Active Ageing and Independent Living Services: The Role of Information and Communication Technology

Ageing populations influence services and traditional social support systems like social and health care in the European countries, as well as global patterns in labour and capital markets. It is widely accepted that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) applications can provide new ways of helping older citizens to live independently. ICT-based applications for independent living vary from general purpose and communication applications to applications specifically for e-learning, e-work and e-health. ICT-based services and understanding the needs of older people are key to supporting Active Ageing in upcoming ageing societies. However, there is still limited understanding of older people's technology-related needs. This report aims to support the research and policy development activities of DG Information Society and Media towards the European Research Area. It highlights the main policy areas related to ageing, where ICT-based applications could play a role, and suggests a number of research and policy challenges that need to be resolved in order to maximise the opportunities offered by ICT.JRC.J.4-Information Societ

Emerging technologies and the teaching profession: Ethical and pedagogical considerations based on near-future scenarios

Will today’s emerging technologies impact the teaching profession in the future? Which parts of the teaching tasks or learning processes could be substituted, enhanced and transformed through automatisation, algorithms and machines? To help educational stakeholders with strategic reflection and anticipatory thinking, eight future-oriented scenarios are outlined using foresight methods. The aim of the scenarios is to see the future as something to shape. These near-future scenarios aim to solve a number of problems that educators of today say prevent them from delivering quality education and training. They take place in classrooms, lecture halls, training centres and digital learning environments in which emerging technologies could be used to support educators in their profession. Key challenges emerging from the scenarios relate to ethical considerations (e.g. balance between human autonomy and machines, datafication of education, pedagogical models) and the evolving competence requirements of teaching professionals. At the end of the report, a number of insights for policy reflection are raised. They aim to prompt the need today to discuss the future role of emerging technologies in education and training, and their impact on the teaching profession.JRC.B.4-Human Capital and Employmen

Public Procurement for the Promotion of R&D and Innovation in ICT

This report discusses the findings of a study carried out by JRC-IPTS which aimed to assess the status of public technology procurement in the EU member states in terms of size, evolution, drivers and barriers. As the study was exploratory, it cannot be claimed that the results are conclusive. However, they have clarified several important points which are worth considering in the policy-formulation process. The public sector has the potential to positively influence innovation and R&D through public procurement. It provides a sufficient and stable demand for innovative products, thereby reducing the risks associated with innovation for suppliers. It also acts as the main or first user of new products or services. Thus, public procurement can be most influential in the early stages of the life-cycle of a product, promoting emerging industries.JRC.J.4-Information Societ

LifeComp: The European Framework for Personal, Social and Learning to Learn Key Competence:

“Personal, Social and Learning to Learn” was set as a key competence in 2018 by the Council Recommendation on Key Competences for Lifelong Learning. The LifeComp framework regards “Personal, Social and Learning to Learn” as a set of competences applying to all spheres of life that can be acquired through formal informal and non-formal education, and can help citizens to thrive in the 21st Century. These competences have been established following a thorough literature research and several consultations with experts and stakeholders. LifeComp has nine competences with three descriptors each. The framework is conceptual and non-prescriptive. LifeComp can be used as a basis for the development of curricula and learning activities fostering personal, and social development, and learning to learn. The description of the competences can help in exploring its implementation and be contemplated as the embryo of a continuous discussion with teachers and educational policymakers.JRC.B.4-Human Capital and Employmen

ICT, Social Capital and Cultural Diversity: Report on a Joint DG JRC/IPTS-DG INFSO Workshop held in Istanbul (Turkey), 25 April 2007

This report presents the key results of an expert workshop jointly organized by the Information Society Unit at IPTS and DG Information Society and Media, Directorate H, eInclusion Unit, complemented by additional research. The objective of the workshop was to analyse the potential of ICT (in particular social computing) and social capital, for the social and economic integration and participation of Immigrants and Ethnic Minorities (IEM). This objective had been defined as a priority in the Riga Ministerial Declaration on eInclusion. The report also contains policy recommendations, based on the analysis presented, with a view to contributing to the preparation of the 2008 eInclusion Initiative.JRC.J.4-Information Societ

