Projects funded from the European Framework Programme

NOTE: Presentations about these projects can be downloaded from the programme page

Netcarity
proposes a new integrated paradigm for supporting independence and engagement in elderly people living alone at their own home place. The project fosters the development of a 'light' technological infrastructure to be integrated in homes of old people at reduced costs, that both allows the assurance of basic support of everyday activities and health critical situations detection, as well as the social and psychological engagement required to maintain in the elder the emotional well-being enhancing dignity and quality of life.
Presented by: Dr Pietro Siciliano, Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems, Lecce, Italy

COGKNOW
Ambient assisted support for people with mild dementia: Dementia is a progressive, chronic disease affecting 5% of all persons above 65% and over 40% of people over 90. The presentation covers two initiatives on research and field trials in the Netherlands of ambient assisted support for people with mild dementia. One of the initiatives is the Cogknow project which aims to achieve a breakthrough with research that addresses the needs of those with dementia, particularly those with mild dementia in Europe. This means helping people navigate through their day. This entails cognitive reinforcement, helping people with dementia to remember, maintain social contact, perform daily life activities and enhance their feelings of safety. The other initiative is a navigation service to support people with mild dementia to find their way outside the home.
Presented by: Dr.ir. Ferial Moelaert El-Hadidy, Telematica Institute, The Netherlands

The Saliwell and IntelliDrug projects
The Saliwell project developed a miniature intra-oral electro-stimulator of salivary glands to treat dry mouth, a condition which is common among elderly people. The technological platform for intra-oral electronic devices has been implemented in the development of a novel drug delivery device by the IntelliDrug project. Dr. Wolff will also present the unique clinical facilities that his hospital (Assuta) can offer to potential partners for the conduct of clinical trials.
Presented by: Dr Andy Wolff, Assuta Hospital and Saliwell Ltd., Israel

National funded projects/initiatives

A mobile Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) solution
is designed to meet the requirements of modern health services in caring for, monitoring and motivating the elderly in their own environment. The solution goes beyond the function of classical tele-monitoring by delivering integrated functionality that includes health management, mental monitoring, mood assessment as well as physical and relaxation exercises. In addition it provides communication and delivery services in location-based manner using built in GPS, WiFi and 3G mobile connectivity. Bluetooth compatible blood pressure and body weight measurement devices are complemented with a body-mounted wireless physiological sensor to monitor activity, body temperature and stress. Telemetric data is continuously recorded on a local host computer while simultaneously being also sent to a central database, where a rule-based system or monitoring health personnel may make emergency assessment.
Presented by: David Hanak, MTA SZTAKI, Hungary

TRAIL (Technologies for Rurality, Ageing and Independent Living), Northern Ireland, UK
The TRAIL vision is to develop participative methods that identify the unmet or ill-met health-related needs of ageing citizens in rural locations in the region of the North of Ireland. The objective of TRAIL is to conduct community-facilitated and user-driven methodologies that create service and product innovations that will enable rural and age-impaired citizens to live independently in the heart of their communities. Two case studies will be presented, both with a European aspect as well as strong local impacts.
Presented by: Dr Maurice Mulvenna, University of Ulster 

eHealth Living Lab, Granada, Spain
The eHealth Living Lab will offer three real environments to test ICT`s in eHealth: 1. Remote elderly care (Videoconference based services, mobile phones based Outdoor location and Biometric gathering) 2. Home Hospitalization (Multi-video conference, Outdoor/indoor location, Domotics, Device remote control, Home and mobile sensoring et al) and 3. In-hospital technologies.
Presented by: Luis Pablo del Arbol Pérez, Telefónica I+D

Unattended Autonomous Surveillance, The Netherlands (download pdf description)
The home based application of Unattended Autonomous Surveillance (UAS) is designed for people with dementia, so that they don’t have to handle or wear any technology themselves. The essential technique is a (mobile) system of sensors and cameras installed in the house of a demented client, as well as a computer in the meter-cupboard. Cameras are normally switched off, the sensors interpret human movement. On irregular sensor patterns (e.g. lack of movement) caretakers get an alarm signal and the camera is switched on. The caretaker then can make contact via videophone, reassures the client and sends for help (if necessary). The project is already close to market and there are plans to further develop this technique and combine it with other techniques and services.
Presented by: Dr Irek Karkowski, Business Unit Observation Systems, TNO Defence, Security and Safety, The Netherlands