Slides from Ofcom report launch 13th Sept 2010. Slides and report available here: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/how-ofcom-is-run/committees/older-and-disabled-people/research/
13. Research scope (2) Products and services included: require high bandwidth to the user; and/or require high connection speeds between people; and/or likely to require higher speed and capacity networks when multiple services/users using the network at the same time; and/or extend the functionality of existing products and services 7
14. Research method Desk research: took place November 2009 to March 2010 15 interviews with experts in relevant fields in January-March 2010. 8
16. Potential benefits Potential benefits are manifold, e.g.: Improved access to products and services Improved usability of products and services Potential for more affordable services Increased participation Improved wellbeing Richer entertainment 10
17. Key findings Setting the scene- Health and wellbeing- Work and education- Leisure - Other day-to-day services
18. UK social and demographic trends Ageing population More people with access requirements and increased participation 12
19. UK social and demographic trends 13 “…we know that in the UK and in Europe, we have an ageing population and will need to look at the potential and capability of technology. And whether that’s smart robots, or smart monitoring, it will have to be thought about more seriously.” Stephen Dodson, DC10plus Network
20. Relevant technology trends Cloud computing Software as a service Personalised interfaces Ubiquitous mobile Multi-modal high presence display systems 14
22. Health and wellbeing - trends The research identified nascent trends that could benefit from superfast broadband: Remote interaction; TV as communication interface; Activity, health and wellbeing monitoring. 16
23. Health and wellbeing: potential benefits Prolonged independent living; Increased physical and psychological health and wellbeing; Improved motivation and self-management of health; Increased sense of wellbeing and security; More efficient, cost-effective, and targeted delivery of services; More accessible communication systems. 17
24. Example – Vital sign monitoring Whole System Demonstrator Around 6,000 users in Cornwall, Kent and Newham Uses two-way communication for effective feedback between health and social care monitoring centres and users Provides reassurance that professionals are aware of their physical state and available when necessary. 18
25. Example - Improved physical health 19 “… through access to health trend information, people can improve their own health expectations.” Steve Sadler, Tunstall Group
27. Work and employment - developments Enabling older and disabled people to participate more easily in work and education, e.g. Support greater remote presence Enable access to shared information resources Reduced social isolation, e.g. Increased access to working and learning New tools/services to enable users to work collaboratively on documents. Improved access for study and work, e.g.: Easier searching for information via more intuitive online searches Increased distribution of digital forms of communication, e.g. Making material more accessible to people with specific access needs 21
28. Work and employment: potential benefits Greater financial independence; More independent living; Improved psychological wellbeing; Improved sense of self-worth; Potential to support older and disabled people to contribute more to society and for longer 22
29. Example: Teleworking “Where the bandwidth becomes important for us is being able to do your job from home, to have less of a distinction between home and the work place. This will benefit people who maybe aren’t able to use offices in a traditional sense, or to carry on working longer.” Simon Mycock, BT 23
30. Example – Increased participation Vital Assistance for Elderly project Developing a tele-education platform To be delivered via TV set To provide multimedia courses designed for older people, e.g. cooking, household activities To offer education for self-caring, self-learning and entertainment. 24
32. Leisure: potential trends More engaging entertainment E.g. services that support higher fidelity audio-visual presentation or are more tailored to the user’s interests More life-like remote social interaction: E.g. services could include information that makes explicit information about oneself and others Better and easier access to leisure services: E.g. via increased personalisation Lower cost access to leisure services 26
33. Leisure: potential benefits Improved quality of entertainment Reduced social isolation resulting in improved psychological wellbeing 27
34. Example – More engaging content 28 “We have also been thinking and experimenting in genres such as drama and entertainment, with some unique things that you can do – for example, creating interactive experiences. We continue to experiment with this sort of innovation.” James Micklethwait, BBC
35. Example: More life like social interaction In virtual communities individuals could create new, high quality identities through which their physical appearance can be personalised into a new ‘identity’ This could facilitate more accessible forms of communication, with particular potential benefit to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. For instance, automated sign interpretation via avatars (though issues of acceptability) 29
