Freedom within limits: create activity circles with existing camera systems

For a good quality of life within care homes, it is important that residents can move around as freely as possible. Safety is essential in this respect. To ensure this safety, we increasingly see care homes using advanced technology to create activity circles. Did you know that this is also possible with your existing camera system? Find out how in this article!

But before we get into how this works, it is first good to look at the definition of activity circles.

What are activity circles?

An activity circle is a defined area in which a patient can move freely. This concept is often used in elderly care, especially for people with dementia. The aim is to give residents as much autonomy as possible, while ensuring their safety. Moving safely can be done throughout the building for one person, but only in a few rooms for another. Smart technology (think tags) can be used to determine for each person which rooms he/she may or may not enter.

By working with personalised activity circles, it is possible to provide residents with a safe environment, without restricting individuals who can or are allowed to move around completely freely.

Now that we know exactly what activity circles are, we will go into how to create them with the cameras already hanging on location.

Demarcating activity circles with your camera system

Video contains a lot of information. Information that can be used to create circles of life. How? Converting video footage into information can be done using a technique called Video AI Analytics. This technology recognises people, objects, events and more based on smart algorithms. Is something happening on video that is not wanted? Then it can trigger a signal. Video AI Analytics is basically an extra smart layer you add, on top of your camera network.

Face recognition is also part of Video AI Analytics. This feature can be used very effectively to set up personal activity circles. Is there a resident at the door who should not be allowed through? Then Video AI Analytics will ensure the door stays closed via a smart link. Linking Video AI Analytics with access technology can be done via an I/O integration. Want to know more about I/O integration? Please read this article.

Benefits of activity circles based on Video AI Analytics

Setting up activity circles using Video AI Analytics, provides several benefits:

• Increased safety: the system can immediately raise the alarm if a patient goes outside its assigned area.
• More freedom of movement: patients can move more freely without constant staff supervision.
• No wearables, tags or other hardware needed: video AI Analytics works on the basis of existing camera systems. As a result, other hardware such as tags, badges, wearables, etc. is not needed.
• Personalised care: activity circles can be adapted to each patient’s individual needs and abilities.

Ethical and practical considerations

While the benefits of this technology are significant, there are also important ethical and practical considerations:

• Privacy: facial recognition is a sensitive issue. It is crucial to safeguard the privacy of patients and staff and comply with all relevant legislation, such as the AVG/GDPR. Want to know more about the options and considerations when it comes to facial recognition? In this article, we take a closer look.
• Consent: it is essential to obtain explicit consent from patients or their legal representatives for the use of facial recognition.
• Data security: collected data must be carefully protected against unauthorised access or misuse.
• Transparency: ensure clear communication on how and why the technology is used.
• Human oversight: AI systems should be supported by human supervision to ensure quality of care.

More than activity circles alone

So there are several advantages to using Video AI Analytics to create activity circles. In addition, the technology can also be used much more broadly throughout the healthcare facility. Because, as mentioned, it goes beyond face recognition alone. For instance, it can be deployed to detect burglaries, search people, recognize fires, trap movements, detect aggression and more. We have listed the various possibilities for you in this article.

Discover the power of Video AI Analytics

Video AI Analytics can make a serious contribution to increasing safety within healthcare facilities, without compromising residents’ quality of life. Want to experience the power in practice? Then contact one of our specialists. They will be happy to tell you more.