Living Labs: overview of ecological approaches for health promotion and rehabilitation

Abstract

Purpose: The term “Living Lab” was coined to reflect the use of sensors to monitor human behavior in real life environments. Until recently such measurements had been feasible only within experimental laboratory settings. The objective of this paper is to highlight research on health care sensing and monitoring devices that enable direct, objective and accurate capture of real-world functioning. Method: Selected articles exemplifying the key technologies that allow monitoring of the motor–cognitive activity of persons with disabilities during naturally occurring daily experiences in real-life settings are discussed in terms of (1) the ways in which the Living Lab approach has been used to date, (2) limitations related to clinical assessment in rehabilitation settings and (3) three categories of the instruments most commonly used for this purpose: personal technologies, ambient technologies and external assistive systems. Results: Technology’s most important influences on clinical practice and rehabilitation are in a shift from laboratory-based to field-centered research and a transition between in-clinic performance to daily life activities. Numerous applications show its potential for real-time clinical assessment. Conclusions: Current technological solutions that may provide clinicians with objective, unobtrusive measurements of health and function, as well as tools that support rehabilitation on an individual basis in natural environments provide an important asset to standard clinical measures.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Until recently objective clinical assessment could not be readily performed in a client’s daily functional environment.

• Novel technologies enable health care sensing and monitoring devices that enable direct, objective and accurate capture of real-world functioning. Such technologies are referred to as a “Living Lab” approach since they enable the capture of objective and non-obtrusive data that clinicians can use to assess performance.

• Research and development in this field help clinicians support maintain independence and quality of life for people who have disabilities or who are aging, and to promote more effective methods of long-term rehabilitation and maintenance of a healthy life style.

• Activities of daily living
• ambient sensors
• ecological validity
• information and communication technology
• Living Lab
• monitoring
• user-centered experience

Declaration of interest

The writing of this review was supported in part by the University of Haifa Development Fund.