 10 pessoas da rede de suporte pessoal indicadas pelo idoso participante. Instrumentos de coleta utilizados: (1) Questionário de Aceitação de Tecnologias; (2) Questionário de Aceitação de Teleassistência; (3) Questionário socioeconômico; (4) Ecomapa; (5) Entrevista com questões abertas e múltipla escolha no início e término da pesquisa. Os dados coletados foram analisados pelo método de Análise de conteúdo de acordo com Bardin (2011), a partir das seguintes categorias de análise pré-estabelecidas: percepção de segurança, uso do equipamento e motivos do acionamento. Resultados: Participaram 10 idosos (8 mulheres e 2 homens), com média de idade de 79 anos, 8 anos de estudo, a maioria aposentada, viúvos e que residem sozinhos. A rede de suporte pessoal dos participantes é composta em sua maioria (n=9) por cuidadores informais, do sexo feminino e com nível superior completo. No que se refere à percepção de segurança, os idosos destacam a segurança, a proteção, a tranquilidade, o acompanhamento e a certeza de ajuda se necessário. Após seis meses de uso do sistema de monitoramento de teleassistência, alguns idosos (n=4) alteraram sua percepção de segurança quando notaram que o equipamento não estava adequado às suas necessidades sensoriais e a falta de informações sobre o uso do equipamento. A rede de suporte pessoal refere sentimento de segurança em face à assistência rápida e desoneração temporária da tarefa. Após o período de uso do equipamento, a rede de suporte pessoal dos idosos acima de 75 anos relatou sentir mais tranquilidade e segurança se comparadas à rede de suporte pessoal dos idosos abaixo desta faixa etária e com menor perda de capacidade funcional. Quanto ao uso do equipamento, o alarme pessoal foi considerado como de fácil entendimento e manuseio, porém houve variação no seu uso durante as AVDs e dificuldades de adaptação ao modelo e design do acionador portátil. No âmbito dos motivos de acionamento do dispositivo móvel, este fora principalmente usado como busca de apoio emocional dos idosos para com as atendentes do serviço, ao invés de solicitação por urgências médicas. Conclusão: O alarme pessoal traz segurança e tranquilidade para os idosos usuários e também sua rede de suporte. A percepção de utilidade pode ser alterada em face a não adequação do equipamento em relação às alterações sensoriais do idoso e falta de alcance em diferentes ambientes da residência, assim como o não reconhecimento de necessidade pelos idosos mais funcionais. O sistema de monitoramento teve impacto positivo para os idosos que os acionavam não intencionalmente por motivo de sentirem-se sozinhos. Considera-se que a teleassistência pode ser um importante aliado ao processo de \"envelhecimento no lugar\" e contribuir para a segurança e qualidade de vida dos idosos que residem sozinhos. / Introduction: The global aging process brings with it changes in the epidemiological profile and the increased demand for care and self-care. The telecare technology as proposed monitoring distance can contribute to aging in place and quality of life of elderly people living alone. Objectives: To identify whether the use of personal alarms provide sense of security to the elderly who live alone and his support network; identify aspects of the causes and frequency of alarm activation; identify with the elderly and their network support the perception of usefulness and ease of alarms; identify with the elderly if there were difficulties in handling the equipment; identify with the support network possible changes from the implementation of telecare system. Materials and Methods: Longitudinal research, exploratory type intervention, qualitative. Casuistry: 20 participants, 10 seniors over 70 who live alone and 10 people support network indicated by the participating elderly. Instruments used: (1) Mini-Mental State Examination; (2) Geriatric Depression Scale; (3) Functional Activities Questionnaire Pfeffer. (4) Technology Acceptance Questionnaire; (5) Telecare Acceptance Questionnaire; (6) Socioeconomic Questionnaire; (7) Ecomap; (8) Interview with open questions and multiple-choice at the beginning and end of the research. The collected data were analyzed by the method of content according to Bardin Analysis (2011), from the following pre-established categories of analysis: perception of safety, use of equipment and reasons activation. Results: A total of 10 elderly patients (8 women and 2 men) with a mean age of 79 years, 8 years of study, the most retired, widowed and living alone. The RS of participants is composed mostly (n = 9) by informal caregivers, female and college degrees. With regard to the perception of security, the elderly emphasize security, protection, tranquility, monitoring and help sure if necessary. After six months of use of telecare monitoring system, some elderly (n = 4) changed their perception of safety when they noticed that the equipment was not suited to their sensory needs and the lack of information on the use of the equipment. The RS refers sense of security in the face of rapid assistance and temporary relief of the task. After the period of use of the equipment, the elderly of the RS over 75 reported feeling more relaxed and safe compared to RS elderly below this age and with less loss of functional capacity. Regarding the use of the equipment, personal alarm was considered easy to understand and handling, but there was variation in its use during daily life activities and difficulties in adapting to the portable drive model and design. In the context of the driving reasons mobile device, this was mostly used as search elderly emotional support for attendants to the service, rather than request for medical emergencies. Conclusion: The personal alarm brings security and peace of mind to elderly users, and support network. The perception of usefulness can be changed in the face of unsuitability of equipment in relation to the elderly sensory changes and lack of scope in different environments of the residence, as well as nonrecognition of the need for more functional elderly. The monitoring system had a positive impact for the elderly that They used unintentionally by reason of feeling alone. It is considered that telecare can be an important ally in the process of \"aging in place\" and contribute to the safety and quality of life of the elderly living alone.

