A-Cubed Project: Research on
Human-Sensor Networks
Introduction
Have you ever seen a larger number of surveillance
cameras are mounted in the streets?
We expect in the future that more cameras and sensors will monitor human activities and behaviors for the purposes of achieving securities and preventing us from crimes and terrorism.
Can you always accept such surveillance systems even in your private life in the future? Our research starts with such a simple question about the future life with vision-based monitoring systems.
We expect in the future that more cameras and sensors will monitor human activities and behaviors for the purposes of achieving securities and preventing us from crimes and terrorism.
Can you always accept such surveillance systems even in your private life in the future? Our research starts with such a simple question about the future life with vision-based monitoring systems.
The primary objective of our research on Human-Sensor
Networks named
"A-Cubed project" is to deal with the balance of privacy protection and security achievement as well as to enhance the quality of life for the future by providing the people with "safely", "peace of mind" and "intellectual activities and motivations".
In this research, we will develop the technologies associated with distributed sensor networks of the future by taking a human-centered approach, and would like to propose services and social infrastructures for the future that will achieve the above objective.
"A-Cubed project" is to deal with the balance of privacy protection and security achievement as well as to enhance the quality of life for the future by providing the people with "safely", "peace of mind" and "intellectual activities and motivations".
In this research, we will develop the technologies associated with distributed sensor networks of the future by taking a human-centered approach, and would like to propose services and social infrastructures for the future that will achieve the above objective.
Research Goals
As a key subject in Humanware research area, we are
investigating the use of agent-based architectures for distributed and
mobile sensor networks of the future, and are currently developing new
image-based ubiquitous systems to support individuals in their various
activities mainly using camera network systems.
Unlike conventional security systems, the proposed new systems will provide not only safety and security, but also provide intellectual activities and motivations in our daily life. Since we would like to enhance the quality of human life by taking a human-centered approach, we will call this ubiquitous system "Human-Sensor Networks".
In 2005 London Terrorism, surveillance cameras in the public spaces were used to analyze crimes through the recorded video streams. We expect in the future that more cameras will be allowed to use for surveillance that may sometimes intrude into the privacy of human activities.
In our research, we would like to enhance the use of camera network systems not only for acquiring the security and safely but also for enhancing the quality of human life for the future by changing our viewpoints toward supporting the individual lifestyle as a common research theme in the Future Creation Laboratory.
Unlike conventional security systems, the proposed new systems will provide not only safety and security, but also provide intellectual activities and motivations in our daily life. Since we would like to enhance the quality of human life by taking a human-centered approach, we will call this ubiquitous system "Human-Sensor Networks".
In 2005 London Terrorism, surveillance cameras in the public spaces were used to analyze crimes through the recorded video streams. We expect in the future that more cameras will be allowed to use for surveillance that may sometimes intrude into the privacy of human activities.
In our research, we would like to enhance the use of camera network systems not only for acquiring the security and safely but also for enhancing the quality of human life for the future by changing our viewpoints toward supporting the individual lifestyle as a common research theme in the Future Creation Laboratory.
System Architecture
The project will entail integration of three different
agent-based sensing modules: S-Eye, A-Eye, and T-eye.
A group of S-Eyes will be rigidly fixed to an environment to gather and
integrate spatial information and generate an abstract level of knowledge
of dynamic environments and objects, by constructing an intelligent environment
for the user. More specifically, the group of S-Eyes also helps the user
in the environment to gather the information about the environment, and
therefore produces the interaction between the environment and the user.
An A-Eye will be attached to a user to observe an outer-world (environment) with a viewpoint of the user's interest, and therefore shares visual and other sensory experiences that the user does.
Finally, T-Eye will observe the internal physiological and/or mental states of the human user, for which T-Eye includes a set of vital sensing devices.
An A-Eye will be attached to a user to observe an outer-world (environment) with a viewpoint of the user's interest, and therefore shares visual and other sensory experiences that the user does.
Finally, T-Eye will observe the internal physiological and/or mental states of the human user, for which T-Eye includes a set of vital sensing devices.
Analysis of human motion and activities using S-Eye agents
The integration of these three modules will provide
a required level of privacy and security to the users in the environment
by therefore constructing an intelligent environment with sensors and
networks for the human life.
Applications
(1) Life Support for Senior People
We are exploring the possibility to use the human-sensor network technologies to support senior people's life by friendly and peacefully watching for their living situations and avoiding them from any potential dangers and accidents. Even if such senior people live in isolate locations from their family members, this system may allow the family members to acknowledge the situations each other. The system may also help people in nursery homes and kindergartens for their friendly monitoring functions.
