At Shimmer we are committed to the advancement of body worn sensing. We strive to make the Shimmer platform, its firmware and its associated application development tools a complete wearable wireless sensor package, enabling users to collect data that is important to them.

In the past few weeks we have been previewing screenshots and images on our Facebook and Twitter channels, from a host of exciting new software offerings and supporting tools that our technical team have been working on. We are happy to announce that the wait has come to an end and that Multi Shimmer Sync for Android, ShimmerLog, SDLog Firmware and BTStream Firmware are now available.

At Shimmer we are excited to see these items being released to the community allowing our users to further unlock the potential of the Shimmer platform. These tools will give each type of user the opportunity to focus more time on interpreting their sensor data and converting it into actionable information, as opposed to spending time on device preparation and connectivity.

Whether you are using Shimmer for Clinical Data Capture, Mobile Data Capture or Autonomous Data Capture each of these releases will offer users more flexibility whilst making the data collection process more efficient and cost effective.

Multi Shimmer Sync for Android

This application is ideal for users looking to develop mobile based Shimmer sensor applications where simultaneous data capture from multiple sensor units is required

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ShimmerLog

ShimmerLog is a solution for configurable data capture to the shimmer SD card. Logging to the Shimmer microSD card has advantages over Bluetooth streaming in that it removes restrictions associated with limited radio range.

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SDLog Firmware

This featured firmware release from Shimmer allows Shimmer2 and Shimmer 2r users to readily set-up their application specific to capturing data to the microSD card. It is recommended that it is used in conjunction with ShimmerLog.

BTStream Firmware

This featured firmware release from Shimmer includes additional commands and features for users who are capturing and streaming sensor data in real-time using Bluetooth.

For more detailed information on each of these items the Shimmer blog features each individual release, or, if you have any specific questions relating to the new releases feel free to contact us as always on info@shimmer-research.com

Last year saw the release of Multi Shimmer Sync for Windows from Shimmer. This was the first offering from Shimmer as part of its advanced feature software range designed to address specific application and user needs.

This year we are following that release with the launch of Multi Shimmer Sync for Android. Our newest software offering provides as much flexibility to synchronize Shimmer data as before but now gives Shimmer users the opportunity to do this using a mobile device that is running the Android operating system.

With the understanding that many of our users require data capture solutions which allow for greater mobility, Multi Shimmer Sync for Android is now available to download from the Shimmer download section of the website. The evaluation version of the application can be accessed from the Google Play store.

In scenarios where data is being captured from a single individual or as part of a larger trial, the Multi Shimmer Sync for Android solution offers greater freedom than its Windows counterpart.  The mobility offered by Android devices allows for data capture beyond the range offered by the Bluetooth radio when connecting to fixed or immobile computing devices.

This allows for greater mobility during data capture and allows for simple remote monitoring out of the lab or clinical setting. With Multi Shimmer Sync for Android users can obtain real-world data in authentic living environments which benefit the person capturing the data whilst providing a true reflection of daily events to the data analyst.

The application will allow…

• Synchronised data capture from up to 7 Shimmers to a single file
  • Synchronisation accuracy of up 0.98ms depending on sampling rate and number of Shimmers
  • Allows for synchronisation with external systems e.g. Camera based motion capture systems

• Data stored in a tab delimited text format (files compatible with Microsoft Excel, Open Office)

• MATLAB and most standard data manipulation programs
  • Includes a verified .m script for loading data directly into MATLAB

• Controls to configure each Shimmer
  • Configure features such as sampling rate, enable/disable sensors, and set accelerometer range

• Detection and notification of dropped packets
  • If packets are dropped due to the Shimmer going out of range or the UI will notify the user through the flashing of a red LED

• Monitor data using real-time plot
  • When the application is streaming data the real-time plot can be used to view the data from one or more signals

• Save and load application settings
  • This allows the user to save the settings for their particular experimental set-up and quickly reload the settings into the application when they resume their data capture session

• Annotate Data with pulse marker and level marker

• Synchronise with an external system (e.g. Camera based motion capture systems) using trigger input (Requires Shimmer expansion board) or system timestamp

Users can capture sensor data and send it on the go from a mobile device,  this allows for the development of end user applications in a mobile context in a way that is simple and intuitive to the user.

