Journal "Computers in Biology and Medicine" [Impact Factor: 1.162]

Editor-in-Chief:
Dr. Edward Ciaccio
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
ejc6@columbia.edu

Guest Editor:
Dr. Athina Lazakidou
Assistant Professor of Health Informatics
University of Peloponnese, Dept. of Nursing, Sparta, Greece
E-mail: lazakid@uop.gr

Introduction
The proportion of elderly people in Western countries is increasing forcing governments to consider strategies to support independent elderly living. Due to this demographic change there has been growing interest in investigating the elderly themselves as active content providers for their own everyday life supporting services. Elderly can, instead of a burden, been seen as resource. The consequence of increasing life expectancy and decreasing birth rates is an EU population that is becoming increasingly older. On the social side of this issue, it is important for all these people having the need to be supported in their daily-life-activities to remain integrated in social life - despite of their age and existing disabilities. On the economical side, ageing has enormous implications, since not only the income side of social schemes is affected but also expenditures: health care systems for instance, are concerned. Facing these challenges of ageing societies there exist areas of opportunity, where technological and social-economic innovation can enhance the quality of life of older and impaired people, mitigate the economic problems of an ageing population and create new economic and business opportunities.

Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) includes assistance to carry out daily activities, health and activity monitoring, enhancing safety and security, getting access to social, medical and emergency systems, and facilitating social contacts. Receiving social and/or medical support in various new intelligent ways consequently contributes to independent living and quality of life for many elderly and disabled people. Overall, AAL can improve the quality of life of elderly people at home and reduces the need of caretakers, personal nursing.

The proposed special issue focuses on Innovative ICT-based Products, Services and Systems for Elderly People

Overall Objectives and Mission
The proposed special issue will provide a compendium of terms, definitions and explanations of concepts, processes and acronyms. Additionally, this issue will feature papers (each paper consists of 6,000-8,000 words) authored by leading experts offering an in-depth description of key terms and concepts related to different areas, issues and trends in Innovative Technologies and Systems for Ambient Assisted Living.

The specific aims are to:

-Foster the emergence of innovative ICT-based products, services and systems for ageing well at home, in the community, and at work, thus increasing the quality of life, autonomy, participation in social life, skills and employability of elderly people, and reducing the costs of health and social care.
-Create a critical mass of research, development and innovation in technologies and services for ageing well in the information society, including the establishment of a favorable environment for participation by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
-Improve conditions for industrial exploitation by providing a coherent European framework for developing common approaches and facilitating the localization and adaptation of common solutions which are compatible with varying social preferences and regulatory aspects at national or regional level.

The concept of Ambient Assisted Living is understood as:

-to extend the time people can live in their preferred environment by increasing their autonomy, self-confidence and mobility;
-to support maintaining health and functional capability of the elderly individuals,
-to promote a better and healthier lifestyle for individuals at risk;
-to enhance the security, to prevent social isolation and to support maintaining the multifunctional network around the individual;
-to support caregivers, families and care organizations;
-to increase the efficiency and productivity of used resources in the ageing societies.

Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
-Innovative E-Health and Telemedicine Services, Applications and Products
-ICT for the Management and Prevention of Chronic Conditions of Elderly People
-ICT based solutions for Advancement of Social Interaction of Elderly People
-ICT-based Solutions for Advancement of Older Persons’ Independence and Participation in the “Self-Serve Society"
-ICT based solutions for Advancement of Older Persons’ Mobility
-ICT-based Solutions for (Self-) Management of Daily Life Activities of Elderly People at Home
-RFID Technologies for Smart Living Space
-Wireless Technologies and Architectures for Health Monitoring Systems
-Wireless Communication and Sensor Networks in Smart Living Space

Important Dates

Manuscript Due: December 20, 2013
First Round of Reviews: January 20, 2014
Revised version submission: March 30, 2014
Second Round of Reviews: April 30, 2014
Notification of Acceptance/Rejection: May 20, 2014
Final version submission: June 30, 2014

Instructions for Manuscripts

Papers will be evaluated based on their originality, presentation, relevance and contribution to the field of Innovative ICT-based Products, Services and Systems for Elderly People, as well as their suitability to the special issue, and for their overall quality. The submitted papers must be written in excellent English and describe original research which has not been published nor is currently under review by other journals or conferences. Previously published conference papers should be clearly identified by the authors (at the submission stage) and an explanation should be provided how such papers have been extended to be considered for this special issue. Guest editor will make an initial determination of the suitability and scope of all submissions. Papers that either lack originality, clarity in presentation or fall outside the scope of the special issue will not be sent for review and the authors will be promptly informed in such cases.

Before submitting please read carefully the Journal’s guidelines for authors:

http://www.elsevier.com/journals/computers-in-biology-and-medicine/0010-4825/guide-for-authors

Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Editorial System at http://ees.elsevier.com/cbm

The submission website for this journal is located at: http://ees.elsevier.com/cbm/default.asp

The authors must select as “SI: ICTforR-ELDERLY” when they reach the “Article Type” step in the submission process.

The review process will be managed by the Guest Editor of this Special Issue and the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Edward Ciaccio
(ejc6@columbia.edu).


Guest Editor

Athina Lazakidou, PhD
Assistant Professor of Health Informatics
University of Peloponnese
Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences
Department of Nursing
Orthias Artemidos & Plateon
GR-23100, Sparti, GREECE

E-mail: lazakid@uop.gr