The e -Europe initiative and the IST programme Lisboa, 10 April 2000 Information Society Technologies (IST) Manuel Monteiro, “Applications for People with.

The e-Europe initiative and the IST programmeLisboa, 10 April 2000

Information Society Technologies (IST)Information Society Technologies (IST)

Manuel Monteiro, “Applications for People with Special Needs” Unit

DG Information Society, European Commission

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The EU Summit on Employment, Economic Reforms and Social Cohesion

“The application of digital technologies has become the key factor for growth and employment…”

“…the e-Europe initiative seeks, at the highest level, to have immediate and significant impact to accelerate the smooth transition to the Information Society”

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e-Europe: 3 Key objectives

First, we must bring every home, every school, every business and every administration on-line.

Second, we need to create a digitally-literate Europe, which benefits from the support of an entrepreneurial culture, ready to develop and finance new ideas.

Third, we must ensure that the transition to the digital age is a socially inclusive process – that it builds consumer trust and strengthens social cohesion.

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e-Europe: A vision of the Information Society for All

An open, inclusive Information Society, accessible to all citizens without discrimination. Based on...

e-Participation for citizens of all ages and abilities.

e-Empowerment - enabling all citizens to have access to information, enhance their capacities and contribute to society.

…opening up new markets, stimulating industry, creating wealth and improved quality of life.

- to be driven by Information Society Technologies

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e-Participation

The access bottlenecks must be removed! 1. Telecommunications - “Universal Access” - Access to technologies is unevenly distributed across countries, social groups, regions…

2. “Access for persons with disabilities” - access to systems, software and content can be difficult or even impossible for persons with disabilities...

Reduced access is holding back the delivery of the benefits of the Information Society to all.

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3 out of 4 Europeans are not using the Internet!

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

1995 1998 2000 2005

Internet users per 1,000 people

Source: Computer Industry Almanac Inc.

North America

Western Europe

Worldwide

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55% of Europeans don’t have a mobile phone!

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

B DK D EL E F IRL I L NL A P FIN S UK USA

Source: FT Mobile Communications USA: Cellular Telecoms Industry Association

Mobile subscribers per 100 inhabitants(December 1999)

EU average

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e-Participation

Demographics of disability:10% - 15% of Europeans have a disability, of which:

2 % have a visual impairment

3% have a hearing impairmentover 2% have learning difficulties

20% of the European population are over 60 years of age – many of whom have never tried to use a personal computer.

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“e-Participation” targets

By the end of 2000:

1. Review Information Society legislation and standards on accessibility.

2. Recommendation to take account of people with disabilities in the public procurement of information and communications products and services.

By the end of 2001: 3. Commitment to make all public Web sites and their content accessible to people with disabilities.

By the end of 2002: 4. Create centres of excellence in each Member State to develop an EU curriculum in Design-for-All.

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IST Programme: organisation

Research networkingResearch networking

Future & emerging technologiesFuture & emerging technologies

Key Action 4Key Action 4Essential technologies & infrastructureEssential technologies & infrastructure

Key Action 1Key Action 1 Systems & servicesSystems & services

for the citizen for the citizen

Key Action 2Key Action 2New methods of work &New methods of work & Electronic Commerce Electronic Commerce

Key Action 3Key Action 3 MultimediaMultimedia

content & toolscontent & tools

Cross Programme Actions

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IST Programme

IST High-Level Advisory Group (ISTAG):

”...Start creating the ambient intelligence landscape for seamless delivery of services and applications in Europe relying also upon test-beds and open source software, develop user-friendliness, and develop and converge the networking infrastructure in Europe to world-class".

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IST Programme: a new research paradigm

Ambient intelligence = ubiquitous computing + ubiquitous communication + intelligent interfaces

which will allow…

...The realisation of innovative, user-friendly, intelligent and communicating products and systems, delivering leading- edge services to persons with special needs, including disabled and elderly people.

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IST Programme

Research and technological development in association with users and industry shall be a key driver of development towards the inclusive Information Society and shall provide support to the e-Europe initiative with projects and actions related to the 4 targets for “e-Participation of persons with special needs”.

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IST Programme… and earlier programmes

We are not starting from Zero:

Since 1990, the European Community has funded over 120 projects with 120 MEURO of Community funding to develop assistive technology and telematics applications for disabled and elderly persons.

TIDE initiative - Telematics for the Integration of Disabled and Elderly persons

TAP - Telematics Applications Programme

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IST Programme… and earlier programmes

Making Information and Communication technologies accessible.

Examples of previous RTD projects: Graphic User Interface for blind persons (GUIB). Standardisation of “Smart Cards” (SATURN). Web Accessibility Initiative Guidelines for the design of accessible web pages and web content (WAI). “Design-for-All” RTD projects, Telephones for All.

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IST Programme

Examples of RTD themes in the IST Workprogrammes 1999 - 2000: IST Systems and services for independent living Intelligent assistive systems and interfaces to compensate for functional impairments Sustainable workplace design Extended home environments (Cross Programme Action) Advanced user interfaces, displays and sensors

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e-Europe and the IST Programme

References on the Web

e-Europe Initiative goes on-linehttp://europa.eu.int/comm/information_society/eeurope/index_en.htm

and

The Information Society Technologies programmehttp://www.cordis.lu/ist