An international coalition is working to enhance global broadband infrastructure to improve digital accessibility. The goal is to create National and Global Public Inclusive Infrastructures through open-source technologies that simplify access. In Europe, eAccessibility is a policy priority to reduce digital divides and ensure accessibility of public websites by 2010. Future initiatives like the Digital Agenda 2010-2020 aim to further these goals through standards, skills training, innovation and inclusion. Many projects are developing roadmaps to guide research and development toward inclusive digital technologies and societies.

1. Roadmap towards future research
Dr. Evangelos Bekiaris,
Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH)
Hellenic Institute of Transport (HIT)

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. i2010 - A European Information
Society for growth and employment
(1/2)
• 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
Riga COM on
Ministerial eInclusion Delivery
Conference
2006 I2010 High 2007 2008 2010
Level
Group and
eInclusion
subgroup

7. 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.

8. 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_so
ciety/digital-agenda/index_en.htm

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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/

12. Other project roadmaps
• eInclusion@EU project roadmaps
Technology Technology Trends and Gaps and Time to
(http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp6/ssp/eincl evolution challenges barriers market
usion_eu_en.htm) Headsets New features Noise Shields Less than 5
like one-touch Bluetooth years
• D2.6: “Policy roadmap report on pairing button, headset and
eAccessibility” (December 2006) lightweight bone
confort conduction
• D3.4: “Policy roadmap on employment technology
and work related eInclusion and Battery charger Intelligent Maximisation Increase Available in
eAccessibility” (February 2007) proximity of the battery the mobile the market.
sensors life processor Some
• D4.4: “Topic Report No. III- A policy capacity adaptations
roadmap on eInclusion and in less than
5 years
eAccessibility in public services”
Display screen Multi-touch Control Increase Available in
(February 2007) screen, zoom everything with the mobile the market.
the fingers, Full processor Some
• eAbilities project roadmaps , screen capacity adaptations
September 2008 (http://www.e- magnification in less than
isotis.org/projects_more.php?id=488_0_4_0 5 years
_M) Voice dialing Dialing Voice signal Available in
numbers solutions the market
• “AT for computer access technology without looking
roadmap”' at the screen
• “AT for mobile devices roadmap”

13. COST 219ter book, “Towards an
inclusive future”

15. The AALIANCE Roadmap
Roadmap:
• Main domains
• Enabling technologies

17. Strategic Research Agenda for AAL
in Europe

18. 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…

19. 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...).

20. So that we arrive at a truly
mobile…

21. … standards abiding system