The Broadband Aware Home for the Elderly Research on Aging in.docVIP

NSF 99-167 PREPROPSAL: ITR- RC+ HCI Enhancing the Quality of Life with Context-Aware Computing, Personalized Information Processing and Secure Broadband Communications: Research at the Georgia Tech Residential Laboratory PROPOSAL SUMMARY Research Objective and Expected Impact: The objective of this multi-disciplinary research program is to understand and create a class of information technologies that would enable a scientifically demonstrable enhancement of the quality of life in the home of the future. In particular, we combine always-on broadband connectivity with context-aware computing and personalized information processing to create new classes of capabilities ranging from crisis-avoidance and telemedicine-on-demand to novel and natural means for providing perception-of-proximity for family members and communities. An overarching goal of the proposed research is to understand the partnership between technology-centered and human-centered sciences, as technologies for sensing, computing and communications become increasingly ubiquitous. In the Georgia Tech Residential Laboratory, new sensory capabilities will be provided either in the environment or in the users close proximity. The value of (not-necessarily-perfect) technologies will be established in carefully designed experiments resulting in both qualitative and quantitative findings. The proposed research provides a unique opportunity for graduate students from various disciplines to work together in a truly interdisciplinary environment The Georgia Tech Residential Laboratory: A residential research laboratory funded by the Georgia Research Alliance has been created on campus, with state-of-the-art facilities for broadband access and computing. The laboratory has two identically outfitted levels, respectively for scientists and users, permitting an iterative approach to understanding and adapting both technology and application. The Residential Laboratory provides a natural point for synerg