Ongoing Research Projects
Attentive Hub is actively expanding our knowledge base while creating innovative solutions for previously unexplored, critical problems.
Automated Individual-Tailored Task Biomechanics Correction Training
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common injuries at work, often causing people to quit jobs they otherwise enjoy. These injuries can affect anyone, from those in physically demanding jobs like construction and sports, to those in more stationary roles like office work or driving. One of the key ways to prevent these injuries is by correcting how tasks are performed, which usually involves training sessions led by physical therapists. However, this traditional method of training has its drawbacks, including limited effectiveness and difficulty in reaching everyone who needs help. This study aims to overcome these challenges by combining insights and technology from several fields like wearable tech, brain science, body mechanics, machine learning, and augmented reality. The goal is to create an automated training system that customizes itself to each user’s unique way of learning, helping them adopt the safest and most effective ways to move during tasks. This new system could greatly improve how we prevent and manage MSDs, making it easier and more effective for people across all sorts of jobs.
EEG-based Cognitive Monitoring Framework to Improve Crane Operators’ Cognitive Performance
for Construction Safety and Productivity
Running a crane on a construction site can be mentally challenging. Operators need to handle lots of changing information while dealing with distractions in a busy environment. This can lead to mental overload or lapses in attention, which can cause serious accidents. This project plans to solve that by creating a sensor-equipped cap that monitors the mental state of crane operators as they work. The project will use this technology in two key ways to help improve crane operator training and their work environment. First, we’ll develop a virtual reality (VR) training program that adjusts to the trainee's mental state. This means the training will get harder or easier depending on how well the trainee is handling the tasks, ensuring they are always learning at their best capacity. Second, we will use this technology to figure out the best setup for cranes and their controls, making sure everything is arranged in a way that’s mentally easier for operators. The end result will be a system that can be used on real construction sites to make crane operation less mentally taxing and safer.
Empathetic Robot Control for Cohesive Human Robot Collaboration
This is a sub-project of the larger project "Advanced Behavioural and Production Management Research in the Built Environment Using Digital and Robotic Technology." (PI: Vicente Gonzales-Moret)
This project aims to create collaborative robots that can understand workers' conditions (like stress, fatigue, and mental load) and adapt their behavior without being directly told. With new wearable technology, robots can now interpret workers' unspoken needs from their physiological reactions. To make this happen, we combine knowledge from psychophysiology, computer science, and robotics. Our research will also explore how to handle personal biosignals and understand how workers' brains react to different stress levels.
Adaptive Acoustic Warning System for Safety in the Field
Auditory warnings play a crucial role in keeping construction sites safe by alerting workers to dangers like approaching heavy machinery, fires, or toxic gas leaks. However, the effectiveness of these warnings is often compromised by the constant noise at construction sites, leading to workers missing crucial alerts and not reacting to hazards, which can cause accidents. Since noise levels on sites can vary rapidly, there's a pressing need to develop a warning system that can adapt in real-time. This system would analyze the ambient noise and adjust the warning sounds to make them more noticeable. Recent efforts have tried to increase the sound pressure level (SPL) of warnings based on the ambient noise, but this can be ineffective. Often, the noise on a construction site can exceed 84 dBA, which is the maximum limit recommended by safety regulations, leaving no scope for making the warning sounds louder. Instead, it might be more effective to adjust other aspects of the sound, such as its pattern, pitch, and volume changes. These changes can help the warning stand out amidst the background noise. However, there's still a lot we don't know about how these acoustic changes affect the noticeability of warning sounds. This study aims to explore these acoustic interactions more deeply and develop a warning system that adjusts its sound characteristics based on the surrounding noise.
Wearable Biosensing-enabled Intervention to Increase Seniors' Neighborhood-specific Mobility Self-efficacy and Actual Mobility Behavior
A lot of work has been done to encourage older adults to be more active outside their homes, which is key for their health as they age. Most of this effort has aimed at boosting their general confidence in moving around outside. However, we think it’s crucial to specifically increase their confidence in navigating their own neighborhoods. This approach can help older adults take their first steps outside more comfortably, potentially leading them to explore even further. The more their confidence relates directly to their daily environment, the more likely they are to be active. We plan to test this idea by comparing the effectiveness of our interventions targeting older adults’ walk confidence in their neighborhoods against other existing methods. This project aims to make a significant contribution to healthy aging in Canada by introducing new ways to enhance mobility confidence among older adults, specifically tailored to their immediate living environments.
A Wristband-based Daily Monitoring of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Risks for Preventive Interventions
Preventive measures are now being developed to lessen the effects of post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) on the professional and personal lives of first responders, helping to protect their well-being. It's crucial to identify those who are at high risk of developing PTSD early, so that preventive actions can be taken. However, the current methods used to identify at-risk individuals—like behavioral observations, questionnaires, and interviews—are too cumbersome for large-scale use. Therefore, there's a pressing need for an easy-to-use, scalable method to monitor PTSD risk. This project aims to create and evaluate a cost-effective, non-invasive technique using a wristband. If this wristband-based monitoring approach proves effective, it could be widely adopted in the daily routines of first responders. This would allow for the early detection of individuals at high risk for PTSD, enabling timely preventive care and potentially reducing the incidence of severe PTSD symptoms among first responders.
Ongoing Consulting Projects
Attentive Hub’s consulting begins with a comprehensive problem redefinition and culminates in the delivery of scalable, field-applicable, and human-centered solutions.
Fall Risk and Hazard Monitoring in People’s Daily Lives with Wearable Sensors
Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries worldwide, creating significant economic, medical, and social burdens. This project aims to develop a less invasive, more comprehensive method for detecting fall risks using wearable sensors. Attentive Hub is contributing its expertise in selecting suitable wearable sensors, collecting data, analyzing it, and applying these findings in real-world settings.