Contents

**Preface XI**


Chapter 6 **To Use or Not to Use: The Design, Implementation and Acceptance of Technology in the Context of Health Care 93** Teatske van der Zijpp, Eveline J.M. Wouters and Janienke Sturm

Preface

This book discusses how assistive technologies can be adapted to today's world. Several challenges arise, stimulating the evolution of current solutions. The topics discussed in this book present research under development showing the relevance of assistive technologies

The first section presents Raspcare, which consists of a domestic gateway to allow interac‐ tion with household devices to execute the user's health plan, involving periodic measure‐ ments, medications, and dietary care. In the second section, the requirements for general Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications in a smart city context are analyzed, discussing the state of the art for the use of IoT for accessible tourism applications. Architecture together with a practical implementation tailored for the use case of accessible tourism to persons with physical impairments in the urban environment of Cagliari is proposed. The third sec‐ tion presents key characteristics that intuitive tactile interfaces should capture for elderly end-users. Sample projects showcase unique applications and designs that identify the limi‐ tations of universal interfaces and end-user needs. The fourth section highlights past and future roles of communication and pattern formation in the local cluster of the developing smart city. The goal is to transform a city via better cluster management, urban planning, coordination, citizen enablement, integration, and citizen feedback into a better functioning, convenient, and intelligent place for all of us, including disabled, ill, young, or aged persons. In the last section, an overview of theories and models helps us understand why assistive technology is considered to be a promising opportunity to address the challenges of an ag‐ ing population. Specific attention is devoted to the implementation of technology within healthcare organizations. The importance of human-centered design in the development of new assistive devices is also discussed. Several examples illustrate the daily practice of the

We would like to express our gratitude to the authors and all those who supported this

**Alejandro Rafael Garcia Ramirez** Universidade do Vale de Itajai

**Marcelo Gitirana Gomes Ferreira**

Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina

Itajaí, Brazil

Florianópolis, Brazil

and their applications in smart city scenarios. The book is divided into five sections.

different perspectives of involved stakeholders.

work and assisted in this project.