Driven by feedback from existing users, researchers and companies alike, advanced feature software offerings aim to improve the quality and ease of data collection for research and ongoing application development.

Advanced feature software applications from Shimmer are available to individuals, groups, and organisations via our online e-store.

Visit the Multi Shimmer Sync for Android product page to read more, download an evaluation copy of the software, and watch a video demonstration.

As part of a suite of new releases and refinements to what we currently offer at Shimmer, a new Windows application to assist users in logging to the microSD card is now available.

The application known as ShimmerLog will allow for the configuration of Shimmer units for data capture direct to the mircoSD card housed within the Shimmer device.

The development of this application came from feedback from Shimmer users who choose to utilize the local storage that is available on the Shimmer platform, a requirement often associated with longitudinal studies.

Proximity to a host device is not constantly required when using the ShimmerLog application, providing flexibility to the user and their data capture efforts. Using ShimmerLog, in conjunction with the SDLog firmware, offers the benefit of more power efficient data capture over longer periods, as opposed to continuous streaming via Bluetooth.

The application gives users the freedom to define and save the configuration of a trial so that a trial can be labelled and easily repeated at a later time.

The design also makes it possible for all captured data in an application to be exported in raw or calibrated format to a standard text editing application like Open Office or MS Excel.

ShimmerLog UI for sensor configuration

Data import using ShimmerLog

ShimmerLog UI for data export

Trial review using ShimmerLog

ShimmerLog facilitates the use of the microSD card associated with the main Shimmer unit freely, and in a way that is simple to use and hassle free. A user can employ this data capture method quickly and within a short time frame to begin capturing wearable wireless sensor data for their application.

SDLog Firmware

Shimmer has released the SDLog firmware which works in conjunction with the ShimmerLog software application featured above. The firmware, which is available for Shimmer 2 and Shimmer 2r devices packs in some new features for those Shimmer users wishing to log data to the microSD card.

SDLog Firmware features include:

• Fully configurable data logging to mircoSD card
• Simple text file interface to specify configuration
• Easily identifiable data directories and files created for each new logging session
• Relative time synchronisation among multiple shimmers using 802.15.4 radio
• Various LED sequences to indicate current mode of operation to the user

For more information about the new SDLog
firmware from Shimmer please visit the Firmware section of the website

For a step by step tutorial or for more information about ShimmerLog
visit the product page here

The new firmware will offer more control to Shimmer users and allow them to maximize Shimmers performance in their specific sensing application. The firmware improves the features associated with using Bluetooth and will be of benefit for those who wish to capture data and transmit it in real-time to a host device.

Some of the new features include:

• Added support for EMG and ECG values
• STOP_STREAMING_COMMAND synchronous with respect to the sample period
• Improved support for magnetometer use
• Active GSR resistor included
• Elimination of GSR resistance value spikes
• Single command to retrieve all sensors calibration values
• Improved support for LED indicator use
• Support for GET_BLINK_LED and SET_BLINK_LED commands
• Support for variable data buffer size

In conjunction with the BTStream firmware release we have also updated and improved our instrument drivers:

Each of the above instrument drivers now include:

• Battery monitoring/Low battery notification
• Improved GSR calibration
• Support for stored ECG and EMG calibration values
• Reading FW Version from Shimmer
• Improved HR calculation (8bit to 16bit)

For users developing with C#:

We have also made changes to the ShimmerConnect and the C# source code. ShimmerConnect implements the same features and functionality associated with other instrument drivers as well as the reading of calibration parameters from Shimmer memory and the plotting and logging of calibrated data.

To avail of the changes that have been made to these instrument drivers please visit the relevant page below:

-LabVIEW Instrument Driver
-Android Instrument Driver
-C# Instrument Driver
-MATLAB Instrument Driver

This year saw the largest number of responses since we first conducted our customer survey (2010), receiving a wide range of suggestions and feedback from over 26 different countries.

