Dr Evangelos Bekiaris Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH)/Hellenic Institute of Transport (HIT)

1. AEGIS international conference
Seville 7-8.10.2010
EU policies on e-inclusion
Miguel Gonzalez-Sancho
European Commission,
DG Information Society and Media
ICT for Inclusion Unit (H3)

2. Presentation overview
• Political framework and EU e-accessibility policy
– Europe 2020
– UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities
– EU disability strategy 2020
– Digital agenda for Europe
• EU e-accessibility legislation
– EU electronic communications framework
– Standards
• EU support on e-accessibility
– CIP, research, monitoring & analysis
• Current research call
••• 2

3. Europe 2020 > 7 flagships
• New European legislature, Barroso II
– N. Kroes (e-agenda)
– V. Reding (equality)
• Europe 2020 strategy
– Post Lisbon > crisis > wake-up call!
– Smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
• Digital Agenda for Europe
– Legal framework (> PWD in telecoms, audiovisual)
– R&D and innovation on ICT
– Promote internet access: digital literacy, accessibility

4. UN Convention on rights of persons with disabilities
• International treaty on human
rights
– Principles and obligations
– Share of competences EC/ Member
States
• Many references to technology
– R&D, availability, info of new
technologies [art. 4]
– Accessibility [article 9]
– Personal mobility [art 20]
– Expression and information [art 20]
– (Re)habilitation [art 26]
– Political and public participation
[art 29]
– International cooperation [art 32]
••• 4

5. Disability Action plans 2003-2010
• 3 Communications on the situation of
persons with disabilities:
o COM/2003/650
o COM/2005/604
o COM 2007/738
• 3 pillars
o Antidiscrimination
o Mainstreaming
oAccessibility
••• 5

6. New EU disability strategy 2020
• Implementation UNC:
– Implementation thematic level
– Implementation at formal level
• Coordination
• focal point
• independent mechanism
– Monitoring:
• Statistics
• Indicators and targets with dates
• UNC report
• Thematic Actions
– 10 areas (including accessibility), various actors
– European Commission actions
– Possible common actions at National level
– EU institutions
– Civil society

7. Digital Agenda for Europe
Pillar 6: Digital literacy, skills
and inclusion
(> e-accessibility)
• Accessibility mainstream
across new EU law
• Web accessibility
• Digital access
• Accessibility in telecoms
+ audiovisual EC law

8. Recent EU policy initiatives
on e-accessibility
• eAccessibility Communications in 2005 and
2008
• Ministerial Declarations, Council and EP
resolutions, etc
• Monitoring the progress.

9. Presentation overview
• Political framework and EU e-accessibility policy
– Europe 2020
– UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities
– EU disability strategy 2020
– Digital agenda for Europe
• EU e-accessibility legislation
– EU electronic communications framework
– Standards
• EU support on e-accessibility
– CIP, research, monitoring & analysis
• Current research call
••• 9

10. European law relevant to e-accessibility
Growth & Employment Social Cohesion & Quality of Life
anti-discrimination / Disability AP
Accessible information society Equality Directives
Copyrights UN Convention on Disability
Public procurement Data protection
(mandate 376) State aids
Standards
VAT

11. Revised regulatory framework on electronic
communications
• New package agreed by Parliament and Council en 2009
• To transpose by Member States by 25 May 2011; 3 acts:
– Regulation establishing the Body of European Regulators for Electronic
Communications (BEREC)
– New “citizens Directive”, reviewing current Directives on 1. universal
service/ users‟ rights, 2. data protection
– New “better regulation”, reviewing current Directives on 1. framework,
2. access, 3. authorisations
••• 11

12. Revised regulatory framework on electronic
communications
• Provisions on e-accessibility
– Reinforces current provisions (e.g. from „may‟ to „shall‟ = compulsory)
– New provisions
• Areas
– Access to networks and services + other requirements on providers
– Affordability and quality of service
– Equipment
– Information and consultation
• Transposition follow-up
– Communications Committee (COCOM) > inclusive communications
experts‟ group (INCOM), questionnaire from report in preparation
– BEREC consultation planned
••• 12