36. Example – Reduced social isolation “I think the biggest benefit [of NGS] is allowing people who aren’t as able to do things outside of the home to feel connected, so you feel part of a wider world environment and communication is one of the biggest elements of this.” Simon Mycock, BT 30 “We research how you can use technology to reduce loneliness and help people meet other people. As you get older... how do you make meaningful relationships with new people with common interests, and how can technology help that? I would call that social networking, staying well, and staying engaged; society valuing older people and their contribution.” NiamhScannell (Intel)
38. Other day to day services – potential trends Context sensitive services: E.g. services that make use of awareness of where a user is located to present relevant information More accessible products and services E.g. more accessible, personalised interfaces Lower cost products and services Services supporting an easier life E.g. more automated services, including reminders for everyday tasks E.g. more engaging and realistic virtual worlds are being developed 32
39. Other day to day services – potential benefits Improved sense of safety and security; Increased efficiency and simplicity; More opportunities for participation in public life; Lower cost products and services; More accessible products and services; and Improved communications with others (including social groups, and commercial and care services), through media; More active involvement in day-to-day life. 33
40. Example: Services supporting an easier life “…we’re developing technology that is used in the house, for example, to let people navigate and then they go outdoors and it should still work. So we are going from the home network and the internet towards a mobile environment and to do this in a smooth way that everything works together without people getting confused. And we have to take into account that this could concern people, for example, that are having navigation difficulties - perhaps some memory problems, early dementia - then it does not always work perfectly together, so we have to rethink that.” Dr. Paul Timmers, European Commission 34
42. Risks Key risks and challenges identified include: Accessibility Logistics, e.g. seamless technical integration Impact, e.g. potential for increased isolation or dependence 36
43. Issues in addressing challenges The following issues were highlighted: Infrastructure: ensuring adequate, reliable network infrastructure and connectivity; Usability and accessibility: international co-ordination to support development of accessible products Cost: ensuring people are not excluded due to affordability Implementation: more coordinated interaction between stakeholders to minimise the logistical risks 37
45. Conclusions Next Generation Services promise the potential of numerous benefits to older or disabled people. If the challenges to their implementation are addressed appropriately, the opportunities for increased and easier access to services could: promote more independent living and participation; and help older and disabled people to lead healthier and more fulfilling lives. 39
46. Examples of Next Generation Services (NGS) that could benefit older and disabled peopleselected from full i2 media research report byACOD, September 2010
54. Increased physical and psychological health and wellbeing
55.
56. Offers a portable device that monitors people’s home environment using detectors / sensors
57. Provides added security and reassurance for users
58. Has been developed44
59. Example - Health and Wellbeing In the example below, the Cogknow device informs the user that their front door is unlocked The user then locks the door. The device detects that the door is now locked 45
60.
61. Uses environmental monitoring in a non-invasive way Here are some of the ways AEGIS sensors could operate as part of a security and energy monitoring system
88. Thank youFor more info and the full report please visit http://www.ofcom.org.uk/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/how-ofcom-is-run/committees/older-and-disabled-people/research/ 60
89. Panel Discussion Chair: Laura Muir, ACOD &Robert Gordon University Panel: Stephen Dodson, DC10 plus Simon Roberts, Intel &Race Online 2012 Jonathan Freeman, i2 Media & Goldsmiths University Maurice Mulvenna, ACOD & University of Ulster 61
91. Networking and Drinks For more information on ACOD please visit: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/how-ofcom-is-run/committees/older-and-disabled-people/ Thanks for coming! 63
Notas do Editor
NGN - high speed internet networks which make use of a range of innovations to provide benefits to users NGA - high speed data connections to people’s homes.
Improved access – e.g. for disabled peopleImproved usability - e.g. more usable, relevant, convenient and efficient products and servicesIncreased participation, e.g. given improved access, older and disabled people would be able to participate more in work and education, and in social and community activities, providing more options for social engagement and reducing social isolation.Improved wellbeing – e.g. Older and disabled people’s physical and psychological health and wellbeing stand to benefit through access to products and services designed to: (i) improve compliance with medical regimes, (ii) provide easier ways for professionals to provide care services for end users, and (iii) improve users’ sense of security and safety.Richer entertainment - As relatively heavy consumers of entertainment media, older and disabled people could benefit through access to more realistic and natural displays (e.g., high definition, 3D television) and interactions (e.g., digital games), and more personally relevant content.
