Agnes

The AGNES project provides a basic ICT platform to create and maintain an easy-to-use web-based social network for individual elderly persons. This platform is used to stimulate the elderly person.

Timely information is transferred to the network regarding the activities and subjective state of the elderly person (e.g. presence, state of wellness, etc) allowing for a much better-tailored and timely response, attention and care, so as to improve and maintain the well-being and independence of the elderly living in their own homes and reduce healthcare costs.

The project addresses chronic conditions such as mild cognitive impairment, and develops and tests solutions to alleviate and/or prevent them. In such a way, informal carers, friends and family members have greater access to information about the person, and those at a distance are enabled to keep in touch and share activities with their elderly family member or friend, and to know their current condition.

Objectives

Providing a user-sensitive ICT-based home environment that supports a personalised and person-centric care process by detecting, communicating, and meaningfully responding to relevant states, situations, and activities of the elderly person with regard to mild cognitive impairment. Central to the proposed idea is the combination and integration of home-based ICT and social networks, connecting the elderly person living at home with their families, friends and carers, on various levels. The project will provide the technological means to exploit the power of social networks and the beneficial effect of social inclusion and activities on cognitive and mental processes.

Expected results and impact

Different technologies and devices will be integrated to provide solutions targeting the needs of the individual elderly person:

Innovative technologies for the unobtrusive detection of user states and activities;
A social networking technology platform specifically designed to meet the needs of, and be usable by, the elderly person;
Ambient devices for the display of information and events and for easy interaction with the home-based system and connected others.

Partners

Partners involved in the Agnes project

Organization	Type	Country	Website
Umeå University, Dept. of Informatics	R&D	Sweden	www.umu.se
Athens Information Technology	R&D	Greece	www.ait.gr
Can Controls	SME	Germany	www.cancontrols.com
Graz University of Technology	R&D	Austria	www.portal.tugraz.at
Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia	End user / R&D	Spain	www.uned.es
Kendro Merimnas Oikoyennias kai Pediou	End user	Greece	www.kmop.gr
ONDA Communication S.p.A	Large Industry	Italy	www.ondacommunication.com
Fundacion Instituto Gerontologico Matia	End user	Spain	www.ingema.es
Skellefteå Kommun	End user	Sweden	www.skelleftea.se

Project name: User-sensitive Home-based Systems for Successful Ageing in a Networked Society
Website: http://agnes-aal.eu
Coordinator: John Waterworth, Department of Informatics Umeå University (Sweden)
Duration: 36 months
Starting Date: 01.09.2009
Total budget: € 3.635.370
Public contribution: € 2.045.816

Contact

John Waterworth

E.: jwworth@informatik.umu.se

T.: +46 738 111 440