13. Accessibility related standards work – mandates
• Mandate 376: Accessibility requirements for public
procurement of products and services in the ICT domain
• Mandate 420: Accessibility requirements for public
procurement in the Built Environment
• New Draft Mandate to include Accessibility following DFA in
relevant standardization activities
• Mandate 392 Domestic appliances
• Mandate 371 Services-tourism, transport
••• 13

14. Accessibility related standards work – approach
o Inventory Phase I
o Conformity assessment
 Self declaration – Third party
 Voluntary – Mandatory
 Reliable
 Reproducible
 Independent
 Clear meaning
 Transparent
 Testable
o Standards development Phase II
o Toolkit
o Supporting participation of persons with disabilities
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/standards_policy/mandates/database/i
••• 14
ndex.cfm?fuseaction=refSearch.search

15. Presentation overview
• Political framework and EU e-accessibility policy
– Europe 2020
– UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities
– EU disability strategy 2020
– Digital agenda for Europe
• EU e-accessibility legislation
– EU electronic communications framework
– Standards
• EU support on e-accessibility
– CIP, research, monitoring & analysis
• Current research call
••• 15

16. Research; R&D and Ambient Assisted Living
programmes
• Ongoing: FP6 + 7 + AAL • Ongoing, to come
– Smart navigation – AAL call 3
– Robotic manipulators
– Hearing aids – FP7 2011-12 (ICT conference)
– Wheelchairs
– Audio-description • Ageing and Wellbeing
– Software for dyslexia • ICT for smart and personalised
inclusion
– (Newest) brain-neural
computer interfacing
– FP8
– Embedded accessibility
– User simulation
– Smart homes,
monitoring
– cognitive support
– Robotics for elderly
– Cooperation networks
– > New project „Cardiac‟

17. Existing EU Portfolio
ICT & Ageing R&D Projects
ADL
Mobility/ CONFI
VITAL
SENS
DENCE ACTION- Support
Falls AAL
UNIVERS SMILING SHARE-IT
AAL ENABLE EASYLINE
+
OASIS MONAMI VITAL HERMES KSERA FLOREN
MIND
CE
PERSONA MPOWER COG ELDER
SRS MOBI
KNOW GAMES
SERV
Service &
I2HOME SOPRANO DIADEM COMPANI
Social
Cognitive ABLE
Robotics
Support
Open Platforms Advanced
and Tools Prototypes
Roadmaps Int. Coop.
SENIOR AALIANCE EPAL CAPSIL BRAID
Ethics Supporting Measures ••• 17

18. Deployment:
ICT Policy Support Programme
• From calls 1-3 • Call 4 (closed 1.6.2010)
– Deployment pilots in – Deployment pilot on
• accessible DTV, accessible public digital
• Emergency services terminals, e.g. ATMs
• Independent living of
elderly – Thematic Network on
– Thematic network assistive technologies
• Support to
accessibility policy
(planned)

19. Monitoring, analysis, good practice
http://www.eaccessibility-monitoring.eu
• Ongoing study on costs &
benefits of e-accessibility
• New study on future e-
accessibility opportunities and
challenges

20. Presentation overview
• Political framework and EU e-accessibility policy
– Europe 2020
– UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities
– EU disability strategy 2020
– Digital agenda for Europe
• EU e-accessibility legislation
– EU electronic communications framework
– Standards
• EU support on e-accessibility
– CIP, research, monitoring & analysis
• Current research call
••• 20

