RESEARCH :: e-Inclusion :: Research – Supporting social and cultural inclusion
Research – Supporting social and cultural inclusion
Marginalised and vulnerable groups should not miss out on the benefits of the Information Society simply because of their social or cultural status. Research has been deployed to help immigrants, disabled people, the unemployed and those from economically disadvantaged areas bridge the digital divide. The aim is to harness Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to help people assimilate into their communities, live more independent lives or improve access to the jobs market.
Examples of Commission-funded research projects that aim to tackle socio-cultural exclusion from the Information Society include the following:
ICT for ALL
This project examines the social impact of ICTs and gauges how they are used by excluded communities such as migrants, disabled people and the unemployed. The aim is to measure the extent to which these groups find it difficult to access ICTs, and to come up with potential solutions.
To that end, ICT for ALL will:
More information
- develop a set of indicators that describe the social impact of ICTs on potentially excluded groups
- produce recommendations for policies and measures that could bridge the digital divide that exists between these groups and mainstream society.
Findings and recommendations produced by the project will be disseminated to relevant policy-makers at EU and Member State level.
http://www.ictforall.info/
CogKnow: Helping people with mild dementia navigate their day
People who suffer from dementia often need a great deal of support to carry out their daily tasks. The illness can not only cause people to forget, but also lead to social isolation and exclusion as sufferers withdraw from everyday life.
CogKnow aims to develop and prototype a cognitive prosthetic device to help those struggling with dementia to perform their daily activities. ICTs are linked via a screen to remind users to carry out regular tasks such as making a meal, locking doors or telephoning friends and relatives. Alarms sound if, for example, windows are left open or other dangers present themselves around the house. The system is flexible and can be tailored to meet the needs of individual users.
http://www.cogknow.eu/
MonAmi: Mainstreaming Ambient Intelligence
The project seeks to mainstream the accessibility of consumer goods and services. The aim is to develop technology platforms that allow elderly and disabled people to continue living in their own homes and stay in their communities.
MonAmi promises to select ‘clusters of services and applications’, which will be developed using the design-for-all approach. Solutions that improve a user’s safety, ability to communicate or support health and activity planning are key areas of research.
http://www.monami.info/