Current EU projects in the area of ICT and ageing

Ageing & ICT (European Study on Users, Markets and Technologies)

 

CAPSIL (International Support of a Common Awareness and Knowledge Platform for Studying and Enabling Independent Living)

The CAPSIL Coordinating Support Action (CSA) team is a strategic international coalition of University and Industrial partners that already have extensive teams developing hardware/software/knowledge solutions to independent living based on user requirements. All partners of CAPSIL are already members of regional and national centres on aging engaged in the process of helping to establish public policy and international standards. This support action is to launch initiatives, coordinated and disseminated by a series of workshops in the US, EU, and Japan (two per year for two years), with the goal to develop a detailed CAPSIL Roadmap for EU research to achieve effective and sustainable solutions to independent living based on an in-depth analysis of independent living requirements and the ICT scenarios developed or under development in the EU, as well as the US and Japan (societies where the aging of the population are currently on par or exceeding the challenges that will be found within the EU) and support aging research by proposing procedures to incorporate all of these diverse solutions into WiKi entries (CAPSIL WiKi).

Easy Line+ (Low-cost advanced white goods for a longer independent life for elderly people)

Low-cost advanced white goods for a longer independent life for elderly people White goods such as washing machines, dishwashers, fridges and freezers make life easier for millions of Europeans. But what if someone’s ability to use such products is compromised due to physical or cognitive problems related to their age? The Easy Line+ project aims to develop near-to-market prototypes of advanced white goods that will help older people live independently for longer. The project examines the use of sensors, neural networks and assistive software to produce control systems for white goods that older people will find easy to use.

Elder Games (Development of high therapeutic value IST-based games for monitoring and improving the quality of life of elderly people)

Elder Games will devise interactive computer games specifically to improve the cognitive skills of older people. The project developers also believe that the Elder Games platform will be the first of its type, able to monitor cognitive health and welfare issues. This should allow for early detection of cognitive diseases or problems related to social integration and well being.

ePal (Extending Professional Active Live)

The primary objective of Project ePAL is to consider and define new ways of promoting a balanced active life for retiring and retired professionals in Europe. ePAL will develop a roadmap - a set of actions, activities and steps - that will assist in placing Europe at the forefront of active aging globally and move us towards realising a more positive future for Europe's elderly population.

eSangathan (Collaborative ageing environment for ageing workforce)

In Europe, old age can mean an end to working life. Yet in India, many an older retiree is considered to be a ‘national treasure’ or Sangathan because of their great experience. Through the exchange of experience, this project aims to foster European competitiveness by maximising the older generation’s contribution to the workplace. It will also improve the quality of life of India’s older workers by introducing them to innovative ICT products and services that are now being used in Europe.

Hermes: Cognitive care and guidance for active ageing

Integrated approach to cognitive care through an assistive technology that combines the functional skills of the older person to reduce age-related decline of cognitive capabilities. Based on intelligent audio and visual processing and reasoning, the project results in a combination of a home-based and mobile device to support the user’s cognitive state and prevent cognitive decline.

MIDAS (Multimodal Interfaces for Disabled and Ageing Society)

The MIDAS project aims is to provide customized support to all people in need of assistance, according to their own specific situation (age, handicap, etc.), by means of adaptive interfaces. The project develops complete and adapted solutions, making use of different types of devices, sensors and connectivity technologies.

Mpower (Middleware platform for empowering cognitive disabled and elderly people)

This project aims to devise ways to simplify and speed up the development and use of support services for helping older people and those with cognitive disabilities live full and active lives. The MPower platform will make it easier for the IT industry to develop integrated ICT applications for the target group. In particular, the project will support the use of smart homes technology and look into ways of making information management systems safe and secure.

Netcarity (a Networked multi-sensor system for elderly people – health care, safety and security in the home environment)

The project is investigating how new and existing technologies can be integrated cost effectively into people’s homes. It is developing and testing new technology, including systems to enhance communication with friends, family and carers. The aim is to support day-to-day living and promote a sense of social inclusion.

OASIS (Open architecture for Accessible Services Integration and Standardization)

OASIS introduces an innovative, Ontology-driven, Open Reference Architecture and Platform, which will enable and facilitate interoperability, seamless connectivity and sharing of content between different services and ontologies in all application domains relevant to applications for the elderly and beyond.

Persona (Perceptive spaces promoting independent ageing)

Persona aims to harmonise Ambient Assisted Living Technologies (AAL) in a bid to develop sustainable and affordable services that will support the social inclusion of older people, while allowing them to live independently for longer. In its search for easy-to-use, integrated technologies, Persona’s technology platform will harness and assess a range of ICTs, including smart textiles, tele-services, bio-sensors, display devices and intelligent software tools.

SENIOR (The Social Ethical and Privacy Needs in ICT for Older People: A Dialogue for Roadmap)

The Social Ethical and Privacy Needs in ICT for Older People: A Dialogue for Roadmap (SENIOR) is a 2 year support action which aims to provide a systematic assessment using dialogue as the key instrument to evaluate the social, ethical and privacy issues involved in ICT and Ageing. As a result, SENIOR will provide an understanding of how technological trends are responding to the goals of inclusion for the ageing and using lessons learned from those trends, plan strategies for the future to closely link these issues to technology at the design level. (SENIOR) is a 2 year support action which aims to provide a systematic assessment using dialogue as the key instrument to evaluate the social, ethical and privacy issues involved in ICT and Ageing. As a result, SENIOR will provide an understanding of how technological trends are responding to the goals of inclusion for the ageing and using lessons learned from those trends, plan strategies for the future to closely link these issues to technology at the design level.

Soprano (Service-oriented programmable smart environments for older Europeans)

The project is committed to designing and developing innovative ICT-based services that have interfaces which older people will feel comfortable using. The aim is to meet the needs not just of older users, but also of their families and care providers. The Soprano system will integrate assistive technologies designed for older people with smart home technology and tele-care services.

WAI-AGE: Web Accessibility Initiative – Ageing, Education and Harmonisation

This project seeks to gain a better understanding of the needs of older internet users. Its findings will inform new web accessibility guidelines under Wai-Age and provide relevant work groups with information about what support the elderly require to become more engaged with the world wide web. The project will also develop educational resources for the ICT industry and organisations representing older people, while promoting the harmonisation of web accessibility solutions.

Vital (Vital assistance for the elderly)

Vital aims to develop technologies, applications and platforms that will provide remote assistance products for older people. To do this, Vital promises to examine a whole range of technologies that cover issues such as computing on the move, location sensing, natural speech processing, digital TV and video, and mobile telephony. Vital seeks to provide a total package to elderly users, allowing them to access advice, assistance, information, education and entertainment services both inside and outside their home environments.