For some more information on how and what the platform is being used internationally, please see some the survey findings below:

*Most popular Shimmer application areas (percentage of respondents)*

• The above graph shows us the top 3 performing application areas were:
  • Remote Patient Monitoring at 63%
  • Human Motion Analysis at 58%
  • Activity Monitoring at 45%

*Data streaming or logging preferences with Shimmer*

• Over 90% make use of the BT radio when streaming Shimmer data to a host device

Action will be getting underway internally over the coming months to deliver new products and services for Shimmer users. In addition to this we will be enhancing the feature sets of our applications to reflect the excellent feedback we have received.

Thank you once again to every one of the participants and should you have any future suggestions or should you like to discuss Shimmer with us we would be happy to hear from you – contact us on info@shimmer-research.com as always!

Google Nexus 7 winner

This year we offered those who completed our Shimmer User Survey a chance to win a Google Nexus 7 tablet. The winner would also receive the tablet with our latest Multi Shimmer Sync for Android application pre-loaded.

We would like to congratulate the winner of the prize this year Periklis Vlachakis of S.M.A.R.T. Physio, who is a Shimmer user based in Greece.

Periklis and his co-founder Athanasios Trampas noted that their clinic makes extensive use of the Shimmer products on assessing musculoskeletal disorders, including low back pain, patellofemoral pain syndrome and shoulder impingement by synchronising EMG units and a 3d video motion analysis system.

What to Expect – Including the Very First Live Demonstration of New Shimmer Applications

This year’s conference will highlight the revolution in physiological monitoring and intervention, driven by advanced signal processing and information extraction. Body Sensor Networks (BSN) are enabling technologies for precision healthcare, enhanced sports and fitness training, novel life-style monitoring, and individualized security.

Our booth will be located in the main break area on May 8^th from 8.30am – 5.30pm. We will have members of our Shimmer Engineering and Applications team on hand to demonstrate our full range of wireless sensing hardware and supporting applications, and answer any questions visitors may have.

We will also be demonstrating our new applications for Android devices, logging, and updated firmware for the very first time to the public. Attendees will get to see and interact with the latest applications and features first hand, and discuss their uses with our application engineers.

Come to our Workshop at BSN – Applied Sensing Solutions with Shimmer

On Thursday 9 May, Shimmer will host a workshop after which attendees will understand how they can use and reuse the Shimmer platform to create custom sensing solutions in clinical, mobile, or longitudinal study settings without low-level firmware engineering expertise.

The workshop will be led by Ben Kuris, CTO, Shimmer, and Karol O’Donovan, Lead Applications Engineer, Shimmer, with presentations and demonstrations by Shimmer users from

• Motion Analysis Lab, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
• CLARITY Centre for Sensor Web Technologies, Dublin City University
• Pattern Recognition Lab, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

During the interactive portion of the presentation, attendees and users can explore Shimmer applications using Android devices (provided by Shimmer).  There will also be time for questions and an open discussion with all presenters.

Exclusive Details: Attendees to the workshop will be exclusively informed of future developments for the Shimmer platform, and upcoming releases and developments of Shimmer Software Applications and Solutions.

Hope to see you there!

The conference will be held from May 6 – 9, 2013 at the MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA. To contact us in advance or to arrange a meeting please email info@shimmer-research.com – we hope to see you there!

To register for the event please see the BSN website at www.bsn2013.org

The project attempted to distinguish the difference between Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and when a fall took place. For the project, researchers addressed the challenges associated with this by using a time-frequency processing method, a database using ADL scenarios for comparison, and an optimum threshold method.

In addition to the techniques listed above, another part of the process also incorporated an intelligent sensor fusion and alerting system that could be used to transfer valuable information to a doctor, nurse or relative upon the detection of a fall.

Overview of the accelerometer signal processing method

The use of Shimmer sensors

When asked about choosing Shimmer sensors for this project, those participating in the development of the application confirmed that Shimmer sensors showed great performance throughout the development of the code and the creation of the database. The Shimmer platform was chosen over other available embedded options because it has many useful integrated sensors and available expansion modules that can be added to the system to further enhance future iterations.

