New information and communication technologies can make life easier for the elderly. They can, however, also affect people's right to privacy and individuality.
Assistive information and communication technology (ICT) may help the elderly to live their independent lives. However, it may conflict with fundamental rights and values. Main goal of the study is to explore how technology has to be developed for individual dignity and autonomy to prevail.
The project Value Ageing aims to foster co-operation between non-commercial and commercial entities on a joint research project about the incorporation of fundamental values of the EU in ICT for ageing. The project is situated within the People Programme on incorporating European Fundamental Values into ICT for Ageing, starting in November 2010.
ITA is responsible for the work package Best Practices – identification, analysis and collection:Until the end of September 2012, we will collect the regulatory and legal framework for best practice cases. From then onwards, we will search for best practice cases in the three areas of e-accessibility, ICT training for the social web as well as home care with technology support. The examples will be available later in 2014 in a database. The overall objective of the project "Value Ageing" is to develop guidelines for the design of assistive technologies for the elderly, which are in line with European values.
Our mission as an interdisciplinary research institute is to look at the living conditions of elderly people in a holistic way. If ICTs are used to provide dignified ageing with the help of technology, they must be designed in line with basic values and not conflicting with them. Most functions can be implemented without negative side effects, being thought of at early stages of development. The basic question is: How much technology is necessary in order to achieve a certain standard of care without compromising one’s privacy, dignity, and individuality.
-> The world’s population is ageing rapidly: in 2050, there will be three times as many people over the age of eighty than today.
-> Consequently, the demand for care and social services will rise. Meanwhile, disposable resourceswill decrease: social and healthcare budgets are shrinking as is the number of skilled personnel.
-> Great hope is projected on technology to support solutions for these challenges. But how do we need to shape technology in order to really support the elderly and meet their needs?
-> Die Weltbevölkerung altert rapide: Bis 2050 wird es drei Mal so viele Menschen über achtzig geben wie heute.
-> Der Bedarf an Gesundheits- und Sozialleistungen wird als Folge steigen. Die dafür verfügbaren Ressourcen werden gleichzeitig knapper: Sozial- und Gesundheitsbudgets schrumpfen ebenso wie die Zahl qualifizierter Arbeitskräfte.
-> In der Auseinandersetzung mit diesen Herausforderungen gilt Technik als große Hoffnungsträgerin. Wie müssen wir Technik aber gestalten, damit sie älteren Menschen tatsächlich nützt und ihren Bedürfnissen gerecht wird?
10/2010 - 08/2014