Remote interactione.g. user engagement with professionals via media;
Vital sign monitoring
In what is possibly the world’s largest telehealth and telecare trial, the Whole System Demonstrator (with around 6,000 users across Cornwall, Kent and Newham) uses two way communication to support effective feedback between health and social care monitoring centres and service users, providing reassurance that health care professionals are aware of their physical state and are available to communicate with them when necessary.“…we provide equipment to people in their own homes or sometimes on the move. That equipment usually has a set of peripheral devices associated with it that are specific to their health or care needs, through for example blood pressure kits, weighing scales, glucometers for somebody monitoring their diabetes, all the way through to smoke detectors, flood detectors, door alerts for monitoring a relative with an Alzheimer condition. Those peripheral devices would map to your individual need and usually would be communicated via a hub device. It’s the job of that hub device to get the data across a telecommunications network to the ‘far end’. The ‘far end’ could be a family member or a carer, or more often than not, it would be an intermediary service provider – someone who 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year, is providing remote support and reassurance. This can be for real time alerts, such as smoke detection for a fire, through to a clinical nursing environment providing triage of your vital signs that alerts to a declining condition, perhaps in your diabetes or congestive heart failure. What Tunstall provides is everything from the equipment and peripheral devices in the home to assistance with the delivery the supporting services at the ‘far end’.”
Increased participation: the project identified multiple services in research and development, and many already out there, that have the potential to enable older and disabled people to participate more easily in the spheres of work and education. These include services that support greater remote presence (e.g., feeling involved in a work or study situation through high quality audio-visual interaction devices) and enable access to shared information resources (e.g., using the cloud).Reduced social isolation: flexible and adaptable use of new communications services and tools has the potential to increase older and disabled people’s access to working and learning, helping to overcome the potential less desirable impacts of working and studying at a distance from colleagues. New tools and services include those which enable users to share information about their current situations (for example, how they feel or what they are doing) via communications devices, and to work collaboratively on documents.Improved access: for study and work, searching for and accessing information has become easier through the internet, and the trend is likely to continue with ongoing developments in easier and more intuitive online search and information access, and NGS and applications that will rely on it. Increased distribution of digital forms of communication can render material more accessible to those with disabilities because the form of the content can be more flexibly delivered according to users’ needs (e.g., text, speech, video).
“They also need to get [super fast broadband] to rural businesses. It reduces environmental impact if people are able to work from home, more effectively, more reliably, and more innovatively. And it could reduce costs by millions.” Stephen Dodson, DC10plus Network
One example of a service in development is from Vital Assistance for the Elderly project. VITAL is developing a tele-education platform To be delivered via the TV setIt will provide multimedia courses designed for the elderly, e.g. cooking, household activitiesIt will offer education for self-caring, self-learning and entertainment.
“[BBC iPlayer is] putting power into the hands of the end-user allowing people to catch up on content they missed or that they hear about after the event. Over time increasingly users are going to come into iPlayer as a place to explore and discover content they didn’t know they wanted to watch.” James Micklethwait, BBC
“It’s very much being able to do more of the same thing, but doing it more efficiently, more productively and at the same time as doing other things. The ability for people to have multiple devices connected in the home running on the same piece of broadband effectively - someone watching a set-top box in the lounge, someone else downloading upstairs, somebody else instant messaging, somebody else on Facebook.”
Accessibility: If NGS are not accessible, usable, affordable, desirable and available to older and disabled people, then their benefits may not be realised.Key logistical challenges relate to: (i) seamless technical integration (so there are not technical barriers to users accessing products and services), (ii) effective coordination and integration of services, and (iii) a need to move from trials and pilots of new services to implementation.Impact: e.g. potential for (i) increased isolation (for example, if face to face care is replaced by a NGS), (ii) increased dependence (for example, because NGS might make it too tempting for users to rely on a service for actions they would otherwise be capable of doing for themselves), and (iii) excessive reliance on electronic systems (e.g., back up, security, quality of service for life critical services).
In addressing the challenges, the following issues were highlighted:Infrastructure: need to ensure adequate and reliable network infrastructure and connectivity available to enable users to access NGS;Usability and accessibility: need for internationally coordinated work to support the development of NGS and products that are accessible and easy to use for people with a wide range of abilities. Key considerations here relate to:supporting the adoption of best practice in product and service research and development (e.g., following user centred design principles);the regulatory and legislative environment: ensuring it supports the development of usable and accessible products and services;standards for interoperability: so that personalised interfaces (meeting different user needs) can be easily integrated with NGS and products;Cost: ensuring that potential beneficiaries are not excluded from the benefits of NGS on the grounds of affordability. Considerations in relation to cost may include supporting competition amongst product and service providers, making available social tariffs, and price caps;Implementation: more coordinated mobilisation of and interaction between stakeholders (government, health service, social care services, regulators, service providers) is likely to be necessary to minimise the logistical risks to the realisation of the potential benefits of NGS for older and disabled people.
