A Framework for Smart Homes for Elderly People Using Labview®

Abstract

This paper deals with home automation systems that are essential for safe and independent living of elderly people. These individuals must be able to perform their Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) without help from caretakers. They must be confident enough that help is just a few minutes with the systems in place. The focus will be on the medical and emergency systems, which are most essential for independent living. Zigbee based Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are used to collect the data throughout the home. Smart shirts and smart phones monitor different parameters of the individual and transmit the data to the home network. A PC running LabVIEW is used as the central control unit for the entire house. The house must have a fail proof communication framework for connecting with emergency services, doctors, helpers and relatives. The home network is connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and internet. SMS, email, prerecorded voice-based telephone calls are appropriately used to report emergencies. A GUI (Graphical User Interface) was built in LabVIEW in order to control and simulate an entire home. Ambient Intelligence is built into the system to make it adaptive and dynamic as far as possible.