Ambient assisted living technology: comparative perspectives of users and caregivers

Developed societies are currently facing severe demographic changes: the world population is ageing at an unprecedented rate. This demographic trend will be also followed by an increase of people with physical limitations. New challenges are being raised to the traditional health care systems, not only in Portugal, but also in all other European states. There is an urgent need to find solutions that allow extending the time people can live in their preferred environment by increasing their autonomy, self-confidence and mobility. AAL4ALL is a project currently being developed in cooperation with 34 Portuguese interdisciplinary partners, from industry to academia, R&D and social disciplines, which employs a novel conceptual approach through the development of an ecosystem of products and services for Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) associated to a business model and validated through large scale trial. This paper presents a comparative perspective of the needs and attitudes towards technology of the AAL users and caregivers identified in the analysis of a set of three different surveys: a users survey targeted at the Portuguese seniors and pre-seniors; an informal caregivers survey targeted at the family, friends and neighbours who provide care without any financial compensation; and a formal caregivers survey targeted at physicians, nurses,psychologists, social workers, and direct-care workers providing care to elders. The first results indicate that AAL solutions must be affordable,user friendly and have a true perceived benefit to their users.

An e-marketplace of healthcare and social care services: the perceived interest

The health and social care sector is receiving growing attention for the last years, due to the increased life expectancy, the public demand for a better quality of life and for better health services. These requirements can be met with more cost-efficient approaches and using new technology-based solutions for providing services. The paper presents and discusses some of the main results of a study undertaken in Guimar��es, a Municipality at the North of Portugal, on the perceived relevance of an e-Marketplace of social and healthcare services for the inhabitants in general, and in particular for people with special needs; the study also included the identification of the most relevant services to be offered by this platform and allowed concluding that such an e-Marketplace is of recognized relevance and that it is expected a good adhesion from the population.

Dashboard services for pragmatics-based interoperability in cloud and ubiquitous manufacturing

The real Cloud and Ubiquitous Manufacturing systems require effectiveness and permanent availability of resources, their capacity and scalability. One of the most important problems for applications management over cloud based platforms, which are expected to support efficient scalability and resources coordination following SaaS implementation model, is their interoperability. Even application dashboards need to easily incorporate those new applications, their interoperability still remains a big problem to override. So, the possibility to expand these dashboards with efficiently integrated communicational cloud based services (cloudlets) represents a relevant added value as well as contributes to solving the interoperability problem. Following the architecture for integration of enriched existing cloud services, as instances of manufacturing resources, this paper: a) proposes a cloud based web platform to support dashboard integrating communicational services, and b) describe an experimentation to sustain the theory that the effective and efficient interoperability, especially in dynamic environments, could be achieved only with human intervention.

A Caregiver Support Platform within the Scope of an Ambient Assisted Living Ecosystem

The Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) area is in constant evolution, providing new technologies to users and enhancing the level of security and comfort that is ensured by house platforms. The Ambient Assisted Living for All (AAL4ALL) project aims to develop a new AAL concept, supported on a unified ecosystem and certification process that enables a heterogeneous environment. The concepts of Intelligent Environments, Ambient Intelligence, and the foundations of the Ambient Assisted Living are all presented in the framework of this project. In this work, we consider a specific platform developed in the scope of AAL4ALL, called UserAccess. The architecture of the platform and its role within the overall AAL4ALL concept, the implementation of the platform, and the available interfaces are presented. In addition, its feasibility is validated through a series of tests.

Information technology supporting healthcare and social care services

The authors are developing a pilot project for a Municipality in the North of Portugal, envisaging the definition and implementation of an e-marketplace for healthcare and social services, in order to facilitate the interaction between healthcare and social services professionals and people with special needs (or their relatives). Based on the results of a survey on user needs analysis and expectations conducted in 2011, the paper discusses the relevance and interest of such platforms and the main drivers and motivations of the population for using such services, as well as which services would motivate citizens to use the platform. The results of the study will be used to select the products and services perceived to be the most desired by the potential users. The paper thus makes three main contributions: (1) the results of the study confirm the interest and the perceived potential of such a service, from the end-users perspective; (2) the findings support the advantage of expanding this pilot project to a full scale implementation; and (3) the performed analysis improves our understanding of the relations between the characteristics of the inquired population and the perceived interest in such platforms.

