1st International ICST Workshop on Designing with Care

Research Article

User acceptance in a pervasive care platform - Integrating a social alarm system in a communication network

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  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.4108/ICST.PERVASIVEHEALTH2009.6081,
        author={J. Derboven and M. Van Gils and S. Agten},
        title={User acceptance in a pervasive care platform - Integrating a social alarm system in a communication network},
        proceedings={1st International ICST Workshop on Designing with Care},
        proceedings_a={DWC},
        year={2009},
        month={8},
        keywords={Communication networks; user acceptance; user-centereddesign},
        doi={10.4108/ICST.PERVASIVEHEALTH2009.6081}
    }
    
  • J. Derboven
    M. Van Gils
    S. Agten
    Year: 2009
    User acceptance in a pervasive care platform - Integrating a social alarm system in a communication network
    DWC
    IEEE
    DOI: 10.4108/ICST.PERVASIVEHEALTH2009.6081
J. Derboven1,*, M. Van Gils1,*, S. Agten2,*
  • 1: K.U.Leuven - CUO - IBBT, Parkstraat 45 / 3605, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
  • 2: Hasselt University - tUL - IBBT, Wetenschapspark 2, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
*Contact email: Jan.derboven@soc.kuleuven.be, Mieke.vangils@soc.kuleuven.be, Stijn.agten@uhasselt.be

Abstract

This position paper describes a social alarm system integrated in a larger communication platform. This platform, developed in the TranseCare project, uses audio/video communication to allow elderly users to make calls to friends and relatives, and to make alarm calls to a centralized alarm center. Combining these functionalities, it allows older users who live independently to stay in touch with the people they know without leaving their homes. At the same time, it can make them feel more safe, knowing they can contact an alarm center at any given time, in case of emergency. Moreover, the combination of a communication system with a social alarm system could make the acceptance of the alarm system easier, as the focus of the entire system is not only on healthcare-related issues.