Short range wireless solutions enabling ambient assisted living to support people affected by the Down syndrome

Assistive technologies can provide solutions to people with physical disabilities or to weaker individuals that need particular attention. As a branch of assistive technologies, ambient care systems are emerging. In this paper we present an overall domotic architecture that, supported by a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) and the use of heterogeneous devices, aims to provide multiple interfaces between a smart house and its guests. In particular we describe the results applied in the project Casa+, a smart house that is addressed to people with Down syndrome; it offers functionalities for monitoring the environment and its guests, giving indication signals, audio messages or even alarms in case of incorrect actions. Through exploitation of the most recent technologies, keeping in mind the trade off with costs, we developed the following functionalities: security, time management, assistance for daily activities, monitoring and remote control, tracking.