The impact of the digital divide on the perceived interest of an e-Marketplace to support healthcare and social care services

In a Europe increasingly aging, it is now recognized the importance and potential of the service industry for ageing well based on information and communication technologies (ICT), as exemplified by the electronic market of social services and health care, the GuiMarket, proposed by the authors. However, this new range of services requires that individuals have advanced digital skills to fully participate in society. Based on the results of a survey made on a sample of 315 individuals, this paper discusses the importance granted GuiMarket and the intended frequency of use, concluding there is a close relationship between ICT access and use that respondents anticipate making of GuiMarket and alike services.

Social Work in the Portuguese empire Health Services

Muitos historiadores, particularmente estrangeiros, que v��em Portugal ���de fora���, t��m-se mostrado cr��ticos do mau desempenho do imp��rio colonial portugu��s.Aintoler��ncia religiosa, uso excessivo de for��a para conseguir o monop��lio de especiarias, s��o alguns aspectos que mereceram cr��ticas mais duras [Devo admitir que fui eu um destes cr��ticos!] mas quase sempre bem fundamentadas e dif��ceis de rejeitar. Mas �� preciso admitir que a hist��ria colonial portuguesa �� tamb��m feita de elementos positivos e menos violentos. Os portugueses devem ser considerados pioneiros de assist��ncia social atrav��s das suas pol��ticas inovadoras que providenciaram cuidados para os doentes e desgra��ados, embora estas pol��ticas n��o abrangessem os sujeitos n��o-Crist��os do imp��rio.

Biblioteca para a realiza����o de security token services

A fam��lia de especifica����es WS-* define um modelo de seguran��a para web services, baseado nos conceitos de claim, security token e Security Token Service (STS). Neste modelo, a informa����o de seguran��a dos originadores de mensagens (identidade, privil��gios, etc.) �� representada atrav��s de conjuntos de claims, contidos dentro de security tokens. A emiss��o e obten����o destes security tokens, por parte dos originadores de mensagens, s��o realizadas atrav��s de protocolos legados ou atrav��s de servi��os especiais, designados de Security Token Services, usando as opera����es e os protocolos definidos na especifica����o WS-Trust. O conceito de Security Token Service n��o �� usado apenas no contexto dos web services. Propostas como o modelo dos Information Cards, aplic��vel no contexto de aplica����es web, tamb��m utilizam este conceito. Os Security Token Services desempenham v��rios pap��is, dependendo da informa����o presente no token emitido. S��o exemplos o papel de Identity Provider, quando os tokens emitidos cont��m informa����o de identidade, ou o papel de Policy Decision Point, quando os tokens emitidos definem autoriza����es. Este documento descreve o projecto duma biblioteca software para a realiza����o de Security Token Services, tal como definidos na norma WS-Trust, destinada �� plataforma .NET 3.5. Prop��em-se uma arquitectura flex��vel e extens��vel, de forma a suportar novas vers��es das normas e as diversas variantes que os Security Token Services possuem, nomeadamente: o tipo dos security token emitidos e das claims neles contidas, a infer��ncia das claims e os m��todos de autentica����o das entidades requerentes. Apresentam-se aspectos de implementa����o desta arquitectura, nomeadamente a integra����o com a plataforma WCF, a sua extensibilidade e o suporte a modelos e sistemas externos �� norma. Finalmente, descrevem-se as plataformas de teste implementadas para a valida����o da biblioteca realizada e os m��dulos de extens��o da biblioteca para: suporte do modelo associado aos Information Cards, do modelo OpenID e para a integra����o com o Authorization Manager.

