Senior Researcher and Lecturer
Call: +34 876 555 464
Email: tblanco@unizar.es
Address: Edificio I+D+i, Campus Río Ebro, C/ Mariano Esquillor s/n 50018 (Zaragoza, Spain)
ABOUT ME
PUBLICATIONS
2022
Siguín, Marta; Blanco, Teresa; Rossano, Federico; Casas, Roberto
Modular E-Collar for Animal Telemetry: An Animal-Centered Design Proposal Journal Article
In: Sensors, vol. 22, no. 1, 2022, ISSN: 1424-8220.
@article{s22010300,
title = {Modular E-Collar for Animal Telemetry: An Animal-Centered Design Proposal},
author = {Marta Siguín and Teresa Blanco and Federico Rossano and Roberto Casas},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/1/300},
doi = {10.3390/s22010300},
issn = {1424-8220},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
journal = {Sensors},
volume = {22},
number = {1},
abstract = {Animal telemetry is a subject of great potential and scientific interest, but it shows design-dependent problems related to price, flexibility and customization, autonomy, integration of elements, and structural design. The objective of this paper is to provide solutions, from the application of design, to cover the niches that we discovered by reviewing the scientific literature and studying the market. The design process followed to achieve the objective involved a development based on methodologies and basic design approaches focused on the human experience and also that of the animal. We present a modular collar that distributes electronic components in several compartments, connected, and powered by batteries that are wirelessly recharged. Its manufacture is based on 3D printing, something that facilitates immediacy in adaptation and economic affordability. The modularity presented by the proposal allows for adapting the size of the modules to the components they house as well as selecting which specific modules are needed in a project. The homogeneous weight distribution is transferred to the comfort of the animal and allows for a better integration of the elements of the collar. This device substantially improves the current offer of telemetry devices for farming animals, thanks to an animal-centered design process.},
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pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Animal telemetry is a subject of great potential and scientific interest, but it shows design-dependent problems related to price, flexibility and customization, autonomy, integration of elements, and structural design. The objective of this paper is to provide solutions, from the application of design, to cover the niches that we discovered by reviewing the scientific literature and studying the market. The design process followed to achieve the objective involved a development based on methodologies and basic design approaches focused on the human experience and also that of the animal. We present a modular collar that distributes electronic components in several compartments, connected, and powered by batteries that are wirelessly recharged. Its manufacture is based on 3D printing, something that facilitates immediacy in adaptation and economic affordability. The modularity presented by the proposal allows for adapting the size of the modules to the components they house as well as selecting which specific modules are needed in a project. The homogeneous weight distribution is transferred to the comfort of the animal and allows for a better integration of the elements of the collar. This device substantially improves the current offer of telemetry devices for farming animals, thanks to an animal-centered design process.
2021
Casas, Roberto; Hermosa, Arturo; Marco, Álvaro; Blanco, Teresa; Zarazaga-Soria, Francisco Javier
Real-Time Extensive Livestock Monitoring Using LPWAN Smart Wearable and Infrastructure Journal Article
In: Applied Sciences, vol. 11, no. 3, 2021, ISSN: 2076-3417.
@article{app11031240,
title = {Real-Time Extensive Livestock Monitoring Using LPWAN Smart Wearable and Infrastructure},
author = {Roberto Casas and Arturo Hermosa and Álvaro Marco and Teresa Blanco and Francisco Javier Zarazaga-Soria},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/3/1240},
doi = {10.3390/app11031240},
issn = {2076-3417},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Applied Sciences},
volume = {11},
number = {3},
abstract = {Extensive unsupervised livestock farming is a habitual technique in many places around the globe. Animal release can be done for months, in large areas and with different species packing and behaving very differently. Nevertheless, the farmer’s needs are similar: where livestock is (and where has been) and how healthy they are. The geographical areas involved usually have difficult access with harsh orography and lack of communications infrastructure. This paper presents the design of a solution for extensive livestock monitoring in these areas. Our proposal is based in a wearable equipped with inertial sensors, global positioning system and wireless communications; and a Low-Power Wide Area Network infrastructure that can run with and without internet connection. Using adaptive analysis and data compression, we provide real-time monitoring and logging of cattle’s position and activities. Hardware and firmware design achieve very low energy consumption allowing months of battery life. We have thoroughly tested the devices in different laboratory setups and evaluated the system performance in real scenarios in the mountains and in the forest.},
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pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
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Extensive unsupervised livestock farming is a habitual technique in many places around the globe. Animal release can be done for months, in large areas and with different species packing and behaving very differently. Nevertheless, the farmer’s needs are similar: where livestock is (and where has been) and how healthy they are. The geographical areas involved usually have difficult access with harsh orography and lack of communications infrastructure. This paper presents the design of a solution for extensive livestock monitoring in these areas. Our proposal is based in a wearable equipped with inertial sensors, global positioning system and wireless communications; and a Low-Power Wide Area Network infrastructure that can run with and without internet connection. Using adaptive analysis and data compression, we provide real-time monitoring and logging of cattle’s position and activities. Hardware and firmware design achieve very low energy consumption allowing months of battery life. We have thoroughly tested the devices in different laboratory setups and evaluated the system performance in real scenarios in the mountains and in the forest.
