The “smart home” or home automation consists in the integration of technologies and services into the house with the aim of improving the life quality of the occupant by providing more security of the person and of the house, comfort, technical organization and communication.

The introduction of the smart home on large scale is due to installation and technology costs, which are increasingly low. Smart house experimental projects are increasingly widespread, offering different service equipments for old people, including the management of domestic functions and communication systems with external e-sevices.

Within the European resarch project HOST, the ITC Institute is testing a domestic service platform to support old people living in houses managed by building co-operatives.