隨著高齡化社會的來臨，慢性病及長期照護已成為主要的醫療型態，無線科技的進步，為居家照護個人提供一個新的服務與商業模式。本研究目的在分析遠距居家照護產業的產業結構以及產業環境，針對國外目前已實行的遠距居家照護計畫及個案作探討、比較，以了解遠距居家照護產業的發展現況，並找出此產業的競爭模式及發展趨勢之策略。研究的資料來源包括期刊、論文、專書，以及網路資料，利用文獻分析之次級資料分析法，以輔助遠距居家照護產業分析。研究採用Michael Porter的產業結構分析作為理論依據。分析結果發現遠距居家照護產業客戶的議價力高，同業競爭尚不激烈，供應商的議價力高，新進者的威脅中高，替代品的威脅中高。遠距居家照護新興產業特性包含技術、策略及政策上的不確定性，成本及經費補助上面臨困難，早期發展的限制與風險，尚未標準化的產品和技術等。遠距居家照護市場需求及產業規模大，有相當大的成長空間。目前台灣遠距居家照護產業有很好的發展機會及優勢，但也遭遇相當多困難包括產業發展起步晚、產品及技術吸引力不足等。因應策略包括降低客戶及供應商的議價力以提高產業進入障礙，採取低成本領導策略，尋求產品及服務內容差異化提高競爭優勢。政府應積極鼓勵遠距居家照護產業發展並儘早設立認證制度，以保障照護服務品質。本研究結果可供產業競爭策略及發展之參考。 / As the elderly population increased in the 21 century, chronic diseases and home health care have become the focus of medical care. With the rapid advancement in information technologies (IT) in Taiwan, home telecare provides a new service and business model for the care of patients at home. The purpose of this study was to analyze the developmental trends of home telecare industry and its competitive strategies. The structure of the industry, industry environment, and competitive strategies were analyzed. The home telecare project and business model of the industry was also compared. Data collected from literature including journal, theses, books and internet were used for secondary data analysis. Michael Porter’s conceptual model was used as a framework to analyze the home telecare industry. The analysis showed that there were high bargaining power of buyers and suppliers, moderately high threat of new entrants and substitute products or services, and low rivalry among existing firms. Characteristics of the emerging home telecare industry included high uncertainty of the technology, strategy and policy, financial difficulties in cost and funding support, limitation and risk in early development stage, non-standardized products and technique, etc. There were high needs, industry scale, and space of growth in the industry, as well as good advantages and opportunities for the development of the home telecare industry in Taiwan. Difficulties encountered included delayed development of the industry in Taiwan, inadequate attraction of product and technique etc. Competitive strategies involved decreasing bargaining power in clients and suppliers, lowering cost strategies, differentiation in product and service content to increase competitive advantage. Government should actively involved in the development of home telecare industry and set up legal regulations to insure service quality. The findings of this study can be used as a reference for the competitive strategy and development of home telecare industry.

