Objective
The project aims to introduce a range of services to rural communities utilising the full potential of advanced communications technologies and to evaluate the services in the context of their potential impact on the economic, social and cultural development of the areas served. Underlying this is the objective of demonstrating to PTTs, real and tangible benefits to rural communities from investment in broadband communications infrastructure, thus encouraging its introduction to rural areas. The project also aims to contribute to generic application definitions, and to give guidelines for good practice in implementing broadband services to rural areas.
A prototype for a range of services to rural communities has been introduced, utilising the full potential of advanced communications technologies. The services have been evaluated in the context of their potential impact on the economic, social and cultural development of the areas served. The first stage was to devise and implement the research approach, and to identify the needs of rural communities in relation to the types of service which can be offered. The difficulties of identifying the needs of rural communities means that a participative, interactive style of research has been used. The services being offered to the rural communities are mainly those offered by local government, public agencies etc, characterized by the use of broadband communications and multimedia technology to reproduce the types of interaction which users would normally experience when calling in to a public office, or library, or when participating in a training course. The system offers video telephony, multimedia database access and shared screen access, both individually and in combination. The services are using an existing design of multimedia terminal hardware. However, a suitable user interface is being developed to deliver the required services in a form acceptable to users.
Technical Approach
The project's first stage has been to devise and implement the research approach, common to all four countries, and to identify the needs of rural communities in relation to the types of service which can be offered. The difficulties of identifying the needs of rural communities, highlighted in SOCRATES (R2098), means that a participative, interactive style of research has been used.
The services being offered to the rural communities are mainly those offered by local government, public agencies, etc., and will be characterised by the use of broadband communications and multi-media technology to reproduce the types of interaction which users would normally experience when calling in to a public office, or library, or when participating in a training course. The system offers video telephony, multi-media database access and shared screen access, both individually and in combination. The services are using an existing design of multimedia terminal hardware. However, a suitable user interface is being developed to deliver the required services in a form acceptable to users.
Key Issues
- Standardised approach to research and evaluation
- Service provision based on identified needs and wishes of the rural communities concerned.
- Services to be provided on currently available hardware, with development limited to the user interface software necessary for the type and range of services proposed.
- Demonstration and evaluation of the benefits of broadband over narrowband.
- Evaluation of the impact of services on rural areas.
- Research/design of an easy to use interface front end.
Expected Impact
The project will demonstrate the potential value of broadband based services to rural areas and, through this, will provide evidence of the value of investment in broadband infrastructure in rural areas. It will also provide practical evidence of the take-up and use of such services and of the practical issues involved in implementing them.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software
- natural sciences computer and information sciences databases
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
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Coordinator
IV3 5NX Inverness
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.