Netcarity

NETCARITY proposes a new integrated paradigm to support independence and engagement in elderly people living alone at home. The project fosters the development of a light technological infrastructure to be integrated in the homes of old people at reduced costs, that allows both the assurance of basic support for everyday activities and detection of critical health situations, as well as the social and psychological engagement required to maintain emotional well-being in the elder, enhancing dignity and quality of life.

The project will seek to advance ambient intelligence technologies in the integration of micro and nano systems in a networked wireless/wired multi-sensing environment with plug and play capabilities and intelligent decision making for the effective detection of critical situations and support of task completion. Efforts will be concentrated in developing low-cost solutions which could rapidly reach the market and facilitate easy adaptation in a wide number of existing homes.

The social and psychological factors of the ageing-in-place problem will be addressed in NETCARITY by the development of advanced multimodal interfaces that strengthen the communication channel between elders and their friends and caregivers, reducing isolation and the feeling of being alone, and stimulating them in the execution of everyday activities to maintain high levels of motivation and a correct perception of their own abilities.