Senior Lecturer and Researcher
Call: +34 976 762 856
Email: rcasas@unizar.es
Address: Edificio I+D+i, Campus Río Ebro, C/ Mariano Esquillor s/n 50018 (Zaragoza, Spain)
ABOUT ME
Roberto Casas holds a Master Degree in Electrical Engineering and then a PhD in Electronic Engineering both at University of Zaragoza (Spain). He has worked as researcher and teacher in degree, master and doctorate courses at the School of Arts and Communication in Malmö University (Sweden), at the Technical University of Catalonia (Spain) and at the University of Zaragoza. Since 2011 he coordinates HOWLab (Human Openware Research Lab) at Aragon Institute of Engineering Research. His fundamental research interests are the electronics and communications behind Internet of Things and the interaction among technology and design.
He has 30 publications in indexed journals (such as IEEE Computer, IEEE Pervasive Computing, Elsevier Computer Communications, IEEE Wireless Communications and Sensors), 9 book chapters and 25 communications to peer reviewed conferences. He has participated in 20 national and three European projects; being principal investigator of 7 national and scientific coordinator of one European research project. Derived from the research done in collaboration with companies (24 private contracts), the PI is co-inventor of 10 patents, 4 of them under industrial exploitation.
PUBLICATIONS
2019
Camal, Luis; Kirtane, Anup; Blanco, Teresa; Casas, Roberto; Rossano, Federico; Aksanli, Baris
A Wearable Device Network to Track Animal Behavior and Relationships in the Wild Proceedings Article
En: 2019 IEEE 10th Annual Ubiquitous Computing, Electronics Mobile Communication Conference (UEMCON), pp. 0198-0202, 2019.
@inproceedings{8992986,
title = {A Wearable Device Network to Track Animal Behavior and Relationships in the Wild},
author = {Luis Camal and Anup Kirtane and Teresa Blanco and Roberto Casas and Federico Rossano and Baris Aksanli},
doi = {10.1109/UEMCON47517.2019.8992986},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-10-01},
booktitle = {2019 IEEE 10th Annual Ubiquitous Computing, Electronics Mobile Communication Conference (UEMCON)},
pages = {0198-0202},
abstract = {The advancements in sensor technology have made it possible to design wearable devices specifically designed for animals. These wearable devices can be used for locating individual animals, monitor their status, and track their trajectories in the wild. Some animal groups (such as chimpanzees) exhibit complex group behavior and these group dynamics play an important role in the physical and mental health of the animals. Scientists have traditionally been monitoring group dynamics manually in the wild. This requires extensive field trips, costing a lot of time and money. This calls for using the recent developments in technology, such as smart wearable devices for this purpose. However, lack of infrastructure support (limited connectivity, limited power, etc.) in the wilderness makes this a tedious task. In this work-in-progress paper, we present our technological approach and how we address the issues of wilderness to study animal behavior. We demonstrate how we build a network of lightweight wearable devices, and how the digital output of these devices can be used to analyze animal relationship. We show an initial, exploratory experiment, outlining the capabilities of the devices and technologies used in terms of communication efficiency, and the potential of the devices that can be used in the wilderness. Our initial results show that up to 90% of the proximity-based interactions can be captured.},
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pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
The advancements in sensor technology have made it possible to design wearable devices specifically designed for animals. These wearable devices can be used for locating individual animals, monitor their status, and track their trajectories in the wild. Some animal groups (such as chimpanzees) exhibit complex group behavior and these group dynamics play an important role in the physical and mental health of the animals. Scientists have traditionally been monitoring group dynamics manually in the wild. This requires extensive field trips, costing a lot of time and money. This calls for using the recent developments in technology, such as smart wearable devices for this purpose. However, lack of infrastructure support (limited connectivity, limited power, etc.) in the wilderness makes this a tedious task. In this work-in-progress paper, we present our technological approach and how we address the issues of wilderness to study animal behavior. We demonstrate how we build a network of lightweight wearable devices, and how the digital output of these devices can be used to analyze animal relationship. We show an initial, exploratory experiment, outlining the capabilities of the devices and technologies used in terms of communication efficiency, and the potential of the devices that can be used in the wilderness. Our initial results show that up to 90% of the proximity-based interactions can be captured.
Calavia, Belén; Blanco, Teresa; Casas, Roberto
Formando a personas creativas en la era digital. Evaluación x-disciplinar de una herramienta basada en el diseño Artículo de revista
En: Re_Visiones sobre Arte, Patrimonio y Tecnología en la era digital, pp. 185, 2019.
