NETCARITY

A Networked Multisensor System for elderly people: health care, safety and security in home environment

17/01/2007 to 30/09/2011

https://netcarity.org

NETCARITY aims at an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to the research and development
of technology for supporting the ageing in place of elderly people living alone at their home place.
The project will target “real” everyday needs in “real” life contexts, by deploying an action line
consisting of: (i) a continuous involvement of end users and relevant stakeholders; (ii) a strong
commitment towards a sound social/economical impact; (iii) a clear view and operationalization of
the ethical issues involved; (iv) a clear methodology to measure acceptance, impact and satisfaction of
the developed technology on elderly people.

NETCARITY proposes a new integrated paradigm to support independence and engagement in
elderly people living alone at home. The project fosters the development of a light technological
infrastructure to be integrated in the homes of old people at reduced costs, that allows both the
assurance of basic support for everyday activities and detection of critical health situations, as well as
the social and psychological engagement required to maintain emotional well-being in the elder,
enhancing dignity and quality of life.
The project will seek to advance ambient intelligence technologies in the integration of micro and
nano systems in a networked wireless/wired multi-sensing environment with plug and play
capabilities and intelligent decision making for the effective detection of critical situations and
support of task completion. Efforts will be concentrated in developing low-cost solutions which could
rapidly reach the market and facilitate easy adaptation in a wide number of existing homes.
The social and psychological factors of the ageing-in-place problem will be addressed in
NETCARITY by the development of advanced multimodal interfaces that strengthen the
communication channel between elders and their friends and caregivers, reducing isolation and the
feeling of being alone, and stimulating them in the execution of everyday activities to maintain high
levels of motivation and a correct perception of their own abilities