Calavia, Belén; Blanco, Teresa; Casas, Roberto
Fostering creativity as a problem-solving competence through design: Think-Create-Learn, a tool for teachers Journal Article
In: Thinking Skills and Creativity, vol. 39, pp. 100761, 2021, ISSN: 1871-1871.
@article{CALAVIA2021100761,
title = {Fostering creativity as a problem-solving competence through design: Think-Create-Learn, a tool for teachers},
author = {Belén Calavia and Teresa Blanco and Roberto Casas},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871187120302352},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2020.100761},
issn = {1871-1871},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-01},
journal = {Thinking Skills and Creativity},
volume = {39},
pages = {100761},
abstract = {Although there is no doubt about the relevance of creativity within education, theory has not been always translated into the practical level, for many reasons. In this paper we analyse the state of art, studying the methods through which creativity is understood and applied by teachers, and identifying problems and opportunities. Accordingly, we conducted a literature review to identify what should be considered to foster creativity in classrooms; from this review, we define fifteen key indicators of creativity in education: incorporation, practicality, novel, atmosphere, stimulation, analysis, cooperation, intrinsic motivation, participation, flexibility, uncertainty, time, divergence, self-evaluation, and redefinition. Based on these indicators, we provide a methodological proposal and a set of practical resources to help the teacher to encourage creativity in any classroom. ‘Think-Create-Learn’ relies on open, accessible, and intuitive design-based tools, facing challenges through a creative, problem-solving approach; connecting the contents with the student’s interests and reality; and generating new competency learning possibilities. The assessment of the methodology, with teachers and students, demonstrates its positive integration into the lines of current teaching curriculums, its validity to support mentioned factors, and its ability to aid teachers to produce more creative people. In short, this paper evidences how design discipline and the methodology proposed could have a relevant role in the creativity development inside educational centres.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
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Although there is no doubt about the relevance of creativity within education, theory has not been always translated into the practical level, for many reasons. In this paper we analyse the state of art, studying the methods through which creativity is understood and applied by teachers, and identifying problems and opportunities. Accordingly, we conducted a literature review to identify what should be considered to foster creativity in classrooms; from this review, we define fifteen key indicators of creativity in education: incorporation, practicality, novel, atmosphere, stimulation, analysis, cooperation, intrinsic motivation, participation, flexibility, uncertainty, time, divergence, self-evaluation, and redefinition. Based on these indicators, we provide a methodological proposal and a set of practical resources to help the teacher to encourage creativity in any classroom. ‘Think-Create-Learn’ relies on open, accessible, and intuitive design-based tools, facing challenges through a creative, problem-solving approach; connecting the contents with the student’s interests and reality; and generating new competency learning possibilities. The assessment of the methodology, with teachers and students, demonstrates its positive integration into the lines of current teaching curriculums, its validity to support mentioned factors, and its ability to aid teachers to produce more creative people. In short, this paper evidences how design discipline and the methodology proposed could have a relevant role in the creativity development inside educational centres.
2020
Marín, Javier; Blanco, Teresa; Torre, Juan; Marín, José J
Gait Analysis in a Box: A System Based on Magnetometer-Free IMUs or Clusters of Optical Markers with Automatic Event Detection Journal Article
In: Sensors, vol. 20, no. 12, 2020, ISSN: 1424-8220.
