Towards a Selection and Acquisition Method for IoT Devices Oriented to Older People in Ecuador

During old age, there is a deterioration of cognitive or physical functions that reduce the elderly’s independence. At this stage, the person may need help with activities of daily living. Many products and several lines of research based on the Internet of Things (IoT) have been opened to improve or preserve the physical and cognitive condition of the elderly, which leads to the prolongation of their independence. Regarding selecting these devices, methods are needed to guide the solution architect so that, based on physical, medical, technical, and economic specifications and additional considerations related to the needs and possibilities of the person or their environment, they select the more suitable IoT solution. In this context, this study proposes a methodology for the selection and acquisition of IoT devices that intervene in environments to improve the quality of life of the elderly, based on the previously identified requirements that IoT devices must meet and the restrictions of the environment. The proposed methodology is based on the multi-criteria decision-making technique called the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Finally, a case study has been performed to demonstrate the feasibility of applying this solution.