*** SCOPE AND AIMS ****

A Smart Environments can be considered as an augmented environment capable of utilizing embedded computers, information appliances, micro/nano systems and multi-modal sensors, in which computational intelligence is ubiquitous to provide contextual, proactive and personalized services to people. Nowadays networks, microprocessors, memory chips, smart sensors and actuators are faster, cheaper and smaller. They are becoming pervasive in the physical environment. Current advances in such enabling technologies make it possible to build real Smart Environments and hence provide the opportunity for novel applications and services to be delivered for improving the quality of life and health of people in their home and outside. A Smart Environments allows people to perform tasks efficiently by offering unprecedented levels of access to information and assistance. In the near future, elderly and people with disabilities will avail of smart assistive technology to assist with carrying out daily living activities, to socialize, to enjoy entertainment & leisure activities all whilst maintaining good health and wellbeing. These Smart Environments are complemented through the role of health telematics. Health telematics approaches utilize advanced networks and telecommunication technologies to provide healthcare remotely. Combined with Ubiquitous technologies in Smart Environments, health telematics can radically transform the way health-related services (diagnosis, therapy and assistance) are conceived and delivered.

The goal of the ICOST 2011 conference is to provide an international forum for scientists, engineers, managers in academia, industry and government, as well as domain experts in health sciences, rehabilitation and gerontology to address recent research results in the field. ICOST 2011 invites participants to present and discuss their ideas, theories, technologies, systems, tools, applications, work in progress and experiences on theoretical and practical advancements that have significant contributions in Smart Environments, Health Telematics and other Assistive Technologies.


*** TOPICS OF INTEREST ***

ICOST 2011 is accepting original research papers. Topics of interest included, but are not limited to:

** Smart Home & Village:
- Intelligent Environments with emphasis on Smart Homes.
- Human-Machine Interface and Ambient Intelligence.
- Context Awareness/Autonomous Computing.
- Modeling of User, Physical and Conceptual Information in Intelligent Environments.
- Activity recognition in smart Environments.
- Digital Life Scenario & Life Style Engineering.
- Platforms, Middleware and Software Architectures for Intelligent Environments
- Sensing and actuating systems.
- Home Networks and Residential Gateways.
- User Acceptance & Evaluation of Smart Environments.
- User Interface and Universal Design.
- Universal Design for Smart Environments & Village.
- Privacy and Security Issues in Smart environments & Villages.
- Applications and services in Ambient Systems for smart Environments (homes, hospitals, schools & classrooms, etc.).

** Health Telematics & Healthcare Technology:
- Personal Medical Data Collection and Processing (Health Vaults).
- Home Health Monitoring and Intervention.
- Tele-Assistance and Tele-Rehabilitation
- Middleware Support for Smart Environments and Health Telematic Services
- Real World Deployments and Experimentations in Smart Houses, Hospitals & Living Communities.
- User Perspectives on Health Telematics.
- Technology for Holistic Health and Independence.
- U-Health for Smart Global Village.
- Wireless body area network (WBAN) & Integrated Micro/Nano Systems

** Wellbeing, Aging Friendly & Enabling Technology:
- Devices, Systems and Algorithms for Vision, Hearing, Cognitive and Communication Impairments.
- Assistive and Rehabilative Robotics.
- Smart Wheelchairs.
- User Perspectives on Smart Environment Technologies.
- Assistive Technology to Improve Quality of Life and health for seniors and their Caregivers.
- Gerontechnology, Social Science and Health Care.
- Universal Design Technology for Active Aging.
- Philosophy & Foundation for Age-Friendly Care.
- Enabling Homes for Next Generation.

** Medical Health Telematics & Healthcare Technology:
- Multi-Agent-Based U-Healthcare & Monitoring for Patient Care Management.
- U-Healthcare for Medical & Clinical Information Management.
- U-Healthcare for ICU & Emergency Patient Care.
- U-Healthcare for Point-Of-Care & Management System.

(information retrieved from http://pages.usherbrooke.ca/icost2011/fileadmin/DOC/ICOST2011-CFP.txt, last accessed on 2010-10-05)