Roadmap towards future research

Dr. Evangelos Bekiaris,Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH)

Hellenic Institute of Transport (HIT)

The International Picture: Raising the Floor Initiative• International coalition of people and

programs.

• Coming together with a common goal.

• To put the Web and Mobile Technologies within reach of all those with disability, literacy, or aging related barriers, regardless of their economic status.

• Focus is heavily (but not exclusively) on access to the Web and Mobile technologies.

• RtF is an international consortium / movement in formation that includes and draws from the seminal activities (like from AEGIS).

• It is looking at User Needs definition, Solution Development, Support of Commercial AT (via CC and CDI), Awareness, User Support, Policy and Legal, Researcher Tools

• http://raisingthefloor.net/

• Info@RaisingTheFloor.net

The International Picture: National and Global Public Inclusive Infrastructures (1/2)• http://npii.org/

• What is really needed is a Global Public Inclusive Infrastructure (GPII).

• But we do not have a global government or the ability to build, fund and operate a global infrastructure directly.

• For example, it is unlikely that countries would like to have all the personal preference information for their citizens stored in some international institution.

• Also policies and programs differ from country to country.

• As a result - the only way to build a GPII is to build NPIIs and then federate them to work collaboratively -- and to reach out to other countries to help them establish NPIIs for their residents and guests.

The International Picture: National and Global Public Inclusive Infrastructures (2/2)• An international consortium of people and programs has begun to form

with the intention of creating enhancements to the global broadband (wired and wireless) infrastructure to facilitate access by people who would otherwise face barriers due to disability, literacy or aging.

• The goal of the group is to bring together cloud, web and platform technologies to create National and Global Public Inclusive Infrastructures that could make access simpler and more affordable, while addressing the needs of groups not adequately served today.

• It would build up and expand what we have today and enable new types of accessibility and extended-usability technologies and services.

• The NPII/GPII concept is not a wholly new concept. Rather, it is a combination and extension of many different existing efforts. Yet it brings them together in a way that has the potential to fundamentally change what is possible and practical.

eAccessibility in Europe

• Due to its social and economic importance, eAccessibility has been receiving increased policy attention in Europe recently.

• In Europe, the EC has stated that eAccessibility is “a social, ethical and political imperative” as well as having a high economic and market importance.

• Reflecting this, eAccessibility has been established as a key element within the i2010 initiative and the Ministerial Council agreed on a series of significant eAccessibility measures at their meeting in Riga in June 2006.

i2010 - A European Information Society for growth and employment (1/2)

Riga

Ministerial Conference

2006 2007 2008

COM on eInclusion

2010

Delivery

I2010 High

Level

Group and

eInclusion

subgroup

• 3 priorities/pillars: the 3 “is”

• The Single European Information Space

• Investment in R&D in ICT, innovation and the take up of e-business

• Inclusion, better public services and quality of life

i2010 - A European Information Society for growth and employment (2/2)

• 2010 Targets, including quantified targets:

– Reduce by half differences in internet usage between vulnerable groups and average;

– Broadband coverage to reach at least 90% of EU population;

– Reduce by half current digital literacy gaps;

– Ensure eAccessibility of all public websites by 2010.

Towards the Digital Agenda 2010-2020 for Europe (1/4)

• i2010 was the EU policy framework for the information society and media (2005-2009). It promoted the positive contribution that information and communication technologies (ICT) can make to the economy, society and personal quality of life.

• The strategy is now coming to an end and is going to be followed by a new initiative – the Digital Agenda – in 2010.

• Digital agenda website launched (successor of the i2010 initiative) : http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/digital-agenda/index_en.htm

Towards the Digital Agenda 2010-2020 for Europe (2/4)

• The Digital Agenda is Europe's strategy for a flourishing digital economy by 2020. It outlines policies and actions to maximise the benefit of the Digital Revolution for all.

• To achieve these goals, the Commission will work closely with national governments, concerned organisations and companies. An annual Digital Assembly will bring stakeholders together to assess progress and emerging challenges.

N. Kroes´message on Digital

Agenda for Europe

“Every European Digital”N. Kroes

Towards the Digital Agenda 2010-2020 for Europe (3/4)• Digital Single Market: Too many barriers still block the free flow of online services and

entertainment across national borders. The Digital Agenda will update EU Single Market rules for the digital era. The aims are to boost the music download business, establish a single area for online payments, and further protect EU consumers in cyberspace.

