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The homeML suite: shareable datasets for smart home environments

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Abstract

The lack of a standard format for storing data generated within the smart environments research domain is limiting the opportunity for researchers to compare and share datasets. The opportunity to re-use and share datasets is also being limited due to lack of an online resource available to researchers. In our current work we attempt to resolve these issues through the creation of homeML, a proposed format for storing and sharing data and the development of the homeML Suite as a means of supporting the use of homeML. Within this article the latest version of homeML, version 2.2 is presented, where the ‘annotationDetails’ element is introduced. An extended evaluation of the homeML Suite is also discussed. A usability and functionality study was conducted by a number of experienced researchers working within the domain of smart environments. The methodology of both studies is discussed in detail. Each participant’s interactions with homeML and the suite of tools is presented, the findings of which have been positive. All participants agreed that the homeML Suite would be a useful tool to be available within the research domain and they would recommend it to their fellow researchers.

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Notes

  1. Access to the homeML Suite can be obtained using the following link: www.home-ml.org/Browser

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Acknowledgments

The authors of this paper would like to thank all participants involved with the study for their time, feedback and support. This work was funded by the Department of Employment and Learning Northern Ireland.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computing and Mathematics, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, BT37 0QB, Northern Ireland, UK

    Heather McDonald, Chris Nugent, Dewar Finlay & George Moore

  2. Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden

    Chris Nugent, Josef Hallberg & Kåre Synnes

Authors
  1. Heather McDonald
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  2. Chris Nugent
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  3. Josef Hallberg
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  4. Dewar Finlay
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  5. George Moore
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  6. Kåre Synnes
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Heather McDonald.

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McDonald, H., Nugent, C., Hallberg, J. et al. The homeML suite: shareable datasets for smart home environments. Health Technol. 3, 177–193 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12553-013-0046-7

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