Title: A multi-agent based infrastructure to support virtual communities in elderly care

Authors: Luis M. Camarinha-Matos, Hamideh Afsarmanesh

Addresses: New University of Lisbon and Uninova Quinta da Torre, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal. ' University of Amsterdam Kruislaan 403, 1098 SJ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract: The growing numbers of the elderly population impose an urgent need to develop new approaches to care provision. The convergence of a number of technologies such as multi-agent systems, federated information management, safe communications, hypermedia interfaces, rich sensorial environments, increased intelligence of home appliances, and collaborative virtual environments, represents an important enabling factor for the design and development of virtual elderly support community environments. In this paper, a platform based on mobile agents combined with federated information management mechanisms is introduced as a flexible infrastructure on top of which specialised care services can be built.

Keywords: virtual community; virtual organisation; multi-agent systems; agent-based systems; elderly population; care provision; elderly care support; federated information management; care services.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNVO.2004.005490

International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations, 2004 Vol.2 No.3, pp.246 - 266

Published online: 12 Oct 2004 *

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