(2) Memorization Support
We are planning to apply the human-sensor network technologies to support memorization problems in daily life. As mentioned, small cameras and microphones mounted on A-Eye will be able to capture and register all visual and sound events while the user wears such sensors, if the user consider them important events for memorization in daily life. All data registered in A-Eye will be then registered in the form of the user's electronic dairy for their memories to recall.
(3) Life Navigation
If the user wears a device like a watch that contains the functions of T-Eye (possibly various vital signs), the system may guess what the user wishes to do next or in what mood the user is.
Such guesses may be made possible by analyzing the user's current vital signs and comparing them with the user's past actions and behaviors contained in the database. The system will navigate the user to the place to go, such as a good restaurant, also by displaying the train schedule and the map to the designation along with the updated traffic condition.
We are exploring the possibility to use the human-sensor network technologies to support senior people's life by friendly and peacefully watching for their living situations and avoiding them from any potential dangers and accidents. Even if such senior people live in isolate locations from their family members, this system may allow the family members to acknowledge the situations each other. The system may also help people in nursery homes and kindergartens for their friendly monitoring functions.
(2) Memorization Support
We are planning to apply the human-sensor network technologies to support memorization problems in daily life. As mentioned, small cameras and microphones mounted on A-Eye will be able to capture and register all visual and sound events while the user wears such sensors, if the user consider them important events for memorization in daily life. All data registered in A-Eye will be then registered in the form of the user's electronic dairy for their memories to recall.
(3) Life Navigation
If the user wears a device like a watch that contains the functions of T-Eye (possibly various vital signs), the system may guess what the user wishes to do next or in what mood the user is.
Such guesses may be made possible by analyzing the user's current vital signs and comparing them with the user's past actions and behaviors contained in the database. The system will navigate the user to the place to go, such as a good restaurant, also by displaying the train schedule and the map to the designation along with the updated traffic condition.
Technologies to Develop
(1) applied technology on human motion and behavior analysis
(2) fundamental technology on sensor-networks
(3) applied technology on computer vision and image processing
(2) fundamental technology on sensor-networks
(3) applied technology on computer vision and image processing
Collaborative Research Framework
Collaboration with Purdue
University
Future Creation Laboratory and Purdue Robot Vision Laboratory are pursuing a new collaborative framework for the future.
A special research facility, known as "The Olympus Room", was established within Purdue Robot Vision Laboratory.
Almost an identical room with the same research facility was also prepared in the Future Creation Laboratory and networked in real-time with Purdue's Olympus Room to facilitate international joint research and development activities.
For example, the software developed in one party is shared by the other through the internet in a synchronized mode, and therefore "synchronize collaboration" can be easily attained, which will lead to the speed-up of achieving research goals, as well as to the close tie-up of two different research organizations.
These initiatives will also help us lead to the creation of future lifestyle values enriched by intellectual activity transcending cultural differences in concepts of security and safety.
Future Creation Laboratory and Purdue Robot Vision Laboratory are pursuing a new collaborative framework for the future.
A special research facility, known as "The Olympus Room", was established within Purdue Robot Vision Laboratory.
Almost an identical room with the same research facility was also prepared in the Future Creation Laboratory and networked in real-time with Purdue's Olympus Room to facilitate international joint research and development activities.
For example, the software developed in one party is shared by the other through the internet in a synchronized mode, and therefore "synchronize collaboration" can be easily attained, which will lead to the speed-up of achieving research goals, as well as to the close tie-up of two different research organizations.
These initiatives will also help us lead to the creation of future lifestyle values enriched by intellectual activity transcending cultural differences in concepts of security and safety.
Collaborations with Other Research Organizations
In addition to Purdue University, we are currently
investigating collaborations with other research organizations.
These prospective collaborations include researchers on cognitive science, biomedical signal processing, human behavior sciences, and other social sciences.
These prospective collaborations include researchers on cognitive science, biomedical signal processing, human behavior sciences, and other social sciences.
Members
Olympus Future Creation Laboratory
 |
Akio Kosaka (Research Coordinator and Chief Research Scientist) |
| Takashi Miyoshi (Opt-Digital Life Researcher) Hidekazu Iwaki (Algorithm Designer) |
Collaborators
Purdue University, Robot Vision LaboratoryProf. Avinash C. Kak Prof. Akio KosakaDr. Johnny Park Please
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