Access For All

The results and major findings of the Exploratory Workshop held on 19 October 2009 are now available.
An initial set of possible common indicators stemming from the ongoing projects and pilots work was analysed; ground-rules for constructing statistically significant impact measurement methodologies in this field were discussed and initial recommendations and guidelines for comparable future impact measurements arose from an interactive brainstorming and discussion amongst the participants.
The results are to be further taken up by a follow-up work in a form of a repository of existing relevant documents to serve as background for further discussions and intensified and structured best practice exchange. The purpose is to develop a common framework for arriving at solid and comparable evidence to facilitate policy decisions and further investment for wide deployment and uptake of solutions.
Read the report of the workshop for the full results.

120 national and international experts will discuss the state of the art on Ageing and Technology from 2010-03-23 to 2010-03-25 in Vechta, Lower Saxony, Germany. Organized by the Lower Saxony Research Network “Design of Environments for Ageing”, the conference aims at researchers in gerontology and geriatrics, computer scientists, technicians, sociologists, economists and psychologists working in the field of “Ageing and Technology” or “Ambient Assisted Living”.
Prof. Sabine Koch (Karolinska Institute, Stockholm) will give the keynote presentation entitled “Healthy ageing supported by technology – an interdisciplinary research challenge” on Tuesday. Dr. Paul Timmers (ICT for Inclusion, European Commission) will give a lecture on the political framework and European goals for ICT and inclusion on the second day. Don’t miss the chance to discuss with our speakers and guests. The full program and speaker list can be taken from the attached conference invitation.
The conference will be hosted by the University of Vechta, located in the “Oldenburger Münsterland” between the cities of Bremen, Oldenburg and Osnabrück. The number of participants is limited – make sure you reserve your place in time. For further information please see the conference invitation.
Download here the conference invitation.

Hungary does not pay enough attention to the possibilities offered by active ageing tools and by an inclusive Information Society for the elderly in relation to socio-economic competitiveness, employment, education and skills development. These indeed hold considerable potential in terms of market opportunities, productivity and growing domestic consumption.

Hungary has entered an era of accelerating loss of the demographic balance: while the Hungarian population will lessen by 10-20 percent in the next decades, society will age faster than the European average. It is foreseen, as a result, that in 2050, the legacy costs of one inactive old persons will be supported by only 2 active employees, instead of 5 today.

In a recent research, the Foundation for the Research on the Information Society has examined the process of ageing in terms of labour market activity, social contact networks, intellectual and physical activity as well as an independent and full life. It furthermore assessed the effects and drawbacks of the more or less open attitudes concerning technological innovations.

The research results have drawn a clear causal mechanism among the above aspects. Should state intervention intend to reach the strongest possible multiplier effect among the elderly, that is, in case its final objective is to increase employment and life quality, it must take account of the following lines:

1. Economic activity is most influenced by intellectual state;
2. Intellectual state is most influenced by the use of ICT tools.

Improving the accessibility and usage of ICT tools in the elderly group is therefore of substantial importance. The report calls on the government to pay special attention to this since digital tools play a provable influence on the improvement of the quality of life and intellectual activity of the aging and older people.

Unfortunately, some kind of a Matthew effect can also be demonstrated: the use of the ICT tools is basically influenced by intellectual activity, while it is one’s intellectual state and activity that can be most improved by the use of ICT tools, so those possessing a lot of cultural capital are able to accumulate even more by using these tools. This also means that those being in the highest need of the life quality improvement possibilities offered by the ICT tools show the most negative attitudes. The research thus concludes that the elderly in the Information Society represent a strongly segmented category.
Source: Official press release – Foundation for the Research on Information Society (in Hungarian)