Background
Since 2007, the Assistive Technology workstream of the Microsoft Shared Learning Group (SLG) has contributed significant effort to influence strategic thinking in the arena of assistive technology, both at industry and central government levels. Our goal is to inform development of 21st century innovative technology which truly reflects the needs of our service users; is cheaper, better, and more effective than the current market offering; and which will enable us to ensure that the UK has a proactive and joined up approach to meeting some of the challenges that the demographics and service user expectations provide.
Working with the Building Research Establishment (BRE), the Department for Business (BERR), the Royal Institute for British Architects, Telehealth, and Telecare manufacturers and suppliers, the construction industry, and various major technology and telecoms companies, we have coalesced to form the DAP forum, which brings together the various elements of the industry into a consortium of sufficient size and influence to enable us to ensure the major impact and industry support necessary for an integrated and interoperable future for the assistive technology within the smart home industry.
Vision
This workstream aims to define the Local & Regional Government requirements for ambient or embedded technology in the home. It seeks to work in collaboration with partner organisations like Building Research Establishment (BRE) and the Digital Access Provision (DAP) Forum along with commercial businesses to ensure that the social and health needs along with digital inclusivity requirements for citizens is included in the design of any future technologies.
Objectives
The workstream’s first objective is to create a 3D showcase tool which will demonstrate how technology can be accessed through the home. The purpose of the SLG involvement is to ensure that citizen’s social and health needs along with accessibility to local government services requirements are included in the future development of assistive technology and home entertainment hubs.
Business Challenge
Many users of assistive services such as TeleHealth wish to access services in the comfort of their own home. This supports independence and security whilst at the same time providing relief to an all ready stretched Health service.
Technology in the Home is an obvious way to support customer needs and preferences, but technology adapts and changes at such a fast pace these days that many products and services are often out of date before they’ve even taken off.
The DAP Forum is working in collaboration with market leaders and shapers to ensure that assistive technology in the home is sustainable and adaptable for the future whilst developed on the most appropriate platforms to be interoperable with all categories of services that a citizen may require. The SLG is playing an active role to ensure that assistive technology and local government services are at the centre of the design of the smart home of the future.