Context awareness location-based Android application for tracking purposes in assisted living

Smart phones are equipped with a variety of sensors (accelerometer, light sensor, etc.), as well as other specialized hardware (camera, flashlight, etc.), giving them this way a plethora of value-added capabilities, apart from the conventional phone call and message exchange. They are able to turn every user into a data gathering agent, since information can be collected from both the environment outside of the device, as well as be retrieved from the digital world. Although smart phones have become an indispensable gadget in data gathering and telecommunication, the features that they provide can also be taken advantage for improving the living conditions of people around the world. The various sensors that are embedded in mobile phones nowadays can accurately measure, monitor, and keep track of their surroundings, as well as transmit any gathered information from their environment to designated individuals or organizations. This way, a smart phone can be used for remotely monitoring, and keeping an eye, on people that are in need of someone looking after them. This paper presents the steps that were taken for the development of a location-based Android application which can be used for the tracking purpose. of people that are in need of such services. It will be able to inform a number of the users chosen peers about their whereabouts in case the owned device is located in an area where it is not expected to be in. The application will also be capable of sensing a few simplified movements the user performs with the device and fire particular events based on the user's gesture, giving this way a context awareness aspect to the application.