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Unobtrusive Smart Environments for Independent Living \nUSEFIL

Project description


ICT for Ageing and Wellbeing

USEFIL provides advanced but affordable in-home monitoring and web communication solutions that are unobtrusive. It addresses the gap between state of the art technological research and the practical needs of elderly people. USEFIL uses low cost "off-the-shelf" technology to develop immediately applicable services that assist the elderly in maintaining their independence and daily activities. Installation of the USEFIL system will not require retrofitting in a person’s residence and will be almost invisible once installed. Elements are e.g. low cost wireless video cameras, a smart web-TV and a wrist-worn mobile unit (matching daily activities with the user profile).  The software driven system will be based on open source platforms, so applications can be easily added or taken out with no real limit to the number of services offered. Based on extensive user tests, USEFIL intends to provide guidelines for technology developers to optimize the future generation of applications for an ageing population.

The USEFIL project aims to address the gap between technological research advances and the practical needs of elderly people by developing advanced but affordable in-home unobtrusive monitoring and web communication solutions. More specifically, USEFIL intends to use low cost "off-the-shelf" technology to develop immediately applicable services that will assist the elderly in maintaining their independence and daily activities. Installation of the USEFIL system will not require retrofitting in a person's residence and will be almost invisible once installed. Thus we expect that it can be used in a wide variety of residential environments, which will be validated in three different field trial studies.Because the system will be "software driven," based on open source platforms, applications can be easily added or subtracted with no real limit to the overall number of services offered. Furthermore, USEFIL intends to provide guidelines for the community of technology developers to optimize future generation of applications for an ageing population.Within the domain of the USEFIL project, we will deploy systems and applications that can unobtrusively record elderly behavioural indicators such as cognitive decline, emotional status and health vital signs; supply information services in parallel; and provide the means to enable individuals to keep their social life active - all irrespective of an older person's mobility state. Technology implementation will be based on user acceptance and an understanding of user interactions that will truly address user needs. USEFIL aims to provide efficient and effective means of care delivery and increased adherence to medical recommendations and treatments by older patients. This should extend the time that older people can live independently in their homes while limiting increases in public expenditure.USEFIL has ambitious objectives. However, a strong and committed team, together with a solid governance structure, will ensure that it is capable of tackling this challenging and important research agenda – and maximizing market impact.

Fields of science

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

FP7-ICT-2011-7
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

CP - Collaborative project (generic)

Coordinator

"NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ""DEMOKRITOS"""
Address
End of patriarchou grigoriou e and 27 neapoleos street
15341 Agia paraskevi
Greece

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Region
Αττική Aττική Βόρειος Τομέας Αθηνών
Activity type
Research Organisations
Administrative Contact
HOMER PAPADOPOULOS (Mr.)
Links
EU contribution
€ 626 505,00

Participants (9)

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Last update: 22 April 2017

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/288532

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