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The evolution of the population demography is usually associated with a change in the population configuration. There are differences between rates of evolution, and between countries, meaning that each country has a different perspective about the evolution of their own population. Economic, political and social happenings delimit and structure the way the population evolution progresses. Although there are differences in terms of overall population, the main progression lines are very similar, demonstrating that the elderly population is rising, the adults are maintaining and the young population is decreasing. This shows a notorious shift in terms of the population structure, representing a change in the birth/death rate, meaning that the adult persons have fewer children and reach older ages, benefiting of a larger life span, where the middle-class economic group is dominant and there is sensing of quality of living.
Statistically, life expectancy in the World, and particularly in European Union, is rising exponentially over the last decades due to improvements in life conditions and healthcare. It is estimated that in 2030 there will be a ratio of 40 elder people (age over 65) per 100 active people (age 15 to 64), which will be the double of the actually. The future population needs, in terms of social and healthcare, and other ageing issues such as lack of mobility and cognitive ability, will be more demanding. The current elder care services cannot cope with these needs for such a large population. Alternatives are needed to these systems. A study conducted in the Netherlands and another in the UK indicated that elder people would prefer to live independently in their own houses as long as possible. Moreover, there is a higher incidence of chronic age-related conditions and consequent dependency problems associated with deteriorating capabilities to sense and interact with the environment (Giráldez & Casal, 2005; Sun, Florio, Gui, & Blondia, 2009; Vastenburg, Visser, Vermaas, & Keyson, 2008).
The technological advances lead to the development of assistive technologies. Accordingly, the population that the statistics refer to may be helped with the use of said technology. The Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) concept aims to the production of products that monitor the health and facilitate the life of individuals. Being adjusted to handicapped and elder people, increasing their independence, mobility, safety and social contact through increased communication, inclusion and participation using the available technologies (Magjarevic, 2007).There are several projects that attend to the AAL concept, but only few of them have a broad spectrum, hence the current development of the AAL4ALL project.