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6 Chapter
1. Introduction: The Dilemma of Inventions 1.4
Contributions This dissertation
makes four contributions to the field of ubiquitous and wearable
computing. The X’treme
Prototyping Approach. In this thesis
a method to develop ubiqui- tous
and wearable applications for research is proposed that allows to create
real application scenarios in cooperation with users and
other stakeholders. In particular, it is
shown how the deliberate use of prototypes can yield fruitful application
concepts in cooperation with users. Sensing
Framework and Artifact-Based Approach. This thesis
presents two frameworks supporting
the development of ubiquitous computing applications. The
first framework, referred to as sensor-opportunities-based approach, clas-
sifies sensors, and gives recommendations to the application
designer about which sensors to chose from
for specific sensing tasks. The second, the so- called
artifact-based approach, allows the application developer to design an
application by means of a layered approach starting from
the involved phys- ical objects (artifact-layer).
It further suggests to consider groups of objects as
they occur in the physical world (setting-layer) and to separate the actual
application behavior in a third layer (application-layer).
This approach has proven useful in various
applications. Wearable
Sensing for Avalanche Rescue. A case study on the
introduction of wearable
sensing for avalanche rescue, referred to as the A-Life project, was
conducted to prove the applicability of the X’treme
Prototyping approach. However,
A-Life also embodies a contribution by itself since it shows new ways
of rescue of buried avalanche victims in multiple burial
scenarios: Vital sign data revealed through
sensors empower rescuers to decide on whom to rescue first.
This concept has been discussed and validated with various experts
from the field. A Swiss avalanche beacon manufacturer
is currently forming a decision whether
to incorporate this concept into the next generation of avalanche
beacons. Improving Training
of Professional Racing Skiers. This covers a second
case study, but also embodies
a contribution by itself. The application of wearable sensing
enables ski trainers to better analyze the technique of their athletes. A
prototype representing this concept in combination with
a visualization soft- ware was presented
to professional trainers and further shaped to their needs. Furthermore,
a mobile sensor data-recording platform has been developed that
could also prove useful for other kinds of sensor recording
tasks. Parts of this dissertation have
been published in refereed conference papers. The X’treme
Prototyping approach was first proposed
[ Michahelles
and Schiele 2005 ]
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