Telecare and especially Mobile Care Systems are getting more and more popular. They have two major benefits: first, they drastically improve the living standards and even health outcomes for patients. In addition, they allow significant cost savings for adult care by reducing the needs for medical staff. A common drawback of current Mobile Care Systems is that they are rather stationary in most cases and firmly installed in patients’ houses or flats, which makes them stay very near to or even in their homes. There is also an upcoming second category of Mobile Care Systems which are portable without restricting the moving space of the patients, but with the major drawback that they have either very limited computational abilities and only a rather low classification quality or, which is most frequently, they only have a very short runtime on battery and therefore indirectly restrict the freedom of moving of the patients once again. These drawbacks are inherently caused by the restricted computational resources and mainly the limitations of battery based power supply of mobile computer systems. This research investigates the application of novel Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques to improve the operation of 2 Mobile Care Systems. As a result, based on the Evolving Connectionist Systems (ECoS) paradigm, an innovative approach for a highly efficient and self-optimising distributed online machine learning algorithm called MECoS - Moving ECoS - is presented. It balances the conflicting needs of providing a highly responsive complex and distributed online learning classification algorithm by requiring only limited resources in the form of computational power and energy. This approach overcomes the drawbacks of current mobile systems and combines them with the advantages of powerful stationary approaches. The research concludes that the practical application of the presented MECoS algorithm offers substantial improvements to the problems as highlighted within this thesis.

Eftersom andelen äldre som är i behov av vård- och omsorg ökar i samhället kommer även anhörigvårdare att öka och i många fall kan det innebära en tung börda, isolering och ensamhet. ACTION-tjänsten är en form av IKT-baserat anhörigstöd som kan vara ett komplement till andra former av stöd till anhöriga. Med IKT menas Informations och Kommunikations Teknologi. Tidigare forskning om vård- och omsorgspersonalens upplevelser och erfarenheter av att arbeta med ACTION-tjänsten är knapphändig. Syftet med studien var att beskriva vård- och omsorgspersonalens erfarenheter av att stödja äldre och anhöriga som vårdar sina äldre närstående i hemmet, via ACTION-tjänsten. Tio kvalitativa intervjuer genomfördes med vård- och omsorgspersonal som arbetar med ACTION-tjänsten. Intervjuerna analyserades utifrån kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Studien visar att ACTION-personalen upplever det positivt att stödja anhörigvårdare och deras närstående via ACTION-tjänsten. ACTION-personalen tycker att ACTION-programmen är ett bra hjälpmedel för att ge de anhöriga kunskaper och självförtroende och på så vis kunna stärkas i sin roll som anhörigvårdare. Genom kontakt via bildtelefoni skapas en djupare relation mellan personal och anhörigvårdare eftersom att de har möjlighet att pratas vid oftare och de ser varandra vid samtalet. Genom detta upplever personalen att de på ett bra sätt kan ge den individuella vård och stöd som anhörigvårdarna är i behov av. Personalen upplever det också positivt att kunna hjälpa anhörigvårdare att bryta sin isolering genom att skapa sociala kontaktnät mellan ACTION-användarna. I studien framkommer det också att flera av personalen saknar stöd och handledning från kommunledningen. I diskussionen diskuteras resultatens huvudfynd med stöd av tidigare forskning. / Program: Specialistsjuksköterskeutbildning med inriktning mot distriktssköterska

This thesis addresses the hypothesis that a single, waist-mounted triaxial accelerometer (TA) can be used to monitor human movement patterns in unsupervised, freeliving subjects over extended periods, and that it can be used to quantitatively measure parameters that can provide clinical insight into the health status of the subject. A rigorous theoretical and experimental understanding of the signals obtained from a TA is developed. The effect of the placement of the TA device on the waist is explored and a model relating device position to TA signal is developed for a range of postures and activities. A classification framework for movement identification using the signals from a waist-mounted TA is presented. This framework is based on a hierarchical binary processing tree and is designed for real time use. An implementation of this framework for monitoring housebound patients is presented. Algorithms for detecting falls, distinguishing between activity and rest, classifiying transitions between different postural orientations, and for identifying periods of standing, sitting, lying and walking are developed. In evaluation studies performed in controlled laboratory conditions, every algorithm performed with better than 90% accuracy. Once movements are identified, movement-specific parameters sensitive to changes in functional status are extracted from the signal. A two stage methodology for employing the accelerometry system in monitoring free-living subjects is introduced. The first stage involved monitoring specific movements through a directed routine. The second stage involved monitoring of free movement. Signals obtained from the directed routine are used to extract clinically relevant, movement-specific parameters. Signals obtained from the period of free movement are monitored for falls and other abnormal events. General parameters of movement, including energy expenditure, are also measured. The system was evaluated in a series of field studies in laboratory and home environments, in supervised and unsupervised settings, using cohorts of healthy subjects. A pilot trial was conducted in which six healthy elderly subjects wore the TA device for a period of up to three months. The technical performance and useability of the system were evaluated. Clinically significant parameters were measured and the effects of age and health status on the measured parameters were evaluated.