iFall: Fall Monitoring System

When the application is first started your only onscreen option is to start and stop the fall monitor. You will also see the graph plotting the root-sum-of-squares of accelerometer to display the total force on the phone.

When the monitoring is running a static notification will appear to ensure that it is on. When everything is under normal conditions the icon will be green. There are three basic states the represent a fall: the fall, hitting the ground, and the long-lie. As these conditions are met by breaking the corresponding thresholds, check marks will appear next to the states. When a fall is suspected and the user is expected to be in the long-lie period the notification icon will turn yellow. The user now has a ceratin amount of time to regain movement inorder to cancel the alert.

Hitting the options button will bring up a menu that allows you to change the settings on the fall monitor, alert stage, and select an alternative (more user friendly view).

The DroidFall view is simply another way to view which stage of the fall the user is in. There are three different positions that Andy the Android can be in, which match the three states that receive check marks on the home screen.

This view demonstrates that the fall monitor sends out broadcasts that can be easily caught by any application. This allows for third party apps to make alternative interfaces, log data, and implement additional features that leverage off the exsisting fall monitoring framework.

After a long-lie has timed out an alert will be issued. This alert automatically turns the volume all the way up and rings for a set period of time (can be adjusted in alert settings). If the user responds, the alert is canceled and the system goes back to monitoring as normal. However, if the alert times out a phone call will be automatically made to a pre-specified social contacts (also adjustable in alert settings). In addition, the phone is placed on speaker mode.