European Commission, DG Information Society and Media

ICT addressing Societal Challenges

E-Inclusion activitiesE-Inclusion activities

in the European in the European CommissionCommission

E-Inclusion activitiesE-Inclusion activities

in the European in the European CommissionCommission

••• 2

e-Inclusion

• ICT to overcome exclusion• ICT as a factor of exclusion

(ICT = information and communication technology)

• Several EXCLUSION FACTORS– Age– Competences - skills, knowledge, attitude– Geographic location (e.g. urban / rural)– Culture, income, other socio-economic factors– Disability– Gender– …– Accessibility of ICT / e-Accessibility

••• 3

EU eInclusion policy in practiceOverview of instruments

Orientations & support- Documents, e.g. COMs- Events- Benchmarking…

Deployment-eTEN-CIP-Structural funds

Cooperation

- i2010 group (MS)-Legal committes (MS)- Industry & users dialogue

R&D- FP6, FP7

Regulation- e-communications- e-terminals- Procurement- TV without frontiers…

••• 4

The Information Society on the move

36

47

49

56

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

2002 2003 2004 2005

• 56 % of basic public services on-line

• 23 % of EU citizens purchase goods/services over the Internet regularly

Source: Eurostat

BUT:

• 30-40% of people are left behind

• Growing gap due to ageing

••• 5

Trends for e-Inclusion

• A social necessity,– But also an economic opportunity

• Citizens increasingly in the lead• Innovation in the public sector

– Inclusive eGovernment– eParticipation for all

••• 6

How can ICT help?

• E-accessibility– Making ICT services accessible for all

• Ambient Assisted Living– Technology to improve autonomy of

elderly

• Web 2.0: The Social Web– Use of the new Web technologies to

recreate social links

••• 7

Technology context Where do we come from?

Technologies for disability

Accessible technology good for all, design for all

All people included; Strong drive from ageing and mainstreaming;

From prevention of exclusion to

respect rights to participation;

Ambient

IntelligenceTech

nolo

gy

Conve

rgen

ce

••• 8

i2010, the EU’s Information Society Initiative

• A single European Information Space– Promoting an open and competitive internal market

for information society and media

• Innovation and investment in research – Strengthening ICT research to promote growth as

well as more and better jobs

• Inclusion, better public services and quality of life – Achieve an Inclusive European Information Society

that promotes growth and jobs in a manner that is consistent with sustainable development and that prioritises better public services and quality of life

••• 9

Riga Ministerial Declaration on e-Inclusion

Commissioner Reding said: “Inclusion is a cornerstone of the EU policy in the information society”

From digital divide to digital opportunity

6 areas:• ICT & Ageing• eAccessibility• Geographic digital divide• Digital literacy &

competences• Cultural digital diversity• Inclusive eGovernment

Riga Ministerial Declaration, 11 June 2006

••• 10

Promotion of e-Inclusion

• Exhibitions• Conferences• Websites• Dissemination of project results

••• 11

Benchmarking – The Riga Dashboard

• By 2010 – halve gap in internet usage for groups at risk of exclusion– increase broadband coverage to at least 90%– 100% of public websites to be accessible– halve digital literacy gaps for groups at risk of exclusion

• By 2007 – recommendations on accessibility standards/approaches;

could become mandatory in public procurement by 2010– assess necessity for stronger e-Accessibility legislation

• Other– Exploiting the potential of ICT solutions for older people

••• 12

E-Accessibility

• Achievements– Web Accessibility Guidelines– Assistive technologies for disabled

• Objective: mainstreaming– In-built accessibility features– Seamless integration of assistive

technologies

••• 13

Legislative landscape

Growth & Employment Social Cohesion & Quality of Life

eCom

munications

Framew

orkeC

omm

s universal

services/user rights

RT

T&

E

medical devices

Public procurementCopyrights

Web

accessibilityem

ployment equality

national social & health

regulations

DR

M

Data protectioninformation society anti-discrimination

anti-discrimination (+ UN Convention)

Structural Funds Art

16

TV

WF

••• 14

Ambient Assisted Living

• Achievements– Smart Homes– Navigation tools (for mobility

impaired, visual impaired)

• Objectives– Independent Living– Social Integration– Active ageing at work

••• 15

Challenge 7: ICT for Independent Living and Inclusion

Integration & Empowerment of

Individuals Participation

for All

Obje

ctiv

eO

bje

ctiv

eO

utco

me

Outco

me

New Markets – global leadership

Better Accessibility - better for all

Opportu

nitie

sO

pportu

nitie

sChalle

nges

Challe

nges 30% non-users

Aging Population Complex, inaccessible ICT

••• 16

• Demographic Ageing• i2010 flagship on ICT and

Ageing• E-Inclusion Policy • Riga Ministerial Declaration,

2006• eAccessibility Communication

• ICT has major catalytic role on Inclusion

• Major global market opportunity 20B€+/year

• Europe well placed to respond

Challenge 7: ICT for Independent Living and Inclusion

Independent Living Active Ageing Mainstream Accessibility &

usability Next Generations of Assistive

Technologies Role of ICT for an e-Inclusive

society

Prolonged independent living

Increased active participation

Reduction in the 30% of non-users

Global Leadership in Ageing market

Key A

reas

Key A

reas Im

pacts

Impacts

Indust

rial

Indust

rial R

ele

vance

Rele

vance

Policy

Policy

Rele

vance

Rele

vance

••• 17

eInclusion in CIPeInclusion in CIP

•Type B PilotsConsiderations for eInclusion Pilots B:Overcoming fragmentation for scaling up & investment; high visibility; economies of scale; replication; value chain cooperation. Building on existing initiatives.

Aging Well Pilots

Independent and healthy living From minor impairments (dementia, cognitive) to chronic

disease monitoring From daily living assistance to integrated, efficient health

and social care Deliverables: interoperable personal/health/social services,

common specifications, cost-effectiveness, user acceptance

Draft

Draft

••• 18

e-Inclusion in CIP (2)e-Inclusion in CIP (2)

• Type B Pilots

Accessible Interactive DTV Pilots

Advancing accessibility of DTV devices, content and services – esp. for people with disabilities and older persons

Step towards accessible communications in a convergent multi-platform environment

diffusion of advanced accessible AV through the mainstreaming of DfA Deliverables: set of usability, accessibility interoperability needs of

users, technology & service providersCONTEXT: TVWF and Digital Switchover - legal necessity; CENELEC – preparatory

requirements & specifications; convergence and dropping costs of set-top boxes;

Draft

Draft

SubtitlingAudio DescriptionSigning Speech output

Spoken command

••• 19

e-Inclusion in CIP (3)e-Inclusion in CIP (3)Dra

ftDra

ft

• Thematic Networks

ICT for active ageing at work(fostering uptake, lifelong learning, opening up of innovative new markets)

ICT for enhancing social integration and cultural diversity (improving language and communication skills, fostering cohesion)

eInclusion innovation platform (Inclusion as a source for innovation in ICT; innovation benefiting all)

••• 20

Next StepsAgeing well in the Information Society

Commission Communication, 2007

Communication on e-InclusionEnd 2007

Ministerial Conference in PortugalDecember 2007

E-Inclusion Event 2008

••• 21

Conclusion

An Inclusive Information Society

Social Necessity and Economic Opportunity