Development of sensor technology to promote a healthy lifestyle
17-12-2021
Research from practice, that is what Joey van der Bie is involved in. As a researcher on the theme People in Movement (MIB) of the Centre of Expertise Urban Vitality at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, he works on creative, practical technological solutions to help people on their way to a healthier lifestyle. Van der Bie is part of the Digital Life research group, which focuses on sensor technology. On the research theme People in Movement, he collaborates with other research groups, for example in the field of physiotherapy and dietetics.
Joey van der Bie studied computer science. 'I am very practical. If I come up with something, I also want to make and test it myself. During my studies I specialized in the interaction between humans and machines. Nowadays this falls under the name of User Experience Design.' After his computer science education, he continued with a master's degree in media technology in Leiden. 'This program stands for creative scientific research. They are all makers who learn to ask scientific research questions when developing their ideas.'
Healthier living
Van der Bie became a lecturer in Communication and Multimedia Design at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, but the research beckoned. He ended up at the Digital Life lectorate at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Van der Bie uses sensor technology to monitor healthy lifestyles and thus help people live healthier lives. 'It concerns, for example, the technology in the smartphone and in all kinds of Internet of Things-like devices. Things that are already consumer electronics or will soon be.' The Modular Online platform is the basic software that is used in various projects. 'In the future, researchers can use this software in various projects to develop new apps,' says the researcher. 'Developing software is expensive. With this software, researchers and developers can work on several projects at the same time.'
'We are looking at how we can use an app to provide people, especially those with a low socio-economic background, with tailor-made information'.
As an example, Van der Bie mentions SO-NUTS, a project that focuses on the prevention of unhealthy weight gain and obesity in people reaching retirement age. 'If you go from working full-time to not working, you end up in a different pattern. People often develop an unhealthier lifestyle and as a result they develop age-related ailments such as obesity and diabetes more quickly. We look at how we can use an app to provide people, especially those with a low socio-economic background, with customized information. So it's not about flyers, but about information based on data that someone provides themselves, for example by using their phone as a pedometer.'
Platform for parents of premature children
E-Top is a collaboration of the research theme People in Movement with the AMC. Van der Bie: 'In it we investigate what a platform should look like for parents of premature children. In the hospital, the doctors are available for questions, but there will be a transition from the hospital to home. The threshold for approaching a doctor with questions then becomes a lot higher. We look at how we can use technology to lower the threshold for information.'
Thanks to the corona pandemic, the work of Van der Bie and his colleagues has become easier in a sense. 'We've known what the possibilities are from technology for more than ten years, but now the healthcare sector is finally ready for it, simply because they had to. It has also become easier with the target groups. Elderly people aged 70+ can now also make video calls, just like doctors and nurses. That was not always the case until recently.'
No ivory tower
Van der Bie strives to make healthcare more efficient with technological practical solutions. He emphasizes that the research is not done from an ivory tower: 'We never do the research alone. Several partners are always involved and we also explicitly involve students in the development and exploration of technology. I do applied scientific research because it helps people in practice.'
This interview was provided by Leo Aquina and appeared on December 16, 2021 on the site of SportKnowHowXL.