Bluetooth connectivity made it easy to connect the platform to the host computer and send acceleration and ECG data in real time. In addition to this the participants were able to charge multiple sensor units at the same time when needed.

Using Shimmer sensors with LabVIEW

Utilizing the Shimmer LabVIEW library the research group could readily avail of the tools LabVIEW has to offer, leaving more time to focus on the development of their application code and the data being captured.

The LabVIEW system design and development environment is a powerful tool that can be used for a host of real-life applications. All of the sub VIs responsible for connecting the Shimmer sensors, managing the data acquisition and other functionality are made freely available to Shimmer users as part of the Shimmer LabVIEW library.

Those participating on the project confirmed that the LabVIEW tools available from Shimmer made the whole process much more “simple and hassle free”.

“We could concentrate more on creating the code for our project, rather than trying to figure out the connectivity of the Shimmer platform”.

Screenshot of the system’s LabVIEW interface

This project was accomplished by students at the University of Qatar and is functional today with an accuracy level of 93%. In the image above ECG signals are being analyzed alongside the accelerometer data, which provides greater context to the data when and if a fall takes place. With the addition of more sensor parameters in the future this kind of fall detection system can be further enhanced providing an even more robust home monitoring system.

To view the project poster for this application please click here

For more information about Shimmer and any of the Shimmer sensors or application development tools mentioned above contact us on info@shimmer-research.com

In the past users could reset all 6 docked units via the pin hole reset, this has now been replaced with a reset button for greater ease of use, which can be seen to the left hand side of the unit in the image below.

The unit also includes the addition of a ‘chain terminal’ that is fitted on the underside. In order to simultaneously reset more than 6 Shimmer units the user can link two or more chargers by wiring the ‘chain terminal’ in parallel as illustrated in the image below. When all Shimmers have been reset simultaneously, users can carry out an internal timestamp synchronisation technique in an effort to optimize the accuracy of the synchronization.

For more information see the Shimmer Multi Charger product page here.

Throughout the article the reader is also given some examples as to why the use of shimmer wireless sensors for the collection of physiological and motion data, is becoming an increasingly more attractive prospect as the pace of the industry speeds up.

“We say here is a bunch of ‘Lego blocks’ and rather than spending your time hooking up this hardware, really the brain power should be focused on understanding what the data means…”

To read the article in full click here

Coming up this week…

Workshop on Wearable Sensors

Shimmer Research will be attending a “Workshop on Wearable Sensors for Science & Health” at the National Center for Sensor Research in Dublin City University. Some of the Shimmer technical team will be on hand to field questions for those in attendance.

Click here for more info about this event which includes an impressive speaking schedule promising an engaging session.

National Instruments Technical Symposium Dublin

This week will also see Applications Team Lead Karol O’Donovan take part in the National Instruments Technical Symposium. This is a one day event in a professional development series for engineers and scientists offering an opportunity to learn about the most recent NI software and hardware innovations.

Again this event boasts an engaging list of speakers and promises to be an interesting session for those in attendance. Click here for more information.

Shimmer Sensors for Objective Assessment

Shimmer’s technology is used for a number of the experiments that will feature in the show. One of the experiments will see the stress levels of an air force pilot being compared to the stress levels of an ordinary person when driving a high speed race car around a track.

For this experiment Accelerometer and GSR parameters were measured using Shimmer wearable wireless sensors as well as the heart rate readings of the participants.

Where to Watch the Show

The show provides an excellent showcase of the latest in wearable and wireless sensing applications, and while it is of interest to all age groups, it is a great way to stimulate children’s interest in science.

The show is aired weekly on CBBC each Wednesday at 5.45pm (GMT), and Shimmer is featured in episodes 3 and 4 on the 13^th and 20^th of February.

For more details on broadcast times, visit the show’s webpage.

For more information regarding the use of Shimmer’s wearable wireless sensors for physiological monitoring contact us via email: info@shimmer-research.com