Matthew Lau, Matt Debski, Andrew Wheeler, Michael Hawley
{mattlau, tdebber, ajwheele, mike}@media.mit.edu
Building on nearly three years of experience "wiring up" athletes and explorers in demanding environments, ESP aims to create a generalized architecture for the rapid design and deployment of sensor systems into real-world situations. Three marathons, two ascents of Mt. Everest, and military training exercises have shown that the single largest hurdle putting bodies online is the effort needed to custom design new hardware for each application. ESP addresses this problem.
The Importance of Putting Bodies Online
Consider being able to watch one's vital signs and surroundings in real-life situations. No longer is your medical care a matter of an annual check-up plus trips to the doctor when you're sick. Instead, regular at-home monitoring can give your physician an early warning when you start to ail. Athletes can be analyzed in competitive situations; one example: runners monitored on the track, not the treadmill. Explorers in harsh or life-threatening environments can be closely watched from a remote location, receiving real-time instruction to help them remain safe in the field. The examples are limitless. With ESP, the technology is catching up.
From the Wrist to the Web: An End-to-end Architecture
ESP development addresses not only the collection of information from a body or the environment, but also the transmission of data to a collection site, processing of that data, and finally, publishing of easy-to-understand interpretations of the current situation via the Web or other means. Every function in the ESP chain is designed as a module. This allows selection of specific modules which most closely match the needs of a given application. For instance, for long-range (off body) transmission, a system designer may choose between a GSM module (to take advantage of telephone networks), spread-spectrum radio (for use in wilderness environments), or a satellite communicator (for those out-of-the-way places). Module selection is left as a design decision: for each application, trade-offs can be evaluated for power consumption, weight, size, and other variables. Similarly, software can be interchanged for desired functionality.
Expeditions: Applying the ESP System
The ESP team is currently investigating ambitious expeditions to help us demonstrate and refine the ESP technology. While applying the technology at home is important, there is no better way to show the functionality of ESP than in challenging environments that place extreme demands on both the hardware and its designers. We are investigating deep-water diver monitoring, an arctic (or possibly desert) expedition, as well as a variety of athletic events, both competitive and recreational.