| Abstract | This talk will discuss the use of workflow paradigm for modeling, design, implementation and evaluation of UCAAD. The acronym stands for user-centric automation and assistive devices and systems (services). Some UCAADS aim to help improve quality of life and self-reliance of their users, including elderly or functionally limited individuals. Examples are smart medication dispensers, autonomous appliances, service robots and robotic helpers. Other UCAADS are automation tools for care-providing institutions. Examples include smart medication cabinets and mobile tools that enforce bar-code controlled medication dispensing and administration for the purpose of enhancing the quality of medication use process.
The talk will first present case studies to illustrate that UCAADS with workflow-based architecture can be easily configured and customized to support different processes, rely on different infrastructures and suit different users. In such a device (or system), components are workflows. We can use workflow definitions as behavior specification of the devices and as models of user actions. Being executable, the specification and models enable the usability of the device and correctness of device-user interactions to be assessed via simulation as soon as the requirement specification and design of the device are available. When software procedures, hardware devices, etc. required by workflows become available, we can implement the device by having its behavior specification run on a workflow engine and letting the middleware integrate the workflow components at runtime dynamically.
The talk will conclude by presenting Embedded Workflow Framework (EMWF) and USE (UCAADS Simulation Environment). EMWF is written in C and provides lightweight engines on Linux, Microsoft Windows CE and XP Embedded. It is being developed to enable the implementation of workflow-based UCAADS specifically, similar embedded devices and systems in general. Similar to other simulation environments, USE also provides extensible libraries of reusable models and device components as well as data capture and display tools. In addition, USE supports the incorporation of workflow model elements with elements of human processor models commonly used in studies on human-computer interactions. In this way, USE enables the dependencies of device-user interactions on user behavior and skills be accounted for more precisely in simulation experiments of the device and its user(s). |