E-health, Assistive Technologies and Applications for Assisted Living: Challenges and Solutions

For students and systems designers, Rocker and Ziefle (communication science and human technology, RWTH Aachen U., Germany) compile 13 chapters by researchers in medicine, technology, health and social care, psychology, aging, and other fields from North America and Europe who examine e-health technologies and their applications and challenges in assisted living. They consider various aspects of these technologies and their consequences for the design, use, and acceptance of future systems. They introduce the field of e-health and assistive technologies and future design challenges, including the concept of patient-centered medicine, privacy and security requirements, the nature of trust in e-health and online websites, an interdisciplinary approach to the development of an ambient assisted living environment, and wireless sensor networks security techniques. The second section presents user studies, conceptual frameworks, and design approaches related to personal health records systems, the relationship of moving to health changes, tele-health systems, and the acceptance of mobile home automation devices by elderly people, while the final section provides prototypes and applications of assisted living technologies like exercise support systems, wearable systems for monitoring mobility related activities, tele-consultation in emergency medical services, and independent living services. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)