AAL Living Lab

The AAL apartment offers...

...besides balcony, living room, bathroom and bedroom, there is also an age-appropriate kitchen with automatic cupboard elements.

Getting up without the struggle!

The multi-functional bed is controlled using the remote control’s extra-large, haptically optimised buttons.

Stress-free dressing

The height-adjustable clothes rail is one of many invisible assistance systems in the bedroom.

Fall alert!

The floor contains mats with sensors to detect a fall and raise the alarm.

The AAL Living Lab¹ at Kempten University of Applied Sciences is an apartment set in a retirement complex run by BSG Allgäu² which the university rents and has converted into a teaching and research unit. It is equipped with a range of technical assistance systems to help people with age-related or other health restrictions to lead a self-determined life in their own accommodation.

The AAL Living Lab is a joint project between the Faculty of Social and Health Studies and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. It is used for teaching and research purposes and in joint projects with collaboration partners – embedded in the field of study »Health and Generations«, in the CARE Technology Hub and the networking centre AgeTeCK at Kempten University of Applied Sciences.

The AAL Living Lab is also a central instrument for research, development and networking at a key interface – between nursing science, gerontology and social work, on the one hand, and mechatronics, robotics, electrical engineering, ergonomics and computer science, on the other.

_{1 AAL stands for “Ambient/Active Assisted Living”, which primarily references technical support systems that are intended to enable people with health impairments to live as independently as possible.}
_{2 Bau- und Siedlungsgenossenschaft e.G. in Kempten.}

Furnishings and equipment

The AAL Living Lab is a 55 sqm apartment consisting of a hallway, kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom and balcony. It has the usual furnishings for elderly accommodation plus – as inconspicuously as possible – technical assistance systems:

Kitchen with wheelchair-accessible, height-adjustable and self-opening cupboard elements
Bathroom with shower/toilet equipped with sensors for vital signs
Telemedical systems
Systems for preventing and detecting falls
Biodynamic light
Smart home solutions and functional furniture elements

The assistance systems used facilitate various aspects of life, such as physical and mental health, hygiene and mobility. At the same time, they can avoid hazardous situations with regard to ergonomics and preventing falls.

Target groups

The AAL Living Lab is available for cross-faculty collaboration by arrangement. The main focus to date has been on health and social science and/or technical degree programmes.

For students: During your studies, you will be familiarised with key aspects of AAL technology and learn about the typical special characteristics of this sector via direct interaction. The AAL Living Lab also offers opportunities for project work or your final thesis. Padlet.

For professors: Use the teaching and research apartment for your lectures and seminars. Help to improve existing systems, develop new applications and research the benefits and limitations of AAL in relation to users.

For practitioners and clients: The research apartment serves as a platform for discussion and networking with all relevant stakeholders in the fields of health and care, social affairs, technology and skilled trades – promoting the transfer of knowledge and technology and helping to raise awareness of AAL amongst interested members of the public and make this technology tangible.

What we offer

Sharing knowledge and networking

We welcome the chance to share specialist knowledge, network and collaborate with colleagues in all relevant fields of expertise, such as

Medicine, nursing, care, therapy and social work
Engineering and computer science
Advisory services in nursing, ageing and health
Architecture, construction, skilled trades and interior furnishing
Science and research, teaching and professional development
Testing, training, seminars, workshops/presentations

Research and development

Our research and development work on new technological assistance and support systems also involves teaming up with external collaboration partners. If you would be interested in a joint research and development project, please get in touch!

Various scales of collaborative projects are conceivable – from student research projects as part of coursework or setting topics for bachelor’s or master’s theses, through to externally funded collaborative projects and doctoral theses.

Visits and other events

We attach great importance to engaging interested elements of the public in dialogue, providing information about and discussing the potential and limitations of technical support systems. We offer regular, bookable guided tours (free of charge). If you’d like to arrange a group visit or are interested in a specific kind of event other than a tour, please let us know.