SPW-1: A low-maintenance wearable activity tracker for residential monitoring and healthcare applications

Abstract

In this paper, we present SPW-1; a low-profile versatile wearable activity tracker that employs two ultra-low-power accelerometers and relies on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for wireless communication. Aiming for a low maintenance system, SPW-1 is able to offer a battery lifetime of multiple months. Measurements on its wireless performance in a real residential environment with thick brick walls, demonstrate that SPW-1 can fully cover a room and - in most cases - the adjacent room, as well. SPW-1 is a research platform that is aimed to be used both as a data collecting tool for health-oriented studies outside the laboratory, but also for research on wearable technologies and body-centric communications. As a result, SPW-1 incorporates versatile features, such as external sensor support, various powering options, and accelerometer configuration options that can support a wide range applications from kinematics to long-term activity recognition.