Research
“Our objective is to digitally connect Cornish communities to help individuals take back control of their health and wellbeing. Cornwall is the perfect starting point for this project as the infrastructure, talent, necessary resources and general sense of community already exists. Smartline will organically grow the eHealth and eWellbeing business sector in Cornwall by linking innovation to cutting edge research and working closely with Cornish SMEs to support research and development.”
Dr Tim Taylor, Senior Lecturer in the University of Exeter Medical School and Smartline Principle Investigator
Smartline brings together an interdisciplinary team of epidemiologists, economists, geographers, mathematicians and sociologists to explore the potential for business innovation to improve health and wellbeing through five broad themes.
Theme 1: Smart House, Health and Wellbeing
This will investigate the linkages between housing, health and wellbeing using the data from sensors and from regular household surveys.
Theme 2: Smart and Resilient Communities: Social Innovation and Volunteering
This comprises two sub themes:
Sub-theme 2a: Community cohesion and wellbeing will study the impact of technology on community cohesion, integration and wellbeing.
Sub-Theme 2b Volunteering and Communities will consider the role of technology for volunteers, enhancing volunteer wellbeing and retention.
Theme 3: Assessing the market: Economic valuation of private and social benefits of innovation
This theme will use economic methods to value the benefits of innovation. The social benefits of innovations will be evaluated through case studies where cost-benefit analysis may be useful to help companies show their market potential.
Theme 4: Modelling of systems design: Predictive Modelling from Data
This will involve the use of mathematical models for complex data sets, including data mining, clustering and fuzzy inference techniques to realise improved asset management.
Theme 5: Innovation and e-health – Knowledge exchange for business delivery
This theme will use co-creation workshops to facilitate both the exchange and absorption of knowledge around business opportunities relating to e-health in SMEs.
Smartline will be underpinned by
- Review of existing research on use of technology for e-wellbeing.
- Horizon scanning. Keeping an eye on emerging technologies for e-wellbeing through networking and potentially web-based horizon scanning.
