Assessing elderly satisfaction in using smart assisted living technologies: VINCI case study

Currently, the global population is undergoing a series of important demographic changes, which is manifested especially by the accentuated aging of the population, a process that will generate in the medium- and long-term uncertainties regarding the sustainability of the current social model. The main effect of this demographic decline is the significant increase in public spending on social and health services for the elderly, who are at a much higher risk of age-related health problems requiring long-term care. In this context, research programs such as “Active and Assisted Living” (AAL) have been launched in the European Union with the aim of funding innovative ideas leading to the implementation of new smart solutions for assisted living (AL) based on emerging technologies and clinically validated practices that allow proactive and preventive approaches in maintaining an active and healthy life of the elderly. Such an idea was obtained through the realisation of the vINCI technology platform, whose main purpose is to provide an easy-to-use tool that allows the elderly to optimise their lifestyle to ensure an active longevity by using a technology of personalised, digital, discreet, interconnected, adaptable and intelligent support. This paper provides an overview of the impact of the technologies developed in the vINCI project on a sample of users, analysing the feedback received from them on the satisfaction resulting from the interaction with these technologies. The vINCI mobile application and the associated smart devices were tested, through which the real-time monitoring of the various bio-medical parameters is performed. The results of this analysis conducted under the Romanian pilot will help developers to improve the basic components of the vINCI platform and ultimately create a competitive product in an extremely dynamic market, such as personalised care solutions for the elderly.