29 September 2006
The European Union (EU) is planning to improve inclusion for elderly and cognitively disabled Internet users to fund assistive technology research.
Brunel University in London will coordinate the €3 million (£2 million) project, which aims to improve accessibility for some excluded groups.
The Delivering Inclusive Access for Disabled and Elderly Members of the community (DIADEM) scheme will develop a system which studies how users interact with technology.
By analysing the problems which occur, DIADEM will adapt and personalise the human computer interface to suit the user's requirements.
Its creators estimate that some 4.5 million UK residents are at the age where they could be prevented from effectively making use of technology.
Dr Tony Elliman, School of Information Systems, Computing and Mathematics at Brunel University and DIADEM project co-ordinator, explains: "For example, to purchase a train ticket online, you need to negotiate 11 screens, 18 selections and eight typed in responses.
"For many, these services are unavailable due to short-term memory loss and confusion."
The Office of Communications recently claimed that by enabling older people to access the Internet, they could become less "isolated".
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