Accelerometers are becoming one of the most popular tools for physical activity assessment across different populations. Although most evidence suggests that accelerometry is a reliable and valid tool, there are limitations to using traditional accelerometry for physical activity assessment (e.g., identifying low-activity tasks and inability to detect different postures). At the same time, multi-sensor technology within the context of wireless networks is emerging as a promising tool for monitoring of various health-related characteristics. The purposes of this interdisciplinary study are: a) to develop a wearable wireless sensor network for distributed physical activity context detection, b) to validate the network for detecting various physical activities, and c) to assess physical activity energy expenditure using sensor-identified activity and postures. Limitations of traditional accelerometry are addressed in this proposed system by a) using additional sensing modalities that can capture low-activity tasks, and b) networking multiple sensors so that data can be collated for identifying a broader range of activities and postures. A final objective of the proposed project is to test how well the output from the device predicts energy expenditure when compared to the gold standard of indirect calorimetry. Results from this investigation will lead to future R01 proposals in which the networked system will be extended for advanced features including on-body statistical processing and real-time feedback to participants.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed study will address the fact that commercially available accelerometers do not provide activity type or contextual information that is necessary to better capture physical activity behaviors. Enhanced measurement of physical activity and postures using the proposed wireless sensing and networking technology will in turn improve the efforts of public health researchers to effectively conduct surveillance activities and determine the effects of intervention research.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21HL093395-01A2
Application #
7788896
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-PSE-B (50))
Program Officer
Wells, Barbara L
Project Start
2010-04-05
Project End
2012-02-29
Budget Start
2010-04-05
Budget End
2011-02-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$190,026
Indirect Cost
Name
Michigan State University
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
193247145
City
East Lansing
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48824
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Montoye, Alexander H; Dong, Bo; Biswas, Subir et al. (2014) Use of a Wireless Network of Accelerometers for Improved Measurement of Human Energy Expenditure. Electronics (Basel) 3:205-220
Dong, Bo; Biswas, Subir (2013) Wearable diet monitoring through breathing signal analysis. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2013:1186-9
Dong, Bo; Montoye, Alexander; Moore, Rebecca et al. (2013) Energy-aware Activity Classification using Wearable Sensor Networks. Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng 8723:87230Y
Dong, Bo; Biswas, Subir; Montoye, Alexander et al. (2013) Comparing metabolic energy expenditure estimation using wearable multi-sensor network and single accelerometer. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2013:2866-9
Dong, Bo; Biswas, Subir (2012) Swallow monitoring through apnea detection in breathing signal. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2012:6341-4
Dong, Bo; Biswas, Subir (2012) Wearable Networked Sensing for Human Mobility and Activity Analytics: A Systems Study. Int Conf Commun Syst Netw 2012:1-6
Quwaider, Muhannad; Taghizadeh, Mahmoud; Biswas, Subir (2011) Modeling On-Body DTN Packet Routing Delay in the Presence of Postural Disconnections. EURASIP J Wirel Commun Netw 2011:
Quwaider, Muhannad; Biswas, Subir (2010) DTN routing in body sensor networks with dynamic postural partitioning. Ad Hoc Netw 8:824-841