The Socio-economic Impact of Social Computing: Proceedings of a Validation and Policy Options Workshop

This report presents the major outcomes of a validation and policy options workshop on social computing, held at IPTS in Seville, on 26-27 February 2008. It points to a number of relevant issues (including methodological and conceptual ones) that need to be taken into account in a study of the socio-economic impacts of social computing. It argues that there is little room for direct policy interventions in social computing but that framework conditions and impacts at sector-level (e.g. education, government) need to be considered. The report also discusses the future of social computing and the opportunities it offers Europe.JRC.J.4-Information Societ

Tecnologías de la información y la comunicación para la vida independiente

Independent living policies, especially for older people, are being endorsed by recent initiatives at European level. In particular, the programme i2010, promotes research on what ICT can do for independence in the ageing society. This book chapter, to be published by the Vodafone foundation, highlights the sociological aspects of independent living across the EU and the activity models for older people identified by recent European studies. It also elaborates on technological trends and developments that are relevant to independence and activity and highlights the potential of emerging technological paradigms, such as Ambient Intelligence and Convergence of technologies, in helping to achieve a more inclusive society.JRC.J.4-Information Societ

Ageing Societies, Information and Communication Technologies and Active Ageing: Introductory Remarks

The aim of this book was, firstly, to summarize the current debate on the key elements of ageing societies, which was done in Section A (Börsch-Supan, Walker, Gilhooly et al., Gassmann/Keupp and Shiraishi). Secondly, the link between ageing societies, Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and active ageing was discussed by using an application/policy field approach in Section B. As argued throughout this book, ICT-based applications for active ageing is a new and promising framework (Malanowski) for tackling the challenges of ageing societies, transforming them into opportunities and using as many opportunities of ageing societies as possible. This broad framework focuses on the macro-level of (European) politics and also inspires discussion, policy initiatives and coordinated actions on the meso and micro level (Member States and EU regions), thus supporting multi-layered and comprehensive politics (Walker) in the European Union, and in the Member States and the EU regions. Nevertheless, before it can be implemented, further research work and policy enhancement is needed.JRC.J-Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (Seville

ICT for Independent Living Services

In order to maximise the potential of Independent Living Services (ILS) for active ageing, it is expected that innovative organizational models will be needed to support their implementation. For example, closer co-ordination between all service providers and stakeholders of independent living services is essential, such as health and social services providers' coordination for early detection of risks and preventive interventions. ICT have a central role to play in new models of healthcare, since they allow the networking and sharing of citizen information among all stakeholders that underpin a more integrated care provision. New models also allow continuity of care, avoiding unnecessary hospitalization or intrusive surgery, minimizing the disruptive effect of healthcare interventions on patients' daily lives. Specific research to better understand how ICT can contribute to enabling independent living through new models of care would be needed. Current models and solutions for care provision need to take better account of user-contexts. There is a need for research into methods on how to integrate users into the research and development process generally, i.e. not only the older citizens but also all the other actors in the ILS area, including formal and informal carers. Awareness about ILS and its opportunities is limited among potential users, professional organisations and policy makers alike. Outreach strategies that familiarize all stakeholders with technological options already available and under development are required.JRC.J.4-Information Societ

ICT for Health: Social Computing

A question of extraordinary interest for the active ageing paradigm is the importance given to preventive medicine and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. In this sense, we consider that Social Computing is a very good example since its potential is enormous and needs to be further explored. It is obvious that ICT technologies, in general, facilitate the wider and quicker dissemination of healthy lifestyles and the prevention of dangerous habits. However, what is the added value offered by Web 2.0 applications, and how have Internet users¿ attitudes changed? And more specifically, what are the advantages for older citizens? Social computing: 1) facilitates the fast dissemination of preventive health measures and of healthy ways of living; 2) shortens the sometimes long wait for an appointment with a health professional; 3) facilitates the personalisation of health-related information making it more realistically accessible by posting reminders to patients of their periodic clinical examinations or seasonal vaccinations and 4) provides information adapted to the level of disability or the physical limitations.JRC.J.4-Information Societ