Active Life Lab

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WE MAKE IMPACT ON WELL-BEING WITH YOU

Active Life Lab is a research and development unit of the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences, which works in the premises of Saimaa Stadium, established in 2018 in Mikkeli.

Our mission is to increase people’s health through effective wellbeing services. We carry out our mission by systematically gathering information on the effectiveness of wellbeing services, conducting cutting-edge research to develop services, and applying this knowledge in practice with our partners. Research and development projects form the foundation of our activities. Besides, Active Life Lab offers expert services in cooperation with partners and serves as a learning environment for Xamk students.

The facilities of Active Life Lab offer possibilities to measure the effectiveness of activities targeted to improve human wellbeing. The information provided by the variety of indicators can be used to find out how the effectiveness of the activities varies in different customer groups. The information can be used for target activities for the customers, who will get the most benefits from them. The information collected will help companies to develop new solutions that have a measured impact on human wellbeing.

Projects

FREERIDE: Are there free tickets? Children’s independence and equality in mobility and physical activity following a free bus ride –experiment in the city of Mikkeli

Funding: Ministry of Education, Science and Culture

Partners: Aalto university, Department of Built Environment

OPTIMUS: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Influence Sustained Glycaemic Control by Reducing Muscle Inactivity Time in Middle-Aged and Older Office Workers with Type 2 Diabetes

Funding: Suomen Akatemia

Partners: Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia. University of Queensland, Australia. University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

ARVO – vaikutukset kilpailueduksi hyvinvointipalvelujen digitalisaatiota kehittämällä

Funding: Etelä-Savon elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus, ESR

RAJA – Alustatalouden rajapinnat vaikutustiedon hyödyntämiseksi hyvinvointialalla

Funding: Etelä-Savon Maakuntaliitto

Puusta hyvinvointi-innovaatioita

Funding: Euroopan aluekehitysrahasto

References

EFFICIENCY MEASUREMENTS AND TRAINING GROUPS UP IN SMART GYM

Active Life Lab has developed a comprehensive concept to measure the effectiveness of well-being services and brought it into practice. The customer groups brought by our partners – such as the groups with special needs in the city of Mikkeli, senior citizens groups of different organizations and life style support groups of Southern Savonia Health and Social Sector – took the measurements at the beginning of the autumn 2018 before they started training in Smart Gym. The effectiveness measurements were repeated in December to collect monitoring data.

The measurements have already been made with about 400 people. The measurement concept includes extensive questionnaires of well-being and six different types of measurement or tests in Smart Gym. The groups, which include nearly 200 people, follow the training program and practice with HUR smart devices.

COLLABORATION WITH HUR LTD. BRINGS GAME CONTENT IN GYM TRAINING

Active Life Lab is collaborating with gym equipment manufacturer HUR. Xamk’s IT business administration students and physiotherapy students developed a game for HUR gym equipment under the guidance of Active Life Lab to promote the cognition and functioning of the elderly. Customers of Southern-Savonia Health and Social Services play the game as part of the training programme and the immediate feedback is given by the real end user group.

The effectiveness model of Active Life Lab measures the effectiveness of the game in holistic well-being. The information is used in the cost-benefit analysis training of the business students. Active Life Lab seeks research funding for further development and research.

MORE EFFECTIVE LIFESTYLE GUIDANCE TOGETHER WITH HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES

Active Life Lab has made a service management agreement with Health and Social Services lifestyle advisers, where the advisers, with the assistance of their instructor, can access Active Life Lab’s impact measurements and practice tailored well-being programs based on the impact measurements at Smart Gym. Measurements motivate lifestyle advisors and explore the effectiveness of lifestyle advice.

RESEARCH ON THE USER EXPERIENCE OF THE APPLICATION IN HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY FOR A START-UP COMPANY

Active Life Lab is doing a research for a German start-up company Yolife of their smartphone application, the aim of which is to extend the life of the user. Active Life Lab provides an application for users involved in the impact measurements, whereby the effectiveness of the application for the comprehensive well-being can be tested.

Active Life Lab carries out research and writes a research report and Yolife gets important information from a credible partner to support the product development and marketing.

Publications

See the publication list

Study environment

Active Life Lab works as a basis for two new Xamk health study programs Development of data based well-being services (Master) – and Wellbeing Management (BBA) – for future professionals. In their studies, students engage closely with the activities of the laboratory, bringing new perspectives and diverse knowhow of the healthcare industry.

In addition to training programs at Saimaa Stadium, Active Life Lab collaborates extensively with other training programs at Xamk. The diversity in the different areas of expertise of the students is also easily available to our partners.