The main objective of the PROGRESSIVE project is the development of a sustainable framework, backed up by guidelines that will improve the contribution of standards for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the context of Active and Healthy Ageing (AHA). The project responds to three main challenges:
Challenge 1: Demographic Change
Improved health and longevity means an increasing number of older people in Europe. This is a challenge because older people have often left the workplace, and may be marginalised. Some older people experience difficulties relating to their physical or cognitive status that can impair their ability to participate as fully as they would wish.
The PROGRESSIVE project sees part of its role as changing mindsets so that the consciousness of the National Standards Bodies (NSBs), among others, is raised – with a view to the future form of standards taking account of the needs of older people as active citizens and consumers rather than dependents.
Challenge 2: The Rapid Development of ICT
The digital world poses a particular challenge for some older people because they may not have worked in digitally rich environments and not have had opportunities to develop digital skills. Others may be hampered because of poor accessibility (or unaffordability) of some ICT based products and services.
The PROGRESSIVE project recognises potential benefits to older people of being digitally literate. But the context is one where as well as encouragement being given to older people there is a responsibility of designers to ensure that ICT products and services are accessible and usable.
Challenge 3: The Changing Position of Standards
Standards underpin the configuration of our products and services. They provide important safeguards. Their development in the arena of older people, however, often takes place in a way that does not adequately reflect an AHA perspective.
The PROGRESSIVE project recognises the part that is played by standards and sees their safeguarding role as increasing. Nevertheless, the contribution of standards can be hampered because of the insufficient recognition of the importance of AHA. The challenge is about changing mindsets, but it is also about practical measures to ensure that the voice of older people is heard in the standards development process.
PROGRESSIVE’s approach to standards development is highly principled. Ethical reference points relate to the language of the project and ethical tenets that have been identified. Terms and phrases that are ageist or redolent of old age stereotypes are not used. With regard to ethical tenets for the ICT and AHA, ten main ones have been identified:
• Accessibility and Usability
• Affordability
• Autonomy and Empowerment
• Beneficence / Non-maleficence
• Care, Protection and Support
• Empowerment
• Equity / Equality and Justice
• Inclusion, Non-discrimination and Social Impact
• Interoperability
• Privacy, Safety and Security.
The project also recognised, from the outset, four domains - age friendly communities; reformed and empowering services; accessible, affordable and supportive homes; and active, healthy and empowered older people.
With these domains in mind, the project set out parameters by which good practice in standards and the standardisation process around ICT for AHA could be identified. Furthermore, it developed an interactive platform to provide information on relevant standards and which represents a ‘shop window’ for project outcomes. Regular, well-received newsletters and successful events (including two project workshops) raised the profile of the project and supported its outreach to a wide community of relevant stakeholders.
