An extended view on benefits and barriers of ambient assisted living solutions

Motivated by the older adults’ desire to age in their trusted home environment and the increasing financial pressure on the healthcare system, Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) technologies are designed to facilitate healthy and autonomous aging in place. To aid the acceptance of these still immature technologies, one first need to understand how prospective users perceive AAL technologies. Following this objective two studies were conducted. Study I contains an extensive literature of 26 AAL papers, which resulted in eight benefit categories and ten barrier categories. Study II attempted to validate and specify these benefits for a conceptual AAL application called SONOPA (Social Networks for Older Adults to Promote an Active Life). Focus groups and interviews were conducted with older adults and elder care professionals in Belgium, France and the UK. The results of these studies were translated into several design guidelines for SONOPA and related AAL applicati