Aging in your smart home while preserving your privacy

More and more smart technologies are making their way into our homes. These technologies bring together a variety of electrical devices intended for our homes, whether electronic locks that can be programmed or video doorbells that can be managed remotely, air-quality sensors, smart light bulbs that can be controlled with your cell phone, motion-sensing cameras, voice-activated televisions and sound systems, and much more.

These technologies are said to be "smart" in that they use the Internet and advanced levels of automation to operate efficiently, often making automated choices based on past experiences and pre-established settings.

Among the array of smart technologies currently available, several have been designed specifically to support aging at home. For example, wireless-sensor networks can be placed in strategic locations to detect falls or emergencies. Different types of sensors can be used to monitor, for example, water consumption, body temperature and vital signs, as well as sleeping, walking or eating patterns. The information collected can be transmitted in real time to caregivers, health professionals or emergency services.

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