1 ICT and Demographic Ageing: a Social Necessity and an Economic Opportunity

Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) systems refer to “intelligent systems that will assist elderly individuals for a better, healthier and safer life in the preferred living environment and covers concepts, products and services that interlink and improve new technologies and the social environment ” [1]. AAL systems address socio-political issues created by the demographic development in Europe: care and assistance needs to elderly persons will drastically increase in the future with a situation in 2050 where there will be two retired persons for one working person [2]. AAL systems can help support older people in various application domains [1]: at work, as persons will remain active and productive for a longer time, with an improved quality of work; in the community, by staying socially active and creative through ICT solutions; at home, by enjoying a healthier and higher quality of daily life for a longer time, assisted by technology, while maintaining a high degree of independence, autonomy and dignity. AAL systems are not only a social necessity but also an economic opportunity