Join-In aims to support home-bound elderly people to socialise. Studies show that people missing social contacts are more susceptible to diseases, to infarction and stroke. At the same time it is true that loneliness leads to social isolation and to lack of exercising, which delays healing processes and speeds up aging. Join-In seeks to help escape this vicious circle by providing tools and activities for social networking.

The research project investigates the interests of this very heterogeneous user group in order to assess the requirements on the assistive systems to be developed. In addition interests and reservations of relatives and caregivers will be analysed. On top of that Join-In will develop a methodology for introducing the innovative solutions and to overcome acceptance problems.

Technologies and methodologies integrated into everyday life offer the possibility to engage in social activities without leaving home. Thus Join-In participants can, via a low-cost TV + Settop Box or PC,

The project helps to keep in touch with friends and facilitates making new friends. For this purpose a social platform will be established.
Join-In will offer a choice of activities and evaluate their acceptance. Appropriate virtual games and Exergames are being developed which can be shared with others.
User friendliness, easy handling and an attractive price-performance ratio are main issues in development. Another major is that people with age-related limitations will be able to join in the fun.
10 partners of varying disciplines from 5 different countries bring their expertise to the Join-In project, which is being coordinated by Helmholtz Zentrum München and co-funded by the AAL Joint Programme.