Context-aware Working Research Articles

Methodology to integrate ergonomics information in contextualized digital work instructions

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), often caused by working in non-ergonomic circumstances, are the most important category of work-related diseases. Different methods exist for examining ergonomics through a variety of postural evaluation techniques (e.g. Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA)), which are mostly performed through manual survey-based observations. Consequently, measuring ergonomics of operators is time-consuming and happens only sporadically, often after problems occur. Furthermore, as an ergonomist must assign a score to the performed activity, the ergonomics evaluation is subjective. These problems can be resolved by continuous and automated ergonomic load monitoring methods that directly provide feedback to operators. In order to monitor the operator without interfering the task at hand, a vision-based ergonomics monitoring system is developed. Here, ergonomic features (e.g. joint angles) are estimated based on multiple video streams, which are used to calculate an objective ergonomic score using a standard ergonomics evaluation technique. Although cognitive operator support systems (i.e. digital work instructions) for manual assembly environments are widely used, they do typically not include ergonomics information. The goal of the methodology presented in this work is to a) formulate or update digital work instructions, b) provide the operator feedback on its ergonomic soundness via work instructions and c) generate ergonomic risk level reports in an automated way based on the outcomes of the vision-based ergonomics evaluator. Making the ergonomic guidelines context-aware ensures that interventions occur at the right time. The methodology is integrated in a framework for context-aware work instructions and is validated via a proof of concept, based on an actual industrial case. Results show that context-awareness enhances user acceptance and ergonomics of the operator.

A Context-aware Workflow System Framework and Scheduling Algorithm

In the pervasive and mobile computing environment, work∞ow and context information are closely linked, work∞ow management system have to interact with a variety of sensors. Therefore, the design and development context-aware work∞ow applications become complex and di‐cult to migrate to other platforms. In order to simplify the development of context-aware work∞ow applications and enhance its portability, a new context-aware work∞ow framework is proposed in this paper. This framework introduced into the context-aware middleware which shielded the various bottom sensors work details for the applications and make the work∞ow applications focus on using high-level context, so as to realize the intelligent work∞ow management. This framework also introduced into an ant colony optimization based scheduling algorithm for context-aware work∞ow. Performance test shows that the algorithm can quickly output scheduling results of the middle-scale problems.

Through-Walls Communication for Medical Emergency Services

The authors present a model for bringing the coordination power of workflow management systems to outdoor wearable augmented reality (AR) systems. They portray how mobile equipment may be integrated with adaptive, context-aware work environments. A scenario of a medical emergency task is described to illustrate the functionality of this form of collaboration system. Appropriate information stickers are introduced to support data collection in medical emergency scenarios in a sophisticated form through a hands-free user interface for medical personnel. They propose the use of new user interface technology, including multimedia, AR information stickers, and the allocation of patient medical records to identified locations of the human body. A key feature is the access to relevant information for users in the mobile environment as well as for those in the advanced control room. An additional advantage is the automatic recording of on-site data, which helps to build the medical record of a patient without interfering with the work of the emergency team.