Medical Monitoring for Independent Living: User-Centered Design of Smart Home Technologies for Older Adults O.A. Blanson Henkemans 1,3 , K.E Caine 2 , W.A Rogers 2 , A.D. Fisk 2 , M.A. Neerincx 1,3 , Boris de Ruyter 4 1 Delft University of Technology, NL; 2 Georgia Institute of Technology, US, 3 TNO, NL, 4 Philips Research, NL o.a.blansonhenkemans@tudelft.nl Abstract: Formally involving users in the design of eHealth solutions can be beneficial. However, within the eHealth domain, the design process is often technology driven. In contrast, we present the need for and benefits of a user-centered approach to technology development. In addition, we argue that smart home environments, such as Georgia Tech’s Aware Home, Philips’ Home & CareLab and TNO/DUT’s Experience Labs, facilitate this approach. In this article, we describe two studies that were recently conducted in the Aware Home to examine monitoring in a home environment. One project involved a formative evaluation of the perceived needs and perceived benefits of using visual sensing systems within the homes of older adults. The other involved the usability evaluation of a computer assistant for the supervision of older diabetics’ self-care. Both evaluations suggested that older adults recognized the potential benefits of having these types of monitoring technologies in home environment. Introduction Many Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions in the form of eHealth technologies are developed to support older adults in maintaining independence [1]. These technologies have the potential to help older adults perform activities required to live independently or, when unassisted independent living is no longer possible, to assist care takers in providing care at a distance. Because older adults are a segment of the population increasingly interested in using computers [2], and because of their unique health needs, the implementation of eHealth technologies to support older adults seems a logical and useful plan that should be pursued. However, there has not been widespread deployment of eHealth solutions among older adults. One of the main reasons for the delay in adoption is the lack of the acknowledgement of the projected users and their personal and