Smart care technologies: meeting whose needs?

Recent funding programmes supporting research and development in telecare h ave argued for a shift in perspective from a technology-driven approach to one that is needs-led. While this is in the interests of both users and tec hnologists, achieving this goal is not straightforward. This paper outlines some of the conceptual, methodological and practical problems that potenti ally constrain a needs-led approach and illustrates the emergent issues wit h a case study of the development of an intelligent home monitoring system to support the independent living of older people. The research indicates c lear differences between users and technologists in the way problems, needs and requirements are understood and defined. This in turn has consequences for the way assistive technologies are developed and implemented.