21. Objective ICT-2011.5.4:
Call 7 ICT for Ageing and Wellbeing
Key Area More efficient care, prolonged
independent living and better
Service and social quality of life of elderly and carers
robotics systems for Strengthened global position of
ageing well European industry in Service
Expected Impacts
Target Outcomes
robotics
Key Area Proven ICT concepts for early
detection of ageing-related risks
Smart and self-adaptive
environments prolonging Global industrial and academic
independent living leadership in ICT and Ageing Well
Common strategic vision / RTD
Coordination Frameworks roadmap for ICT for ageing well
in Europe and beyond
RTD roadmaps and
Stakeholder coordination Comprehensive specific vision on
ICT for Ageing at Work
Key Area
Proven impact from demand
Pre-Commercial Procurement driven R&D to accelerate
on elderly care robotics innovation in elderly care robotics

22. Target outcome a):
Service Robotics for Ageing Well
– Care solutions integrating R&D advances in
robotics research and intelligent environments
• Excluded: R&D on robotics components
– Providing improved quality of life and efficiency of
care for elderly people and their carers
• Support for daily living and care
activities
• Interacting with people
(context detection)
• Integrated with other smart artefacts,
intelligent home space + services
• Usability, ethics
• Improving state of the art

23. Target outcome b):
Smart and Adaptive Environments
prolonging Independent Living
– Flexible care solutions able to provide early detection of
individual care needs and support related to ageing
• E.g. increased risks of falls, depression, sleep deprivation,
cognitive decline ….
– Building on long term monitoring of unobtrusive daily
behavioural and physiological sensing and analysis
• Unobtrusive sensing available in future
homes
• Better prediction/prevention & support
• Advanced reasoning and trend
analysis with medical correlation
• Integrated solutions with adaptive
support
• Validation of results

24. Target Outcome c)
Coordination Frameworks
ICT and Ageing Well
• Objectives
– Further development of RTD Roadmaps in ICT for Ageing Well
– Continue and widen stakeholder coordination
– Boosting open standards development
– International cooperation with North America and Asia
• Essential elements
– One CSA only: Coordination Action OR Support Action
– Credible industrial and other relevant stakeholder
involvement essential
ICT and Active Ageing at Work
• Objectives
– Further development of RTD Roadmaps in ICT for Ageing at Work
– ICT R&D analysis
– Stakeholder cooperation
• Essential elements
– One CSA only: Coordination Action OR Support Action
– Credible industrial and other relevant stakeholder
involvement essential

25. Objective ICT-2011.5.4:
Call 7 ICT for Ageing and Wellbeing
Expected Impacts
Target Outcomes
Effective cooperation and linkage
between longer-term research and
Key Area innovative real-life implementation
Services for elderly people of robotics based solutions for
ageing well
through Pre-Commercial
New public-private partnerships for
Procurement (PCP) sustainable improvements in care
provision
Strengthened global position of
European industry in Service and
Social robotics

26. 7th FP Call 7, Objective ICT-2011.5.5
ICT for Smart and Personalised Inclusion
Call overview
Key Area Advanced human-computer
Tools and infrastructures interaction
Target Outcomes
Expected Impacts
for mainstream Improved competitiveness of
15M € European industry
accessibility up to 3 IPs
Facilitated and richer social
Key Area interactions
Intelligent and social
computing 9M €
up to 1 IPs + STREPS
Key Area
Proof of concept and mainstream
Brain-Neural Computer exploitation
Interfaces 9M €
up to 1 IPs + STREPS International Cooperation
Coordination and Support Actions Common strategic vision / RTD
E-Inclusion; E-Accessibility roadmap
2M €
2 CSA

