Brussels, 06/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission announced on Thursday 6 January the results of EU funding for a research project on using digital technology to improve the daily lives of elderly and disabled people. With €2.7 million of EU funding from the EU's sixth framework programme for research, researchers from the Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal, Spain and Sweden have developed a solution to give elderly and disabled people easier control over the various electronic appliances and services in their homes using their mobile phone or other devices. Using new technology to support dignified and high quality independent living for the elderly, visually impaired or people with cognitive disabilities is one of the key objectives of the Digital Agenda for Europe, adopted by the European Commission in May 2010, the Commission says.
As sales of TVs, DVD players, and other household appliances continue to grow, the interfaces through which they are operated are increasingly designed with only technology-savvy or digitally-aware consumers in mind. As a result, many people find it difficult to use and take advantage of the benefits of modern technologies at home. The European Union-backed “I2HOME” project has developed a personalised and simplified Universal Remote Console interface based on existing and evolving open standards aligning access technology such as remote controls to the needs of blind people, people with cognitive impairments, Alzheimer patients and the elderly. This interface can be in a universal remote control, a mobile phone, a computer or other devices and can be used to, for example, switch on and programme washing machines, lighting, heating, air conditioning, TVs, DVD players/recorders and other household devices. For the visually impaired, visual control menus are replaced by a speech interface. I2HOME has been tested in day-care centres and home settings in four pilot sites in the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain and Sweden and more than 100 organisations and companies in Europe already use or work with I2HOME technology. Other applications of this technology are used in the EU-funded BrainAble project which also helps people with disabilities by improving direct as well as indirect interaction with devices thanks to brain sensors that can measure feelings like boredom, confusion, frustration or information overload. (I.L./transl.rt)