1. Session: Older People in the Digital Society Linking ICT to the social needs and values of the elderly Difficulties and possibilities OASIS 1st International Conference Florence, Italy 4-5 November 2009 Chair: Isabel Borges, AGE Prof. Dr. Guido Van Steendam Partner Senior Project Director The IFB KULeuven, Leuven, Belgium

2. WHO are the Elderly ? WHY link the Elderly to ICT? WHAT are the obstacles? HOW to address the obstacles? What are the possibilities? Linking ICT to the social needs and values of the elderly Difficulties and possibilities

3. WHO ARE THE ELDERLY

4. Blockbuster Not reduced to frailty & disengagement But rich, well-developed multidimensional life Technology Challenging. Prophetic No link with elderly Mere caricature The Incredibles (2004) WHO ARE THE ELDERLY

5. SENIOR 1st Review Bruxelles Not reduced to frailty & disengagement But rich, well-developed multidimensional life Technology Challenging. Prophetic No link with elderly Elderly The Lord of the Rings III (2003) WHO ARE THE ELDERLY Blockbuster No caricature

6. Elderly Not reduced to frailty & disengagement But rich, well-developed multidimensional life The Brothers Karamazov (1880) WHO ARE THE ELDERLY Top thematic novels

7. Not reduced to frailty & disengagement But rich, well-developed multidimensional life Technology Challenging. Prophetic No specific link with elderly Elderly The Godfather (1972) WHO ARE THE ELDERLY Top movies

8. WHO ARE THE ELDERLY Many :Not Frail and disengaged MANY ROLES have life with many dimensions DEEP LIFE dimensions are well developed & complex Frail and disengaged Increasing impairment (view, hearing…)

9. WHO ARE THE ELDERLY Many :Not Frail and disengaged Frail and disengaged Increasing impairment (view, hearing…)

10. Not reduced to frailty & disengagement But rich, well-developed multidimensional life Technology Challenging. Prophetic No link with elderly Elderly Indiana Jones IV (2008) WHO ARE THE ELDERLY Blockbuster

11. SENIOR 1st Review Bruxelles Not reduced to frailty & disengagement But rich, well-developed multidimensional life Technology Challenging. Prophetic No link with elderly Elderly Titanic (1997) WHO ARE THE ELDERLY Blockbuster

12. WHY NOT? We should not exclude the Elderly They are a growing market Interesting customers They are growing part of the active population WHY LINK THE ELDERLY TO ICT ?

13. OBSTACLES? WHY NOT SIMPLY: Develop the technology…. … and make it available … … disseminate it … … make it operational… One example WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES ?

14. Eurostat Internet access and broadband connections

15. WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES ? Eurostat Regular Use of Internet

16. WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES ?

17. Producers ProductsNot adapted? ChannelsNot targeted? SocietyEconomical Legal, Ethical UsersTraining, Other customs Perception ….

18. WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES ? Obstacles are not limited to the Ageing population The ageing population requires special attention.

19. * Different point of views to see the obstacles resulting in - different approaches to tackling them - different ways to organise the development Research, Development and Deployment * THREE major point of views - Autonomous technology in context - Social co-construction - Social co-optimizing HOW TO ADDRESS THE OBSTACLES?

20. ONE.AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY IN CONTEXT POINT OF VIEW Technology = free initiative component of modern society like free speech HOW TO ADDRESS THE OBSTACLES?

21. ONE.AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY IN CONTEXT HOW TO ADDRESS THE OBSTACLES? OBSTACLES? = 1. PRACTICAL LIMITS The product must reach the market APPROACH MINIMIZE IMPACT OF LIMITS Know (how to deal with) your client Make yourself known to potential clients 1. Market Studies, Usability Studies 2 Publicity and information campaigns 3. Organize feedback

22. ONE.AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY IN CONTEXT HOW TO ADDRESS THE OBSTACLES? OBSTACLES? = 2 ESLA LIMITS ESLA = ethical socio-economic and legal approach APPROACH MINIMIZE IMPACT OF LIMITS In contemporary society… we are free on condition that we do not harm others …. Respect free decision of others, privacy…

23. TWO.SOCIAL CO-CONSTRUCTION POINT OF VIEW = Technology is only one element of ongoing social developments = All elements together determine the direction we go = An element is only taken up, when it is linked to all others. HOW TO ADDRESS THE OBSTACLES?

24. TWO.SOCIAL CO-CONSTRUCTION Many examples in contemporary management of technology e.g. internet users are co-producers Social theory suggests this element is universal HOW TO ADDRESS THE OBSTACLES?

25. All technological instruments, artefacts – are socially constructed – are social constructions Wibe Bijker The Bike (UK, 1870) Does the bike work? TWO.SOCIAL CO-CONSTRUCTION

26. Wiebe Bijker (NL) The bike (UK, 1870) Does the bike work? NO TWO.SOCIAL CO-CONSTRUCTION

27. Wiebe Bijker (NL) The bike (UK, 1870) Does the bike work? YES TWO.SOCIAL CO-CONSTRUCTION

28. YES IF… falling… landscape, scenery solid construction reaching the interested bikers creating an interested audience TWO.SOCIAL CO-CONSTRUCTION

29. NO IF... shopping… bike ride in nature go to class, friends roads balance dresses TWO.SOCIAL CO-CONSTRUCTION

30. NOT as LIMIT BUT as an additional DRIVING FORCE HOW TO ADDRESS THE OBSTACLES? OBSTACLES? Nothing works as an island To survive, to breakthrough, to stabilize elements have to link up to other elements APPROACH MAKE MAXIMUM USE OF LINKS

31. THREESOCIAL CO-OPTIMISING POINT OF VIEW Do not just develop whatever is socially possible Be critical. Contribute to a society we want HOW TO ADDRESS THE OBSTACLES?

32. SOCIAL CO-OPTIMISING Niche for questioning the evident for improving the evident for social progress THREE.SOCIAL CO-OPTIMISING OBSTACLES? Nothing works like as an island Whatever works can be changed again APPROACH MAKE MAXIMUM USE OF LINKS Add elements to the social web to monitor, optimise, discuss

33. Summary Many Elderly are active -have many roles -are deeply involved in each Younger Senior and Older Senior Many good reasons to include the elderly in the digital society Many obstacles of all sorts Different ways to perceive the obstacles 1 A limit 2 A driving force 3 A niche of social progress

34. Thank you Guido Van Steendam guido.vansteendam@theIFB.eu