Guest Editorial: Special Section on Assistive Computing Technologies for Human Well-Being

Well-being is a complex concept, that can be affected by long-term or temporary disabilities, as well as the natural process of aging. Nowadays, while meaningful computing methodologies have reached maturity, and a full awareness of the problem dimension has been reached, we are facing the objective of designing ad hoc technologies with the real potential of improving the quality of life of fragile individuals. Technology may contribute in different directions: by providing health-care providers with well-being assessment tools, by designing computer-assisted monitoring and rehabilitation methods that help maintaining independence, or by proposing assistive aids to compensate disabilities. The aim of this special issue is to promote a dialogue between healthcare and technology researchers in order to conceive effective solutions that tackle real needs of fragile people thus improving their well-being.