• Interoperability and Standards: The internet is a great example of interoperability - numerous devices and applications working together anywhere in the world. Europe must ensure that new IT devices, applications, data repositories and services interact seamlessly anywhere – just like the internet. The Digital Agenda identifies improved standard-setting procedures and increased interoperability as the keys to success

• Trust and Security: Only 12% of European web users feel completely safe making online transactions. Threats such as malicious software and online fraud unsettle consumers and dog efforts to promote the online economy. The Digital Agenda proposes a number of practical solutions, including a coordinated European response to cyber-attacks and reinforced rules on personal data protection.

• Very Fast Internet: New services such as high definition television or videoconferencing need much faster internet access than generally available in Europe. To match world leaders like South Korea and Japan, Europe needs download rates of 30 Mbps for all surfers and 100 Mbps for at least 50% of web users by 2020. The Digital Agenda aims to turn this ambition into reality by stimulating investments and proposing a comprehensive radio spectrum plan.

Towards the Digital Agenda 2010-2020 for Europe (4/4)• Research and innovation: To attract Europe's best minds to research, world class infrastructure

and adequate funding are crucial. The best research ideas must be turned into marketable products and services. Currently, EU investment in ICT research is still less than half US levels. The Digital Agenda seeks to maintain Europe's competitive edge through increased coordination and elimination of Europe's fragmented efforts.

• Enhancing e-skills: Over 50% of Europeans use the internet daily – but 30% have never used it at all! Moreover, disabled persons face particular difficulties in benefiting fully from new electronic content and services. As ever more daily tasks are carried out online, all our people need enhanced digital skills to participate fully in society. The Digital Agenda tackles this unacceptable digital divide.

• ICT for Social Challenges: Digital technologies have enormous potential to benefit our everyday lives and tackle social challenges. The Digital Agenda focuses on ICTs capability to reduce energy consumption, support ageing citizens' lives, revolutionises health services and deliver better public services. ICTs can also drive forward the digitisation of Europe's cultural heritage providing online access for all.

• You can send your ideas at: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/digital-agenda/survey/

Other project roadmaps

• eInclusion@EU project roadmaps(http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp6/ssp/einclusion_eu_en.htm)

• D2.6: “Policy roadmap report on eAccessibility” (December 2006)

• D3.4: “Policy roadmap on employment and work related eInclusion and eAccessibility” (February 2007)

• D4.4: “Topic Report No. III- A policy roadmap on eInclusion and eAccessibility in public services” (February 2007)

• eAbilities project roadmaps , September 2008 (http://www.e-isotis.org/projects_more.php?id=488_0_4_0_M)

• “AT for computer access technology roadmap”'

• “AT for mobile devices roadmap”

Technology Technology

evolution

Trends and

challenges

Gaps and

barriers

Time to

market

Headsets New features

like one-touch

pairing button,

lightweight

confort

Noise Shields

Bluetooth

headset and

bone

conduction

technology

Less than 5

years

Battery charger Intelligent

proximity

sensors

Maximisation

of the battery

life

Increase

the mobile

processor

capacity

Available in

the market.

Some

adaptations

in less than

5 years

Display screen Multi-touch

screen, zoom

Control

everything with

the fingers, Full

screen

magnification

Increase

the mobile

processor

capacity

Available in

the market.

Some

adaptations

in less than

5 years

Voice dialing Dialing

numbers

without looking

at the screen

Voice signal

solutions

Available in

the market

COST 219ter book, “Towards an inclusive future”

The AALIANCE Roadmap

Roadmap: • Main domains

• Enabling technologies

Strategic Research Agenda for AAL in Europe

CARDIAC Coordination Action

• www.cardiac-eu.org

• Aiming to:

• Consult widely with all the relevant stakeholders

• Identify short/medium and long term research priority areas within the context of ICT for independent living, inclusion and governance

• Produce research agenda roadmaps

• By:

• Consultation

• Gathering of position papers

• Structured Dialogic Design Process (SDDP) methodology previously known as Interactive Management Co-Laboratory

• Giving the floor to Mr. Patrick Roe…

To the future…

• ÆGIS Roadmap will be an amalgam of all roadmaps and political initiatives in the eInclusion area.

• Focus will be on the Open Source Accessibility, emphasizing on mobile, RIA and desktop accessible solutions, tools and AT.

• With the help of our Advisory Group (where Mr. Patrick Roe and Mr. Gregg Vanderheiden participate...).

So that we arrive at a truly mobile…

… standards abiding system