Creating a Digital Personal Environment for the Elderly

A novel Spanish project is creating intelligent communication devices for elderly and disabled people.

The AmIVital project, a cooperation between the Spanish ministry of industry, tourism, and trade (Madrid), and 17 information and communication technology companies and research groups, will not only support the development of specific ready-to-use products, but it will also set up a technologic platform comprising device, network, and computer software standardized components that will allow the simple creation of services adapted to different needs and environments.

The project will involve the creation of intelligent devices, biosensors, portable systems (integrated into the human body or into clothes), ever-present wireless networks, and multimodal interfaces (such as personal computers, telephones). A wide range of devices especially designed and adapted to the elderly and to people with disabilities or reduced mobility will be marketed in the foreseeable future by the companies taking part in the project.

Among the 17 companies taking part are Siemens Spain (Madrid), which will lead the project, Telefónica (Madrid, Spain), Ericsson Spain (Madrid), the Polytechnic of Madrid (Spain), and the University of Granada (Spain). The official presentation of the project took place during May 2007 at the University of Granada.

By the year 2026, 21.6% of the world's population will be older than 65, 32% of which will have some kind of disability. The percentage of elderly people is expected to increase dramatically within the next years, and by 2050 there will be 180% more people older than 80 than there are today.


Related Links:
Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism, and Trade
Polytechnic of Madrid
University of Granada