Configuration and dynamic adaptation of AAL environments to personal requirements and medical conditions

Abstract

AAL concepts have been shaping scientific and market-oriented research landscapes for many years now [1]. Population development demands have made residing and receiving care in one's own home a better alternative than institutionalized inpatient care. This reality has been reflected in open calls for proposals, as well as in numerous European and domestic projects, and has resulted in a considerable number of applications and product concepts with AAL ties. Unfortunately, it is already foreseeable that these project results will not be implemented in a comprehensive fashion, as individual applications and products can only be combined into a comprehensive solution with a great deal of effort and potential cost. Through stereotypical projects and prototypes, as well as concrete usage scenarios, this paper will extrapolate the added value resulting from integrating individual products into coherent comprehensive solutions within the framework of the complete supply and value chain. Business and technological obstacles will be identified and pathways shown by which AAL concepts and visions can lead to a better reality for all of those concerned, from healthcare recipients to those bearing the costs. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.