Ambient intelligence and ambient assisted living

Ambient Intelligence (AmI) is about sensitive, adaptive electronic environments that respond to the actions of persons and objects and cater for their needs. This approach includes the entire environment - including each single physical object - and associates it with human interaction. Ambient Assisted Living (AAL), which concentrates on supporting persons with special needs, is viewed as one of the most promising areas of AmI. We live in a society with a steadily increasing number of elderly and solitary people, who are quite distinct from today's youth and the community as a whole. This development has created a growing need for new means of orientation, support, and help for both young and old