Smart environments are augmented environments capable of utilizing embedded computers, information appliances, micro/nano systems and multi-modal sensors, in which computational intelligence is ubiquitous to provide contextual, proactive and personalized services to people. Nowadays networks, microprocessors, memory chips, smart sensors and actuators are faster, cheaper and smaller. They are becoming pervasive in the physical environment. Current advances in such enabling technologies make it possible to build real smart environments and hence provide the opportunity for novel applications and services to be delivered for improving the quality of life and health of people at home and outside. A smart environment allows people to perform tasks efficiently by offering unprecedented levels of access to information and assistance. In the near future, the elderly and people with disabilities will avail of smart assistive technology to assist in carrying out daily activities, socializing, enjoying entertainment and leisure activities all while maintaining good health and well-being. These smart environments are complemented by the role of health telematics. Health telematics approaches utilize advanced networks and telecommunication technologies to provide healthcare remotely. Combined with ubiquitous technologies in smart environments, health telematics can radically transform the way health-related services (diagnosis, therapy and assistance) are conceived and delivered. In 2003, Mounir Mokhtari organized in Paris the first of what has become a well-known series of conferences on Smart Homes and Health Telematics (ICOST). ICOST is a premier venue for presenting and discussing research in the design, development, deployment, evaluation and understanding of smart environments as well as assistive technologies and health telematics systems. ICOST gathers research from interdisciplinary fields that develop, utilize, integrate and evaluate embedded computers, information appliances, micro/nano systems, and multimodal sensors, where computational intelligence is ubiquitous to provide contextual, proactive and personalized applications to foresee services for improving the quality of life and health of people inside and outside their home. Over the years, ICOST conferences succeeded at creating an active research community dedicated to exploring how smart homes in particular and health telematics in general can foster independent living and an enhanced life style for elderly and disabled people. A long and enriching journey has thus led to the ninth edition of ICOST that was held in Montreal, Canada, during June 20-22, 2011. The theme of this edition was "Toward Useful Services for Elderly and People with Disabilities." The backbone of the 2011 edition was built on the stimulating and thought-provoking presentations of four keynote speakers and 25 full papers selected from the 94 that were submitted. These papers are organized in the following thematic chapters: Smart Home and Village, Health Telematics and Healthcare Technology,Well-Being, Ageing Friendly and Enabling Technology, and finally Medical Health and Healthcare Technology. To provide PhD students a forum to promote their research and an opportunity to network, a student session involving eight papers was added. Finally, 17 posters complemented with short oral presentations were hosted. Furthermore, for the first time an ICOST summer school was held jointly with the conference. We would like to thank all the people that were involved in the making of this conference, in particular members of the Steering Committee for their assistance and valuable feedback, members of the Program Committee for their in-depth and timely reviews of papers, members of the Organizing Committee for their incredible contributions and unremitting efforts, and finally the keynote speakers, the authors and the attendees for their contributions and participation to the conference. They all contributed to turning the 2011 edition of ICOST into an exciting and challenging conference.