Promises and Challenges of Ambient Assisted Living Systems (1507.05765v1)

Abstract: The population of elderly people keeps increasing rapidly, which becomes a predominant aspect of our societies. As such, solutions both efficacious and cost-effective need to be sought. Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) is a new approach which promises to address the needs from elderly people. Ambient Intelligence technologies are widely developed in this domain aiming to construct safe environments around assisted peoples and help them maintain independent living. However, there are still many fundamental issues in AAL that remain open. Most of the current efforts still do not fully express the power of human being, and the importance of social connections and social activities is less noticed. Our conjecture is that such features are fundamental prerequisites towards truly effective AAL services. This paper reviews the current status of researches on AAL, discusses the promises and possible advantages of AAL, and also indicates the challenges we must meet in order to develop practical and efficient AAL systems for elderly people. In this paper, we also propose an approach to construct effective home-care system for the elderly people.

Promises and Challenges of Ambient Assisted Living Systems

The paper "Promises and Challenges of Ambient Assisted Living Systems" by Hong Sun et al. provides a comprehensive examination of the current state, potential, and challenges associated with Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) systems designed for the elderly. As populations age, the imperative to maintain their independence grows, and AAL systems offer promising solutions through the integration of Ambient Intelligence technologies. This paper explores both the achievements and shortcomings of these systems, with a critical emphasis on the necessity for human-centric considerations.

The authors delineate the current landscape of AAL research, observing significant advancements in creating intelligent environments, such as the "Aware Home" and "I-Living" projects. These initiatives have effectively utilized technologies like RFID and motion detectors to enhance elderly independence by reducing manual intervention for daily activities. Despite these technological advancements, Sun et al. highlight an inherent limitation: an over-reliance on devices and a subsequent decrease in social interaction, leading to potential social isolation.

The paper advocates for a dual approach which combines the strengths of both technological devices and human interaction. The incorporation of human resources through approaches like social computing is posited as essential to not only support the physical needs of the elderly but also enhance their social well-being. This emphasis on human-centric design marks an important consideration for future AAL systems.

In the section addressing challenges, the authors identify three primary obstacles to effective AAL implementation:

1. Dynamic Service Availability: The paper suggests that Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) could address service dynamicity issues, allowing for flexible integration of human activities into the service ecosystem. The proposed adoption of platforms like OSGi and recent WS-HumanTask specifications could facilitate this integration.
2. Service Mapping: Mapping available services to user needs remains complex. The authors recommend leveraging Semantic Knowledge Bases to accurately describe and match services, despite existing challenges with current ontological tools like OWL-S.
3. Willingness of Participation: Engaging human participants, both as caregivers and beneficiaries, is crucial. Understanding motivational factors beyond financial rewards, such as social recognition and moral duties, could drive higher participation. Furthermore, reducing psychological and technological barriers for the elderly is imperative.

A novel contribution of the paper is the concept of a "mutual assistance community," in which smart devices and human resources collaboratively provide care and social engagement. By utilizing SOA frameworks, the authors propose an integrated environment where elderly individuals can actively contribute to society and maintain social connections, ultimately enriching their quality of life and self-esteem.

In summary, the paper argues for a balanced integration of advanced technologies with concerted human effort to create a robust and socially inclusive AAL system. While existing technologies offer significant potential, there remains a crucial need to address the social dimensions of aging. Future research directions should focus on developing hybrid systems that not only tackle the technological challenges outlined but also foster social connectivity for the elderly. This multifaceted approach stands to transform AAL systems into comprehensive tools for enhancing the independence and quality of life of elderly populations.