Personal monitoring and health data acquisition in smart homes

The use of ambient assisted living technology, namely technology to improve the quality of life of people at home, is becoming a common trait of modern society. This technology, however, is difficult to be completely defined and classified, since it addresses many different human needs ranging from the physiological sphere to the psychological and social ones. In this chapter we focus on personal monitoring and data acquisition in smart homes, and propose the results of our research activities in the form of the description of three functional prototypes, each one addressing a specific need: an environmental monitoring system to measure the respiratory rate, a domotic architecture for both comfort assessment and user indoor localization, and a device for supporting mobility indoors. Each prototype description is followed by an experimental analysis and, finally, by considerations suggesting possible future developments in the very near future.