by Malcolm Prior BBC News Online, Basingstoke

Professor Wolff says he is no "Big Brother"

No, it is not the latest Big Brother show targeted at an older audience.

Instead, it is the solution under-pressure social services bosses have turned to to deal with the ongoing shortage and rising cost of care home places.

They are looking to pilot the Insight Active Care Environments scheme in Basingstoke, Hampshire, later this autumn.

The trial will see a number of the area's elderly living in houses kitted out with the latest in surveillance gadgetry that can not only warn on-call carers of any problems but can even talk to the residents themselves to find out if anything is wrong.

It is not just a sophisticated way of keeping tabs on people Professor Heinz Wolff

It is based on an idea first dreamed up by Professor Heinz Wolff, working with the department of bio-engineering at Brunel University.

When he first unveiled the scheme in Hampshire, Professor Wolff vowed the technology would not be used as a "Big Brother is watching you" system.

The professor, who has himself tested the technology by living in a mock-up home on his university's campus, said: "It's presented as part of his or her personality - not as a spying system but as actually something that belongs to them, like a walking frame or stick.

"It is, therefore, not just a sophisticated way of keeping tabs on people."

Speaker warning

The system, now being further developed by Huntleigh Technology, consists of sensors attached to doors, beds, baths, toilets, cookers and locks which feed information to a small computer.

The computer is in turn linked to a telephone and other communication devices, such as speakers.

When a risk is identified - such as the back door being left open for an unusual length of time or at an unusual hour - a warning will be issued to the resident, either by a telephone call or over a speaker.

The system's designers say the critical factor is that the technology is interactive and can negotiate with the tenant.

(The system) makes the best use of technology in allowing older people to continue to live where they most want to be Councillor Felicity Hindson

So, the resident can either address the risk by closing the door or simply let the computer know that they are aware of the situation, perhaps because they are waiting for the cat to come in.

If the back door remains open and there is no response then an agreed third party, such as a relative, neighbour, friend or call centre, will be contacted.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is set to trial the system - which costs �8,000 per installation, with a first-year maintenance charge of �800 - in conjunction with local housing associations.

Four elderly residents have already been picked to try out the technology.

Hampshire's social services boss, Councillor Felicity Hindson, welcomed the scheme for allowing the elderly to keep their independence.

She added: "I am pleased to see the progress being made with this exciting project which makes the best use of technology in allowing older people to continue to live where they most want to be - safely in their own home."