The University of Glasgow is using its expertise to research and develop what are known as Dynamically Configurable Multimodal Systems.

This topic can be looked at as two separate areas for further explanation, but they are very closely linked since they have to work together. Glasgow are also working on a third area that is helping to identify what the end user needs from a home care system.

The first area is known as Multimodal Systems. This is a generic term for describing technologies that support multiple ways of interacting with a device or system using different kinds of input and output. Multimodality is an important area when dealing with home care since the end users may be be elderly, disabled or have impairments. More conventional forms of computer interaction (e.g. screen keyboard, mouse) may not suit home care.

Dynamic Configurability is the second area of research. This means that the user can be in control of how the system operates and can set it up to respect their preferences. An extension of this approach is that the home care system is self monitoring, and can act on different circumstances without requiring user intervention. One of Glasgow's aims is for the system to adapt and evolve to meet the user's preferences. The system should offer suggestions or improvements even in situations where it is difficult to predict what the user wants or how they will interact.

The third area is Stakeholder Requirements. This is not a technology as such, but an investigation into the challenges of designing and using methods and tools for successful stakeholder engagement and requirements engineering. For example, the Glasgow is working closely with the other partner Universities on problems that may occur when multiple stakeholders (end users, carers, family members) employ the system in ways which conflict with each other.

To discover more information about these areas and what the University of Glasgow is doing on the MATCH Project, please use the menu on the sidebar to view simple tutorials on each topic.

Alternatively you can click the Continue arrow below to go straight to the first area of work.