@article{ferrandez2,
title = {Formando a personas creativas en la era digital. Evaluación x-disciplinar de una herramienta basada en el diseño},
author = {Belén Calavia and Teresa Blanco and Roberto Casas},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-09-01},
journal = {Re_Visiones sobre Arte, Patrimonio y Tecnología en la era digital},
pages = {185},
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pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
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Calavia, Belén; Blanco, Teresa; Casas, Roberto
Recursos basados en el diseño para fomentar la creatividad en el aula Informe técnico
2019.
@techreport{calavia2019recursos,
title = {Recursos basados en el diseño para fomentar la creatividad en el aula},
author = {Belén Calavia and Teresa Blanco and Roberto Casas},
doi = {10.26754/CINAIC.2019.0120},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
booktitle = {V Congreso Internacional sobre Aprendizaje, Innovación y Competitividad (CINAIC 2019)},
pages = {590-595},
abstract = {En los últimos años se ha incrementado el interés en formar a los alumnos en competencias transversales como la creatividad. Sin embargo, dicho enfoque no siempre se traduce a nivel práctico; porqué las escuelas no producen personas más creativas es una pregunta que actualmente no tiene respuesta. Un posible foco de actuación es el desarrollo de nuevos recursos que conecten a docentes y alumnos dentro del entorno educativo. En este artículo se presenta una experiencia de aprendizaje en el ámbito de secundaria a partir de una nueva metodología basada en el pensamiento de diseño, y destinada a contribuir en la formación de individuos más creativos. Se concluye que la metodología desarrollada se integra positivamente en el currículo, y es reconocida de gran ayuda para fomentar la creatividad en las escuelas. Asimismo, se evidencia la oportunidad que tiene el campo de la ingeniería de diseño en este y en otros posibles entornos educativos.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
En los últimos años se ha incrementado el interés en formar a los alumnos en competencias transversales como la creatividad. Sin embargo, dicho enfoque no siempre se traduce a nivel práctico; porqué las escuelas no producen personas más creativas es una pregunta que actualmente no tiene respuesta. Un posible foco de actuación es el desarrollo de nuevos recursos que conecten a docentes y alumnos dentro del entorno educativo. En este artículo se presenta una experiencia de aprendizaje en el ámbito de secundaria a partir de una nueva metodología basada en el pensamiento de diseño, y destinada a contribuir en la formación de individuos más creativos. Se concluye que la metodología desarrollada se integra positivamente en el currículo, y es reconocida de gran ayuda para fomentar la creatividad en las escuelas. Asimismo, se evidencia la oportunidad que tiene el campo de la ingeniería de diseño en este y en otros posibles entornos educativos.
Moreno, Carlos Andres Trasviña; Blasco, Ruben; Casas, Roberto; Marco, Álvaro
Evaluación de la modulación lora en la banda de 433 MHZ para monitorización en exteriores Artículo de revista
En: DYNA New Technologies, vol. 6, no 1, pp. 11–p, 2019.
@article{moreno2019evaluacion,
title = {Evaluación de la modulación lora en la banda de 433 MHZ para monitorización en exteriores},
author = {Carlos Andres Trasviña Moreno and Ruben Blasco and Roberto Casas and Álvaro Marco},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {DYNA New Technologies},
volume = {6},
number = {1},
pages = {11–p},
publisher = {Publicaciones DYNA SL},
abstract = {En los últimos años, las Redes de Sensores Inalámbricas, o WSN por sus siglas en inglés, han aumentado su relevancia para la monitorización en exteriores. La creciente necesidad de analizar en tiempo real los espacios abiertos como reservas naturales, campos agrícolas, ciudades inteligentes, etc., han impulsado el desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías de comunicación. Diversos protocolos y técnicas han sido creados para cumplir los requerimientos de distintos escenarios de WSN, sin embargo, la monitorización de exteriores presenta retos distintos y muy característicos que aún no han sido logrados, especialmente cuando se intenta cubrir áreas de gran cobertura con un consumo energético reducido. Las recientemente desarrolladas Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) buscan llenar este vacío, con la capacidad de transmitir a grandes distancias con un bajo consumo energético. Una de estas LPWAN es la modulación LoRa (Long Range), la cual opera en frecuencias sub-GHz. Para proveer un mayor entendimiento en esta técnica de comunicación inalámbrica, en este artículo se realiza una evaluación de la modulación LoRa, utilizando la banda ISM de 433 MHz. Para esto, se realiza un análisis energético, así como de capacidad y rango de transmisión. Los resultados aportan una mayor comprensión del impacto de cada uno de los parámetros de esta modulación, así como las capacidades que tiene esta tecnología para redes de monitorización para exteriores.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
