title: Wireless inertial measurement unit with GPS (WIMU-GPS)--wearable monitoring platform for ecological assessment of lifespace and mobility in aging and disease.
abstract: This paper proposes an innovative ambulatory mobility and activity monitoring approach based on a wearable datalogging platform that combines inertial sensing with GPS tracking to assess the lifespace and mobility profile of individuals in their home and community environments. The components, I/O architecture, sensors and functions of the WIMU-GPS are presented. Outcome variables that can be measured with it are described and illustrated. Data on the power usage, operating autonomy of the WIMU-GPS and the GPS tracking performances and time to first fix of the unit are presented. The study of lifespace and mobility with the WIMU-GPS can potentially provide unique insights into intrapersonal and environmental factors contributing to mobility restriction. On-going studies are underway to establish the validity and reliability of the WIMU-GPS in characterizing the lifespace and mobility profile of older adults.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Research Centre on Aging, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada. patrick.boissy@usherbrooke.ca
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boissy
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brière
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamel
authors.forename: Mandar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jog
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Speechley
authors.forename: Antony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karelis
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Rodrick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duval
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D056044:Actigraphy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040421:Cell Phone; D017753:Ecosystem; D040362:Geographic Information Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*