Low-Resolution Infrared Imaging for Privacy-Aware Human Activity Monitoring in Assisted Living

Aging is a growing global concern as advancements in healthcare and living conditions lead to increased life expectancy, with more people living well into their sixties and beyond. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that by 2030, one in six people worldwide will be 60 or older. This demographic shift underscores the need for effective monitoring systems and assistive technologies to enhance older adults’ safety and quality of life. Human activity monitoring has become a crucial tool in assisted living, enabling continuous monitoring and analysis of activities. This paper investigates using low-resolution infrared (IR) imaging for human pose estimation, especially in environments where privacy and non-intrusive monitoring are critical. Unlike traditional methods that use high-resolution cameras or wearable devices, our approach leverages low-resolution IR sensors, ensuring privacy and work well in low-light conditions. While most existing research focuses on multi-sensor setups, we propose a cost-effective solution using a single 8 x 8 resolution IR sensor for bedside monitoring. We discuss the sensor system, data collection, and experimental results to demonstrate the system’s pose estimation capabilities. We also outline future research directions highlighting the potential for privacy-aware, low-cost monitoring solutions in assisted living settings.