XAdES4J: a java library for XAdES signature services

As comunica����es electr��nicas s��o cada vez mais o meio de elei����o para neg��cios entre entidades e para as rela����es entre os cidad��os e o Estado (e-government). Esta diversidade de transac����es envolve, muitas vezes, informa����o sens��vel e com poss��vel valor legal. Neste contexto, as assinaturas electr��nicas s��o uma importante base de confian��a, fornecendo garantias de integridade e autentica����o entre os intervenientes. A produ����o de uma assinatura digital resulta n��o s�� no valor da assinatura propriamente dita, mas tamb��m num conjunto de informa����o adicional acerca da mesma, como o algoritmo de assinatura, o certificado de valida����o ou a hora e local de produ����o. Num cen��rio heterog��neo como o descrito anteriormente, torna-se necess��ria uma forma flex��vel e interoper��vel de descrever esse tipo de informa����o. A linguagem XML �� uma forma adequada de representar uma assinatura neste contexto, n��o s�� pela sua natureza estruturada, mas principalmente por ser baseada em texto e ter suporte generalizado. A recomenda����o XML Signature Syntax and Processing (ou apenas XML Signature) foi o primeiro passo na representa����o de assinaturas em XML. Nela s��o definidas sintaxe e regras de processamento para criar, representar e validar assinaturas digitais. As assinaturas XML podem ser aplicadas a qualquer tipo de conte��dos digitais identific��veis por um URI, tanto no mesmo documento XML que a assinatura, como noutra qualquer localiza����o. Al��m disso, a mesma assinatura XML pode englobar v��rios recursos, mesmo de tipos diferentes (texto livre, imagens, XML, etc.). �� medida que as assinaturas electr��nicas foram ganhando relev��ncia tornou-se evidente que a especifica����o XML Signature n��o era suficiente, nomeadamente por n��o dar garantias de validade a longo prazo nem de n��o repudia����o. Esta situa����o foi agravada pelo facto da especifica����o n��o cumprir os requisitos da directiva 1999/93/EC da Uni��o Europeia, onde �� estabelecido um quadro legal para as assinaturas electr��nicas a n��vel comunit��rio. No seguimento desta directiva da Uni��o Europeia foi desenvolvida a especifica����o XML Advanced Electronic Signatures que define formatos XML e regras de processamento para assinaturas electr��nicas n��o repudi��veis e com validade verific��vel durante per��odos de tempo extensos, em conformidade com a directiva. Esta especifica����o estende a recomenda����o XML Signature, definindo novos elementos que cont��m informa����o adicional acerca da assinatura e dos recursos assinados (propriedades qualificadoras). A plataforma Java inclui, desde a vers��o 1.6, uma API de alto n��vel para servi��os de assinaturas digitais em XML, de acordo com a recomenda����o XML Signature. Contudo, n��o existe suporte para assinaturas avan��adas. Com este projecto pretende-se desenvolver uma biblioteca Java para a cria����o e valida����o de assinaturas XAdES, preenchendo assim a lacuna existente na plataforma. A biblioteca desenvolvida disponibiliza uma interface com alto n��vel de abstrac����o, n��o tendo o programador que lidar directamente com a estrutura XML da assinatura nem com os detalhes do conte��do das propriedades qualificadoras. S��o definidos tipos que representam os principais conceitos da assinatura, nomeadamente as propriedades qualificadoras e os recursos assinados, sendo os aspectos estruturais resolvidos internamente. Neste trabalho, a informa����o que comp��e uma assinatura XAdES �� dividia em dois grupos: o primeiro �� formado por caracter��sticas do signat��rio e da assinatura, tais como a chave e as propriedades qualificadoras da assinatura. O segundo grupo �� composto pelos recursos assinados e as correspondentes propriedades qualificadoras. Quando um signat��rio produz v��rias assinaturas em determinado contexto, o primeiro grupo de caracter��sticas ser�� semelhante entre elas. Definiu-se o conjunto invariante de caracter��sticas da assinatura e do signat��rio como perfil de assinatura. O conceito �� estendido �� verifica����o de assinaturas englobando, neste caso, a informa����o a usar nesse processo, como por exemplo os certificados raiz em que o verificador confia. Numa outra perspectiva, um perfil constitui uma configura����o do servi��o de assinatura correspondente. O desenho e implementa����o da biblioteca est��o tamb��m baseados no conceito de fornecedor de servi��os. Um fornecedor de servi��os �� uma entidade que disponibiliza determinada informa����o ou servi��o necess��rios �� produ����o e verifica����o de assinaturas, nomeadamente: selec����o de chave/certificado de assinatura, valida����o de certificados, interac����o com servidores de time-stamp e gera����o de XML. Em vez de depender directamente da informa����o em causa, um perfil ��� e, consequentemente, a opera����o correspondente ��� �� configurado com fornecedores de servi��os que s��o invocados quando necess��rio. Para cada tipo de fornecedor de servi��os �� definida um interface, podendo as correspondentes implementa����es ser configuradas de forma independente. A biblioteca inclui implementa����es de todos os fornecedores de servi��os, sendo algumas delas usadas for omiss��o na produ����o e verifica����o de assinaturas. Uma vez que o foco do projecto �� a especifica����o XAdES, o processamento e estrutura relativos ao formato b��sico s��o delegados internamente na biblioteca Apache XML Security, que disponibiliza uma implementa����o da recomenda����o XML Signature. Para validar o funcionamento da biblioteca, nomeadamente em termos de interoperabilidade, procede-se, entre outros, �� verifica����o de um conjunto de assinaturas produzidas por Estados Membros da Uni��o Europeia, bem como por outra implementa����o da especifica����o XAdES.

