Wearable and mobile sensors connected to social media in human well-being applications

This paper introduces a concept based on monitoring human behavior using sensors with social media connectivity to distribute data and provide help to people in challenging situations. Together with its sub-concepts, it defines a framework for and specific aspects of communication in several application areas, in which sensors are used to track human behavior and measure the human physiological status. The thus gathered information is then shared via social media.Conventional information flow between a sensor and the social web is a one-way street, based on extraction of information or placement. Sensor data is shared on the social web on the user's initiative. One-way flow is useful in many situations. More advanced functionality can be realized with bidirectional flow. Here, a sensor automatically invokes the social web to obtain relevant information that can influence the user. The social web can also take the initiator role and provide useful information for the sensor to act on.SEWEB concept was developed to provide help in challenging situations. Testing and evaluation of the concept was conducted using a schoolchildren's safety service application, and a related business model was created to discuss aspects linked to the concept's commercialization prospects. Safety of children and marginalization of youth are increasing problems in our modern society. Developing technologies, however, offer more possibilities for building safety solutions for children and teenagers. This paper describes a new concept of using sensors to monitor human behavior in combination with data processing and information transfer via different communication channels as well as different types of support the concept makes available. The concept utilizes the web and social media to create services and new business centered around different applications designed to support child safety in challenging situations and to prevent the marginalization of young people. This conceptual work involves different sub-concepts in the areas of information flow and connections, potential services and business potential. Some application areas will be introduced and discussed as specific cases demonstrating the features of the developed concept.