En los últimos años, las Redes de Sensores Inalámbricas, o WSN por sus siglas en inglés, han aumentado su relevancia para la monitorización en exteriores. La creciente necesidad de analizar en tiempo real los espacios abiertos como reservas naturales, campos agrícolas, ciudades inteligentes, etc., han impulsado el desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías de comunicación. Diversos protocolos y técnicas han sido creados para cumplir los requerimientos de distintos escenarios de WSN, sin embargo, la monitorización de exteriores presenta retos distintos y muy característicos que aún no han sido logrados, especialmente cuando se intenta cubrir áreas de gran cobertura con un consumo energético reducido. Las recientemente desarrolladas Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) buscan llenar este vacío, con la capacidad de transmitir a grandes distancias con un bajo consumo energético. Una de estas LPWAN es la modulación LoRa (Long Range), la cual opera en frecuencias sub-GHz. Para proveer un mayor entendimiento en esta técnica de comunicación inalámbrica, en este artículo se realiza una evaluación de la modulación LoRa, utilizando la banda ISM de 433 MHz. Para esto, se realiza un análisis energético, así como de capacidad y rango de transmisión. Los resultados aportan una mayor comprensión del impacto de cada uno de los parámetros de esta modulación, así como las capacidades que tiene esta tecnología para redes de monitorización para exteriores.
Blanco, Teresa; Casas, Roberto; Marco, Álvaro; Martínez, Ignacio
Micro ad-hoc Health Social Networks (uHSN). Design and evaluation of a social-based solution for patient support Artículo de revista
En: Journal of Biomedical Informatics, vol. 89, pp. 68-80, 2019, ISSN: 1532-0464.
@article{BLANCO201968,
title = {Micro ad-hoc Health Social Networks (uHSN). Design and evaluation of a social-based solution for patient support},
author = {Teresa Blanco and Roberto Casas and Álvaro Marco and Ignacio Martínez},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1532046418302181},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbi.2018.11.009},
issn = {1532-0464},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Biomedical Informatics},
volume = {89},
pages = {68-80},
abstract = {Objective
To contribute the design, development, and assessment of a new concept: Micro ad hoc Health Social Networks (uHSN), to create a social-based solution for supporting patients with chronic disease.
Design
After in-depth fieldwork and intensive co-design over a 4-year project following Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), this paper contributes a new paradigm of uHSN, defining two interaction areas (the “backstage”, the sphere invisible to the final user, where processes that build services take place; and the “onstage”, the visible part that includes the patients and relatives), and describes a new transversal concept, i.e., “network spaces segments,” to provide timely interaction among all involved profiles and guaranteeing qualitative relationships. This proposal is applicable to any service design project and to all types of work areas; in the present work, it served as a social-based solution for supporting patients with chronic disease in two real-life health scenarios: a Parkinson disease patient association and a Stroke rehabilitation service in a hospital. These two scenarios included the following main features: thematic (related to the specific disease), private, and secure (only for the patient, relatives, healthcare professional, therapist, carer), with defined specific objectives (around patient support), small size (from tens to hundreds of users), ability to integrate innovative services (e.g., connection to hospital information service or to health sensors), supported by local therapeutic associations, and clustered with preconfigured relationships among users based in network groups.
Measurements
Using a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach for 6 months, the performance of the uHSN was assessed in the two environments: a hospital rehabilitation unit working with Stroke patients, and a Parkinson disease association providing physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychological support, speech therapy, and social services. We describe the proposed methods for evaluating the uHSN quantitatively and qualitatively, and how the scientific community can replicate and/or integrate this contribution in its research.
Results
The uHSN overcomes the main limitations of traditional HSNs in the main areas recommended in the literature: privacy, security, transparency, system ecology, Quality of Service (QoS), and technology enhancement. The qualitative and quantitative research demonstrated its viability and replicability in four key points: user acceptance, productivity improvement, QoS enhancement, and fostering of social relations. It also meets the expectation of connecting health and social worlds, supporting distance rehabilitation, improving professionals’ efficiency, expanding users’ social capital, improving information quality and immediacy, and enhancing perceived peer/social/emotional support. The scientific contributions of the present paper are the first step not only in customizing health solutions that empower patients, their families, and healthcare professionals, but also in transferring this new paradigm to other scientific, professional, and social environments to create new opportunities.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Objective
To contribute the design, development, and assessment of a new concept: Micro ad hoc Health Social Networks (uHSN), to create a social-based solution for supporting patients with chronic disease.
