A GPS simulation framework on smartphones for elderly assistance applications

Ageing is a natural process for all living beings implying some cognitive and motor changes with time passing. The later stages of life have some associated disabilities and pathologies that can impose limits to the way of life that previously was a routine. Medical research and technological developments address those limitations with pharmaceutical drugs and treatments that overcome such limitations while providing support to extend, as much as possible, that previous normality. As people live longer lives, some conditions become more frequent as is the case of dementia and particularly of Alzheimer. While clinical staff try to find treatments and apply existing medical knowledge, it is important to help people in such conditions to continue doing their routines with minimal risk and distress for them and for relatives and caregivers. Displacement and posture are critical aspects for elder as sometimes they forget places and routes, getting lost with physical risks of accidents and exposing themselves to potential dangerous situations. This paper presents a framework to support development and testing of applications that use devices to keep track on displacement, using smartphone sensors as the pervasive built in GPS sensors, within the lab environment.