Liikanen launches 'smart house' as part of eEurope drive
EU Enterprise Commissioner Erkki Liikanen has opened 'The smartest house of the Netherlands,' which uses the latest technology to aid daily living, as part of the Commission's eEurope initiative. Speaking at conference on 'Vitality in age in the information society' in Tilburg, the Netherlands, on 26 October Commissioner Liikanen said that the technology used in smart houses, which exploit microelectronics and telecommunications technology to support everyday living, could make life easier for older people and the disabled. 'We are keen to see that new technologies are used to actually promote social inclusion,' he said. Mr Liikanen explained that smart housing brings together the Information Society priorities set out in the Commission's eEurope plan - cheaper and faster Internet access, Internet accessibility for all and encouraging the use of the Internet in areas such as health and transport. The technology used in smart houses ranges from simple applications such as sensors and control systems to highly-automated, 'futuristic' homes. Devices used include alert and warning systems such as fall detectors for older people, sensors placed strategically in the home to ensure that normal living patterns are followed, and smoke alarms which automatically switch on the lights, unlock exit doors and send a signal to fire and care services. The eEurope initiative was launched in December 1999 by the European Commission with the aim of bringing the benefits of the Information Society to all Europeans.