Citation

Wang F, Skubic M, Abbott CC, Keller JM. Conf. Proc. IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Soc. 2011; 2011: 7606-7609.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers))

DOI

10.1109/IEMBS.2011.6092005

PMID

22256099

Abstract

In this paper, we present a method for quantitatively and objectively assessing 180 degree turns using low cost video sensors. A three-dimensional voxel reconstruction, which is built using silhouettes captured from two calibrated web camera views, is used to represent the human body. Experiments were conducted in which participants performed the standard Timed Up and Go tests where 180 degree turns are evaluated. Our two calibrated cameras captured the images during the test. Two key parameters including turn time and turn steps are extracted using the voxel data. Good agreement for the turn time was found for our system compared to the expert rating. The extracted numbers of turn steps are one step less than the expert rating in many test runs. The difference comes mainly from the nature of the pivot turns, and the turn time difference between the expert rating and the algorithm, namely the determination of the time duration from the beginning to the end of the turn. The development of this technology provides potential for assessing 180 degree turns in the home setting as part of a balance, stability and fall risk assessment tool.

Language: en