ICT Challenge 5: Objective ICT-2011.5.4 ICT for Ageing and Wellbeing
a) Service and social robotics systems for “Ageing Well”: The work should focus on integration of advanced robotics systems and intelligent environments to provide solutions to key issues of relevance for improved independent living and quality of life of elderly people and efficiency of care. Major challenges to be addressed include: self-learning robotics solutions, which can: adapt to the user needs and share contextual information with other artefacts in the surroundings of the user; navigate in unstructured environments and perform precise manipulation of relevant objects; provide affective and empathetic user-robotic interaction, taking into account the acceptance by users. Development of basic robotics components is not called for.
b) Smart and self-adaptive environments prolonging independent living: Focus is on flexible ICT solutions able to provide early detection and adaptive support to changing individual needs related to ageing (e.g. increased risk of falls, depression, sleep deprivation, or cognitive decline), and support timely involvement of carers and family.The aim is to promote better prediction, prevention and support through long-term trend analysis of basic daily behavioural and physiological data, building on unobtrusive sensing and advanced reasoning with humans-in-the-loop. Major challenges to be addressed include: self-learning solutions building on open platforms, which can share contextual information with other artefacts in the surroundings of the user; low maintenance systems capable of graceful degradation in case of failure as well as affective and empathetic user interaction, taking into account the capabilities of elderly users.
c) Coordination frameworks to develop i) RTD roadmap and stakeholder coordination on ICT for “Ageing Well”, as well as strengthening development of standards and international cooperation with North America and Asia. This should take into account work already started under the AALIANCE innovation platform. ii) RTD roadmap and stakeholder coordination on ICT for ‘active ageing at work' establishing a sound ICT research analysis and exploration of possible ethical issues.
d) Services for elderly people developed and validated against public sector needs through a joint Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP). The services should focus on enabling extended independent living of elderly people and support for higher efficiency and quality of care work based on robotics solutions. Examples of services include support to daily tasks, mediated social interaction with carers and relatives as well as support to mobility. Key stakeholders in the value chain of service provision should be involved, such as care service providers, insurance companies, housing organisations, relevant industry partners and public bodies. Involvement of users will be an essential element as well as appropriate consideration of safety and ethical aspects. Use of open robotics platforms and contribution to standards is encouraged. PCP shall be implemented according to the conditions outlined in objective 11.1 and Appendix 6.