Energy and ancillary services joint market simulation

In order to develop a flexible simulator, a variety of models for Ancillary Services (AS) negotiation has been implemented in MASCEM ��� a multi-agent system competitive electricity markets simulator. In some of these models, the energy and the AS are addressed simultaneously while in other models they are addressed separately. This paper presents an energy and ancillary services joint market simulation. This paper proposes a deterministic approach for solving the energy and ancillary services joint market. A case study based on the dispatch of Regulation Down, Regulation Up, Spinning Reserve, and Non-Spinning Reserve services is used to demonstrate that the use of the developed methodology is suitable for solving this kind of optimization problem. The presented case study is based on CAISO real AS market data considers fifteen bids.

Comparison between deterministic and meta-heuristic methods applied to ancillary services dispatch

This paper proposes two meta-heuristics (Genetic Algorithm and Evolutionary Particle Swarm Optimization) for solving a 15 bid-based case of Ancillary Services Dispatch in an Electricity Market. A Linear Programming approach is also included for comparison purposes. A test case based on the dispatch of Regulation Down, Regulation Up, Spinning Reserve and Non-Spinning Reserve services is used to demonstrate that the use of meta-heuristics is suitable for solving this kind of optimization problem. Faster execution times and lower computational resources requirements are the most relevant advantages of the used meta-heuristics when compared with the Linear Programming approach.

ANN based day-ahead ancillary services forecast for electricity market simulation

Adequate decision support tools are required by electricity market players operating in a liberalized environment, allowing them to consider all the business opportunities and take strategic decisions. Ancillary services (AS) represent a good negotiation opportunity that must be considered by market players. Based on the ancillary services forecasting, market participants can use strategic bidding for day-ahead ancillary services markets. For this reason, ancillary services market simulation is being included in MASCEM, a multi-agent based electricity market simulator that can be used by market players to test and enhance their bidding strategies. The paper presents the methodology used to undertake ancillary services forecasting, based on an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach. ANNs are used to day-ahead prediction of non-spinning reserve (NS), regulation-up (RU), and regulation down (RD). Spinning reserve (SR) is mentioned as past work for comparative analysis. A case study based on California ISO (CAISO) data is included; the forecasted results are presented and compared with CAISO published forecast.