smart homes for older people positive aging in a digital world智能家居对老年人积极老龄化的数字世界.pdf

Future Internet 2012, 4, 607-617; doi:10.3390/fi4020607 OPEN ACCESS future internet ISSN 1999-5903 /journal/futureinternet Article Smart Homes for Older People: Positive Aging in a Digital World Quynh Lê *, Hoang Boi Nguyen and Tony Barnett Department of Rural Health, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1372, Launceston, Tasmania, 7250 Australia; E-Mails: Hoang.Nguyen@.au (H.B.N.); Tony.Barnett@.au (T.B.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: Quynh.Le@.au; Tel.: +61-3-6324-4053; Fax: +61-3-6324-4040. Received: 18 April 2012; in revised form: 15 June 2012 / Accepted: 18 June 2012 / Published: 19 June 2012 Abstract: Smart homes are homes with technologically advanced systems to enable domestic task automation, easier communication, and higher security. As an enabler of health and well-being enhancement, smart homes have been geared to accommodate people with special needs, especially older people. This paper examines the concept of “smart home” in a technologically driven society and its multi-functional contribution to the enhancement of older people’s lives. Discussion then focuses on the challenges in the use of smart homes among older people such as accessibility and ethical issues. Finally, some implications and recommendations are provided. Keywords: smart home; older people; positive aging; health and wellbeing; accessibility; ethics; acceptance of technology 1. Introduction Layzell, Manning and Benton [