AsTeRICS Project Introduction
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Hello and welcome to a brief introduction to AsTeRICS. AsTeRICS is an international Research and Development Project which is supported by the European Commission in course of the 7th Framework Programme. Nine European partner organizations work together for 3 years, to develop a flexible system for user-tailored Assistive Technologies.
The term AsTeRICS stands for “Assistive Technology Rapid Integration and Construction Set”. This describes the main purpose of the system quite well – the easy and efficient creation of new, highly individualized Assistive Technology Applications.
One problem of existing Assistive Technology Devices is that they can hardly be adapted or combined to support individual capabilities of the user. Very often, these devices work in a defined setup and their function cannot be changed or applied in different use cases.
The main advantage of the AsTeRICS system is its versatility:
It allows combination of sensor technologies to find efficient input methods for a particular person – and these input methods can then be used for a wide range of applications, from mouse- or keyboard replacement to smart home control , mobile phone accessibility or gaming support.
AsTeRICS can connect to classis AT- input devices like simple switches or special mice or joysticks, but it also supports novel interaction techniques like Camera based input, head- and eye tracking or Brain Computer Interfaces and computer control via bioelectric signals.
This flexibility becomes possible because of the open AsTeRICS architecture – which basically allows the interconnection of plugins for sensors, processing elements and actuators.
Sensors measure signals from a user, where Processors are used to extract features from these signals. Actuators provide interaction possibilities with the environment.
A desired AsTeRICS application – also called “Model” – can be easily created in a graphical software tool, called the AsTeRICS Configuration Suite. Here, AsTeRICS models are designed without writing a single line of programming code – just by connecting and adjusting desired plugins.
For mobile use, the AsTeRICS partners developed a dedicated hardware with modular Interfaces for desired sensors and actuators: the Personal Platform. Depending on the kind of application, suitable interface modules are inserted into the platform and provide the desired input- and output capabilities. An optional LC-Display with Touch Screen can be connected to the platform, to display an On-Screen Keyboard, or buttons and sliders to change essential model parameters.
So – Let’s have a look at some of the possible use cases and applications of the AsTeRICS system!
One important AsTeRICS application is computer control via alternative input methods.
For this purpose, a separate module has been developed: the HID-actuator. This USB dongle behaves exactly like a mouse, keyboard or joystick when plugged into a target computer.
The difference is that the control signals are transferred wirelessly from the AsTeRICS platform.
No additional Software installation is needed.
Here we see a model for mouse control via a webcam and the head tracking plugin. Head movements are directly translated into mouse movements, clicks can be performed by dwell time or external switches.
Several other input methods are possible:
- For example a sip/puff sensor for interaction via breath,
- Simple Switches and their combination,
- A bend sensor which measures flexing of limbs, fingers or toes
- The Enobio Wireless Sensor cap by AsTeRICS partner Starlab - for measuring barinwaves, eye blinks, eye movements or muscle activities
- Or the OSKA On-Screen Keyboard application which can be freely configured via a dedicated editor. OSKA cells can be selected via the MIMO touchscreen, by other sensors or by different scanning techniques.
All these input methods can be used to control the desired Actuators. Here some interesting options:
- Infrared Remote Control of Home- and Entertainment devices
- Home Control and Ambient Assisted Living Applications via a Konnex Home Automation network – here we see lighting control
- Door openers – like the attachable Door Opener System by the Austrian startup Company Abotic.
- PlayStation 3 Control via the HID Actuator
- Other possible Actuators include electric devices which may be switched on of off, mechatronic systems like the Pneumatic Gripper by AsTeRICS partner KI-I, toys or even robots.
Currently, about 80 different AsTeRICS plugins already exist – and the system continues to grow due to the contributions from AsTeRICS developers and the open source community.
A collection of models for different applications and tutorials for model creation and developing own AsTeRICS plugins are available for download.
Please have a look at the AsTeRICS Homepage for updates, and of course for the free downloads of the AsTeRICS runtime system and the Source Code Packages!
If you are interested in plugin development – for example to support your own product or device in the AsTeRICS framework – you will find extensive information in the developer manual.
I hope you enjoyed this brief introduction of our project. We appreciate your feedback and your suggestions for extensions or useful plugins.
Thank you for your attention.