Sensing Technologies for Ambient Assisted Living and Smart Homes

Dear Colleagues,

As a result of the increase in life expectancy, the average age of the world population is steadily growing, especially in industrialized countries. In consequence, governments have to face new challenges related to the provision of quality healthcare services to a growing number of elderly people, some of them suffering from chronic illnesses, disabilities, and injuries. Moreover, improving people’s quality of life has a big impact on both the economic and social costs of healthcare services: in essence, it is not a matter of living longer, but better. Fortunately, state-of-art technology (e.g., sensors, the Internet of Things (IoT), mobile and cognitive healthcare, etc.) has paved the way for a variety of applications enabling people to independently living in their homes whilst improving their quality of life. To that end, Ambient Assisted Living (AAL), deployed using Information and Communication Technologies in smart and cognitive scenarios, focuses on the quality of life of the elderly. A rich variety of sensors and technology integrated into smart homes can be used to monitor and track people’s activities, to assist them in case of emergency, or to ease their communication with friends and relatives. Technology can be used to provide patients with rehabilitation routines that are managed by health professionals, and with telemedicine services as well. Moreover, wearables and smartphones can be used to favour outdoor activities.

The Special Issue “Sensing Technologies for Ambient Assisted Living and Smart Homes” aims to collect a comprehensive set of research advances and use cases in the field. This Special Issue includes but is not limited to the following topics:

• Sensors and IoT for AAL and smart homes;
• Sensors and IoT for indoor and outdoor active ageing;
• Sensors and IoT for rehabilitation and telemedicine and telecare in smart homes;
• Security and privacy in AAL applications;
• Prototypes and experiments in real scenarios;
• Social aspects of the use of AAL, considering patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.

Dr. Antoni Martínez Ballesté
Guest Editor

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