@article{s20123338,
title = {Gait Analysis in a Box: A System Based on Magnetometer-Free IMUs or Clusters of Optical Markers with Automatic Event Detection},
author = {Javier Marín and Teresa Blanco and Juan Torre and José J Marín},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/12/3338},
doi = {10.3390/s20123338},
issn = {1424-8220},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Sensors},
volume = {20},
number = {12},
abstract = {Gait analysis based on full-body motion capture technology (MoCap) can be used in rehabilitation to aid in decision making during treatments or therapies. In order to promote the use of MoCap gait analysis based on inertial measurement units (IMUs) or optical technology, it is necessary to overcome certain limitations, such as the need for magnetically controlled environments, which affect IMU systems, or the need for additional instrumentation to detect gait events, which affects IMUs and optical systems. We present a MoCap gait analysis system called Move Human Sensors (MH), which incorporates proposals to overcome both limitations and can be configured via magnetometer-free IMUs (MH-IMU) or clusters of optical markers (MH-OPT). Using a test-retest reliability experiment with thirty-three healthy subjects (20 men and 13 women, 21.7 ± 2.9 years), we determined the reproducibility of both configurations. The assessment confirmed that the proposals performed adequately and allowed us to establish usage considerations. This study aims to enhance gait analysis in daily clinical practice.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Gait analysis based on full-body motion capture technology (MoCap) can be used in rehabilitation to aid in decision making during treatments or therapies. In order to promote the use of MoCap gait analysis based on inertial measurement units (IMUs) or optical technology, it is necessary to overcome certain limitations, such as the need for magnetically controlled environments, which affect IMU systems, or the need for additional instrumentation to detect gait events, which affects IMUs and optical systems. We present a MoCap gait analysis system called Move Human Sensors (MH), which incorporates proposals to overcome both limitations and can be configured via magnetometer-free IMUs (MH-IMU) or clusters of optical markers (MH-OPT). Using a test-retest reliability experiment with thirty-three healthy subjects (20 men and 13 women, 21.7 ± 2.9 years), we determined the reproducibility of both configurations. The assessment confirmed that the proposals performed adequately and allowed us to establish usage considerations. This study aims to enhance gait analysis in daily clinical practice.
Marin, Javier; Marin, Jose J; Blanco, Teresa; Torre, Juan; Salcedo, Inmaculada; Martitegui, Elena
Is My Patient Improving? Individualized Gait Analysis in Rehabilitation Journal Article
In: Applied Sciences, vol. 10, no. 23, 2020, ISSN: 2076-3417.
@article{app10238558,
title = {Is My Patient Improving? Individualized Gait Analysis in Rehabilitation},
author = {Javier Marin and Jose J Marin and Teresa Blanco and Juan Torre and Inmaculada Salcedo and Elena Martitegui},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/23/8558},
doi = {10.3390/app10238558},
issn = {2076-3417},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
journal = {Applied Sciences},
volume = {10},
number = {23},
abstract = {In the rehabilitation field, clinicians are continually struggling to assess improvements in patients following interventions. In this paper, we propose an approach to use gait analysis based on inertial motion capture (MoCap) to monitor individuals during rehabilitation. Gait is a cyclical movement that generates a sufficiently large data sample in each capture session to statistically compare two different sessions from a single patient. Using this crucial idea, 21 heterogeneous patients with hemiplegic spasticity were assessed using gait analysis before and after receiving treatment with botulinum toxin injections. Afterwards, the two sessions for each patient were compared using the magnitude-based decision statistical method. Due to the challenge of classifying changes in gait variables such as improvements or impairments, assessing each patient’s progress required an interpretative process. After completing this process, we determined that 10 patients showed overall improvement, five patients showed overall impairment, and six patients did not show any overall change. Finally, the interpretation process was summarized by developing guidelines to aid in future assessments. In this manner, our approach provides graphical information about the patients’ progress to assess improvement following intervention and to support decision-making. This research contributes to integrating MoCap-based gait analysis into rehabilitation.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In the rehabilitation field, clinicians are continually struggling to assess improvements in patients following interventions. In this paper, we propose an approach to use gait analysis based on inertial motion capture (MoCap) to monitor individuals during rehabilitation. Gait is a cyclical movement that generates a sufficiently large data sample in each capture session to statistically compare two different sessions from a single patient. Using this crucial idea, 21 heterogeneous patients with hemiplegic spasticity were assessed using gait analysis before and after receiving treatment with botulinum toxin injections. Afterwards, the two sessions for each patient were compared using the magnitude-based decision statistical method. Due to the challenge of classifying changes in gait variables such as improvements or impairments, assessing each patient’s progress required an interpretative process. After completing this process, we determined that 10 patients showed overall improvement, five patients showed overall impairment, and six patients did not show any overall change. Finally, the interpretation process was summarized by developing guidelines to aid in future assessments. In this manner, our approach provides graphical information about the patients’ progress to assess improvement following intervention and to support decision-making. This research contributes to integrating MoCap-based gait analysis into rehabilitation.