Assistive environments for the disabled and the senior citizens: theme issue of PETRA 2010 and 2011 conferences

摘要

The introduction of pervasive and ubiquitous systems into everyday life pushes this technology to become increasingly embedded in artifacts and environments trying to address an important social and health care issue: as the world's population ages, there is growing need for technologies to assist with the in-home care of the elderly and people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and numerous types of chronic disabilities or traumas. The quality of people's living environments is particularly important in an increasingly crowded and complex world in which inclusiveness and connectivity with the rest of the world is critical. Furthermore, enabling such persons remain productive and active is of high socioeconomic importance to every country's workforce or health care system. Assistive environments is a field that addresses the fact that, as people grow older or become disabled, they increasingly rely on computer technology to be able to live in and function in their homes [1-3].