Design
After in-depth fieldwork and intensive co-design over a 4-year project following Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), this paper contributes a new paradigm of uHSN, defining two interaction areas (the “backstage”, the sphere invisible to the final user, where processes that build services take place; and the “onstage”, the visible part that includes the patients and relatives), and describes a new transversal concept, i.e., “network spaces segments,” to provide timely interaction among all involved profiles and guaranteeing qualitative relationships. This proposal is applicable to any service design project and to all types of work areas; in the present work, it served as a social-based solution for supporting patients with chronic disease in two real-life health scenarios: a Parkinson disease patient association and a Stroke rehabilitation service in a hospital. These two scenarios included the following main features: thematic (related to the specific disease), private, and secure (only for the patient, relatives, healthcare professional, therapist, carer), with defined specific objectives (around patient support), small size (from tens to hundreds of users), ability to integrate innovative services (e.g., connection to hospital information service or to health sensors), supported by local therapeutic associations, and clustered with preconfigured relationships among users based in network groups.
Measurements
Using a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach for 6 months, the performance of the uHSN was assessed in the two environments: a hospital rehabilitation unit working with Stroke patients, and a Parkinson disease association providing physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychological support, speech therapy, and social services. We describe the proposed methods for evaluating the uHSN quantitatively and qualitatively, and how the scientific community can replicate and/or integrate this contribution in its research.
Results
The uHSN overcomes the main limitations of traditional HSNs in the main areas recommended in the literature: privacy, security, transparency, system ecology, Quality of Service (QoS), and technology enhancement. The qualitative and quantitative research demonstrated its viability and replicability in four key points: user acceptance, productivity improvement, QoS enhancement, and fostering of social relations. It also meets the expectation of connecting health and social worlds, supporting distance rehabilitation, improving professionals’ efficiency, expanding users’ social capital, improving information quality and immediacy, and enhancing perceived peer/social/emotional support. The scientific contributions of the present paper are the first step not only in customizing health solutions that empower patients, their families, and healthcare professionals, but also in transferring this new paradigm to other scientific, professional, and social environments to create new opportunities.
To contribute the design, development, and assessment of a new concept: Micro ad hoc Health Social Networks (uHSN), to create a social-based solution for supporting patients with chronic disease.
Design
After in-depth fieldwork and intensive co-design over a 4-year project following Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), this paper contributes a new paradigm of uHSN, defining two interaction areas (the “backstage”, the sphere invisible to the final user, where processes that build services take place; and the “onstage”, the visible part that includes the patients and relatives), and describes a new transversal concept, i.e., “network spaces segments,” to provide timely interaction among all involved profiles and guaranteeing qualitative relationships. This proposal is applicable to any service design project and to all types of work areas; in the present work, it served as a social-based solution for supporting patients with chronic disease in two real-life health scenarios: a Parkinson disease patient association and a Stroke rehabilitation service in a hospital. These two scenarios included the following main features: thematic (related to the specific disease), private, and secure (only for the patient, relatives, healthcare professional, therapist, carer), with defined specific objectives (around patient support), small size (from tens to hundreds of users), ability to integrate innovative services (e.g., connection to hospital information service or to health sensors), supported by local therapeutic associations, and clustered with preconfigured relationships among users based in network groups.
Measurements
Using a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach for 6 months, the performance of the uHSN was assessed in the two environments: a hospital rehabilitation unit working with Stroke patients, and a Parkinson disease association providing physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychological support, speech therapy, and social services. We describe the proposed methods for evaluating the uHSN quantitatively and qualitatively, and how the scientific community can replicate and/or integrate this contribution in its research.
Results
The uHSN overcomes the main limitations of traditional HSNs in the main areas recommended in the literature: privacy, security, transparency, system ecology, Quality of Service (QoS), and technology enhancement. The qualitative and quantitative research demonstrated its viability and replicability in four key points: user acceptance, productivity improvement, QoS enhancement, and fostering of social relations. It also meets the expectation of connecting health and social worlds, supporting distance rehabilitation, improving professionals’ efficiency, expanding users’ social capital, improving information quality and immediacy, and enhancing perceived peer/social/emotional support. The scientific contributions of the present paper are the first step not only in customizing health solutions that empower patients, their families, and healthcare professionals, but also in transferring this new paradigm to other scientific, professional, and social environments to create new opportunities.