Healthcare in the Smart Home: A Study of Past, Present and Future

Jamie Bennett, Osvaldas Rokas and Liming Chen
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Jamie Bennett: School of Computer Science and Informatics, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
Osvaldas Rokas: School of Computer Science and Informatics, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
Liming Chen: School of Computer Science and Informatics, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 5, 1-23

Abstract: Ubiquitous or Pervasive Computing is an increasingly used term throughout the technology industry and is beginning to enter the consumer electronics space in its most recent form under the umbrella term: “Internet of Things”. One area of focus is in augmenting the home with intelligent, networked sensors and computers to create a Smart Home which opens a host of possibilities for the role of tomorrow’s dwelling. As the world’s population continues to live longer and consequently experience more medical-related ailments, at the same time institutional healthcare is struggling to cope, the role of the Smart Home becomes paramount to monitoring a dweller’s health and providing any necessary intervention. This study looks at the history of Smart Home Healthcare, current research areas, and potential areas of future investigation. Unique categorisations are presented in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Personal Sensors, and a thorough look at the application of Smart Home Healthcare is presented. Technology can augment traditional methods of healthcare delivery and in some cases completely replace it. Costs can be reduced and medical adherence can be increased, all of which contribute to a more sustainable and effective model of care.

Keywords: healthcare; smart home; sensors; IoT; ADL; automation; augmented reality; implantable medical devices; wearables; telemonitoring (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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