Some of the potential benefits of Next Generation Services in the area of health and wellbeing include:- Prolonged and independent living- Increased physical and psychological health and wellbeing, and- An increased sense of wellbeing and security
The first example is called COGKNOW.This project has developed a cognitive support device. It helps people with mild dementia navigate their day-to-day activities. The device monitors people’s home environment using detectors and sensors. Overall, it provides added security and reassurance for users in their home.This device has now been developed. Details: not part of scriptThe CogKnow project “aims to develop a user-validated, cognitive prosthetic device and associated services Within this project, a Mobile Cognitive Prosthetic (or Assistant) has been developed which communicates with a ‘Home-based Hub’ device via a Wi-Fi network within the home environment, whilst it utilises GPS technology to support users if they become lost and require support to ‘take them back home’” [71]. The CogKnow project ended in August 2009.
In this example, the Cogknow device informs the user that their front door is unlocked. The user then locks the door. The device detects that the door is now locked
The second example is a project called Assisting the Elderly and disabled Generation using a behaviour modelling Intelligent System (or AEGIS).This project is in development. It aims to assist people to live independently. It uses automated environmental monitoring in the home, in a non-invasive way. Some of the ways in which AEGIS sensors could form part of security and energy monitoring system include a flood detector in the bathroom or a low temperature sensor in the bedroom.Notes – not part of scriptSource: Page 34, https://ktn.innovateuk.org/c/document_library/get_file?p_l_id=55527&folderId=167232&name=DLFE-1618.pdfThe AEGIS - Assisting the Elderly and disabled Generation using a behaviour modelling Intelligent System - project aims “to provide an automated solution to monitor the wellbeing of the elderly in a totally non-invasive manner, we propose to develop an automated intelligent monitoring system operating as part of a security and energy monitoring system, providing a unique non-intrusive, added value system”
Some of the potential benefits of next generation services in the area of work and education include: Increased participation in work and education Reduced social isolation and counters some of the negative aspects of working or studying at distance Improved access to work and education, as well as tools for searching and accessing information
Some of the many NGS benefits within the world of work include: Enhanced virtual team working Better access to work with greater remote working facilitiesTeleworking within rural areas
and potential benefits within education include: Increasing access to broadband among all groups Remote access to education at all levels Improved home schooling
Potential benefits within Leisure include… More life-like remote social interactionMore engaging entertainment Better access to leisure services Lower cost access to leisure services
An example of potential benefits within leisure is the way in which… Existing services could exploit the capabilities of NGN making them easier to access for all people, for instance, by providing high quality, real time, voice, video and text For example: Televisionand Radio content is now increasingly provided via the internet offering flexibility and choice enhancing the overall quality of entertainment;Social networking is also allowing peoplessocial circles to be widened from within the home
Potential benefits of NGS in the area of day to day activities include: Improved sense of security and safetyMore accessible products and services:Lower cost products and services:Services supporting an easier life
Examples of benefits within Other Day-to-Day activities include: Location aware services offering relevant information, for example, directions or identify risks within the users locale Developments in VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol ) with the addition of video alongside audio Automated services which can providereminders about performing dailytasks
An example of a product in development is the gesture pendent prototypeThis allows devices to be controlled by the wave of a hand. The pendent contains a wireless camera. The user makes gestures in front of it and can then control devices . Can be used to control lighting, akitchen sink, etc
One example that helps to illustrate some of the different technologies, is OASIS –Open architecture for Accessible Services Integration and Standardisation.OASIS aims to create services which will support and encourage physical and psychological independence, social engagement and emotional well being.The project is still in development with plans to start testing a pilot in early 2011.This animated video example follows John and Sue using OASIS in their day-to-day lives illustrating the different types of benefits NGS can provide.
Thank you allFor more information including a copy of this presentation, as well as access to the full report please visit the Ofcom website on www dot ofcom dot org dot uk