27. 7th FP Call 7, Objective ICT-2011.5.5
ICT for Smart and Personalised Inclusion
a) Tools and infrastructures for mainstream accessibility
Research output:
• (ICT) accessibility solutions for persons with disabilities
• For various settings (in/out door), e.g. home, work, transport; seamlessly
• Accessibility aim: mobility, access, autonomy, participation
Research focus (1 and/or 2):
• 1) Simulation approaches + prototypes
• Virtual reality/ simulation approaches for (inclusive) design (/modelling) of
daily environments and user interactions (1.1)
• Build on previous virtual user work (inclusion, health…)
• (1.2) prototypes for (IT-supported) interaction between intelligent
environment and user devices (1.2)
• 2) Personalisable software based assistive technologies
• Software > online/cloud > generic/ open solutions (dynamic, collaborative)
• Personalisable > responsive to user specificities (dynamic, adaptable)
• Personal: capacities, preferences
• ICT: equipment, environment

28. 7th FP Call 7, Objective ICT-2011.5.5
ICT for Smart and Personalised Inclusion
b) Intelligent and social computing for social interaction,
user empowerment and learning or skills acquisition for
people at risk of exclusion
Research output:
• ICT-enabled solutions for empowerment persons with disabilities OR
at risk of social exclusion
• IT scope; “advanced” and open, e.g. computing (social, affective,
persuasive), serious games…
• Human scope; wide: disability, risks of exclusion, low literacy, anti-social,
youth… > intellectual or social “limitations” or risks (no medical approach)
• Empowerment aim: beyond accessibility > learning, skills, communicate
Research focus: wide, interdisciplinary (technology + human &
social research aspects; dynamic human-IT interaction)
• Person-centred (person in society)
• Info representation & appropriation, learning processes, social dynamics
• Role of intermediaries
• ICT advanced and dynamic
• User profiling (personalisation) and feedback (interaction)
• Self-learning ICT-enabled solutions
• Impact-oriented:
• Personalised services for (social) participation, e.g. in work, education…

29. 7th FP Call 7, Objective ICT-2011.5.5
ICT for Smart and Personalised Inclusion
c) Brain-Neuronal Computer Interfaces (BNCI) for assisting
people with disabilities
Research output:
• BNCI for assisting people with disabilities
• Building on previous research
• Contribution to standards, notably on interoperability of BNCI devices
Research focus:
• Smart processing of BNCI/sensor inputs
• Fusion of BNCI with multi-sensor and multi-modal interfaces
• Modularisation, interoperability
• Data/ pattern analysis of interaction with ICT devices and apps
• Adapting BNCI technology for out-of-the-lab use
• Possible synergies with mainstream application domains

30. 7th FP Call 7, Objective ICT-2011.5.5
ICT for Smart and Personalised Inclusion
d) Coordination and support actions
TARGET OUTCOME (FP quote)
i) a cooperation framework with Latin America on ICT for skills and empowerment
of disadvantaged social groups and local communities, and on ICT for
improving personal autonomy of people at risk of exclusion.
ii) a cooperation framework at European or international level for promoting the
development of accessibility guidance for advanced technologies, services and
contents (including evaluation methodologies), with special focus on the
internet, and for setting research agendas on e-accessibility.

31. 7th FP Call 7, Objective ICT-2011.5.5
ICT for Smart and Personalised Inclusion
d) Coordination and support actions
Output:
• Cooperation frameworks
Focus:
• 1) Cooperation with Latin America on ICT for
• 1.1) Skills & empowerment of disadvantaged social groups &
local communities > collective focus +
• 1.2) Personal autonomy of people at risk of exclusion, e.g. through
enhanced e-accessibility, access to info & services… > individual focus
• 2) European or international cooperation on
• 2.1) Guidance for advanced accessibility
• Including evaluation methodologies
• Especially regarding the internet > web accessibility +
• 2.2) Research agendas on accessibility

32. Further Information
Resources
– CORDIS (7thFP, ICT) http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ict/home_en.html
[Find a project] & [Find project partners]
– e-Inclusion activity http://ec.europa.eu/einclusion
– Practice, practitioners, events, etc http://www.epractice.eu/
Contacts
– European Commission, e-Inclusion Unit einclusion@ec.europa.eu
– Responsable for the objective: Luiz.Santos@ec.europa.eu
THANKS!