Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Scenario 5.
Accessing information
Each older person can use his or her digital television or a facilitated computer to choose the kind of
information he or she is interested in, e.g. politics, sport, news or cultural events, and also the geographical
area of interest, local, national, continental, or intercontinental. Such information is described using a
comprehensible language - primary and secondary education should be sufficient to understand the news -
and should be expressed with video (using large characters) and audio tracks (with advanced signal
processing for compensation of hearing loss, e.g. noise reduction and dynamic compression). For each
item of information, the user can express judgements, remarks and opinions by means of both a facilitated
keyboard or voice-recognition software, and such judgements are sent directly to the main subjects that
manage the information or event.
Active participation of elderly in community activities requires organisational and
technological support. The organisational support has to guarantee that the valid and
specific interests of the elderly are considered in the decision processes of a community.
This can be done by establishing forum and focus groups which discuss the specific
needs of elderly, or by a direct integration of representatives of the elderly in the
decision process. The technological support could consist of a communication
infrastructure that allows a remote participation of the elderly on the decision process.
Access to local services and buildings is an objective to which all countries are
working towards. It is possible to design or modify public buildings to facilitate access
to people with motor deficiencies. Moreover, other possible ways for guaranteeing that
elderly and disabled people benefit from public services and activities should be
adopted:
•
increasing remote access to events and services;
developing local mobility networks of minibuses which move the elderly and
disabled from their homes to the location of services and events;
•
designing systems that move individuals autonomously to the desired location.
•
Scenario 6.
Physical access to services and activities
People who have motor deficiencies cannot move from their houses but can remotely access services or
events. Using digital television or a facilitated computer connected to biometrical recognition systems
(fingerprints, voice, optical) they can be identified and gain remote access to a specific service (e.g. a post
office or a register office) and talk with employees and workers. They can also use the same system to buy
tickets for particular events and watch them on the television or computer screen.
3.1.2.
Creativity, hobbies and sports
Sports and hobbies are ways for expressing a person's creativity and personality and
are a means of social interaction with other people. Older and disabled people often
have difficulties in carrying out this kind of activities because of sensory, cognitive or
motor deficiencies and also because of other persons' prejudices and ignorance.
Sports and hobbies can help to improve individuals' health in maintaining motor,
sensory and cognitive abilities and so to increase the quality of life. In most cases these
are also the means of creating relationships with other people and to become more
fulfilled persons.
Communities should work towards improving inclusion of disabled and older
people in participating in hobbies and sports, so enabling richer self-expression.
