Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) includes methods, concepts, (electronic) systems, devices as well as services that are providing unobtrusive support for daily life based on context and the situation of the assisted person. The technologies applied for AAL are user-centric, i.e. orientated towards the needs and capabilities of the actual user. They are also integrated into the immediate personal environment of the user. As a consequence, the technology is adapting to the user rather than the other way around. In order to share relevant information between systems and services, technologies for AAL should ideally be based on modular and interoperable concepts. This would also support a “virtual intelligence” of the AAL environment. However, this capacity is not absolutely required.
The potential users of such technologies are not forming a homogeneous group. They include young and healthy individuals, who are mainly interested in "lifestyle functionalities" in order to improve their individual quality of life. On the other hand, they may include individuals suffering from multiple illnesses, who are interested in maintaining a self-determined life at home. The assistance provided through AAL is not limited to the direct user. Products and services in the AAL environment will also address professional care provides, medical professionals as well as family members by providing better means of communication as well easier social interaction.
A main driver for the development of AAL technologies is population ageing. AAL technologies can be instrumental in tackling the massively increasing cost of healthcare. Another driver is the rising number of single person households in combination with rising expectations towards the quality of life. AAL technologies also cater towards the increasing demand of safety, comfortable living environments as well as the increasing demand for communication and stronger social interaction with others.
Intelesens technology platforms provide carers with a set of non-invasive, wearable tools to monitor the health and activity levels of those requiring assistance, such as the elderly, enabling the subject to carry on a normal lifestyle confident in the knowledge that their activity and health indicators are being monitored for behaviour outside of that which is expected.
In the event of a measurement or a combination of measurements deviating from the norm, intervention by the carer can be triggered. This can result in much faster intervention and treatment, often allowing easier preventative steps instead of the distress of more invasive later procedures.