Experience in evaluating AAL solutions in living labs.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Computer Science
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) integrates diverse technologies to support various stakeholders.
• Current AAL evaluation methods often focus on specific aspects, neglecting a holistic view for both developers and end-users.
• Living labs serve as crucial real-world environments for co-designing and validating AAL technologies with stakeholders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the lack of holistic evaluation approaches in Ambient Assisted Living (AAL).
• To share practical lessons learned from evaluating AAL systems and services over five years.
• To propose harmonized guidelines for conducting comprehensive AAL evaluations within living lab settings.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of experiences from evaluating AAL systems and services across multiple research projects.
• Analysis of common evaluation techniques and their limitations in addressing holistic AAL needs.
• Development of a set of harmonized guidelines based on practical insights.

Main Results:

• Identified a gap in current AAL evaluation methodologies, particularly concerning a holistic perspective.
• Gained practical insights into the challenges and best practices of AAL evaluation in living labs.
• Developed a framework of harmonized guidelines to improve the evaluation of AAL solutions.

Conclusions:

• Holistic evaluation approaches are essential for effective Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) development and deployment.
• Living labs provide a valuable platform for co-design and validation, but require structured evaluation guidelines.
• The proposed guidelines aim to enhance the rigor and comprehensiveness of AAL evaluations, benefiting both developers and end-users.