MakeSense! ‑ Sensor Collaboration in Welfare Technology

The ultimate goal for this collaboration is to increase well-being and provide solutions for meeting the challenges caused by demographic changes and population’s inactivity problems both in Finland and Sweden.

Sensor Technology

Development of wireless sensing systems based on NFC/RFID and NIR/IR technologies for measuring physical indicators, such as perspiration, in order to provide data about effectivity and safety in physical exercise. The sensor platform and the readings should subsequently be further developed for several other applications like: temperature, perspiration analysis and various smart building applications.

Wearable sensor materials

One part of the project evaluates different materials as wearable sensors. Evaluated properties include printability with functional inks, absorption of liquids to be characterized and wearability in terms of comfortableness.

Sensing perspiration with RFID tags

It has been evaluated how UHF RFID tags on fabrics, with antennas fabricated from respectively conductive ink and conductive fabrics, are affected by sweat absorbed into the tag antennas.

Objectives

The project Makes Sense! conducted on the basis of the Botnia-Atlantica programme shall contribute to the objectives set out in the Operational Programme. These objectives are, in summary, to

1. Form a strong multidisciplinary welfare technology research team and to start long-term collaboration in terms of excellence, research and culture exchange in the field of welfare technology research between Mid Sweden University and SAMK (Pori, Finland)
2. Develop wireless sensing systems (based on NFC and NIR/IR) for measuring physical indicators, such as perspiration, in order to provide data of effectivity and safety of a person’s exercise.
3. Form the basis for wider research projects.