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Re: Can the Internet of Things bridge the digital divide?

for

From: David Ashleydale
Date: Apr 21, 2016 7:28AM

Is there an option to attend remotely?
On Thu, Apr 21, 2016 at 5:09 AM Katie Durand < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
wrote:

> 10th European e-Accessibility Forum: e-Accessibility in a Connected
> World30th May 2016, Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie, Paris
> Each day our social and economic lives becomes increasingly connected as
> the boundaries between physical and digital spaces fall away. The scale of
> this expanding infrastructure, commonly known as the Internet of Things
> (IoT), is unprecedented and forecast to grow at an astonishing rate.
> Embedded in devices from streetlights to household appliances, networks of
> sensors will gather data which can be leveraged in real time through cloud
> technologies to provide specialised and contextualised services when and
> where they are needed. Access to an intuitive and affordable "smart"
> network of objects and services will reduce the need for direct human
> actioning and decision making and aim to overcome boundaries that presently
> condition our interaction with the world around us.
> Still very much in its infancy, it is hoped that this web of intelligent
> and connected objects will make life a great deal easier for people with
> disabilities and the elderly. Seamlessly integrated into the home, the
> transport network and the workplace, sensors will have the capacity to
> capture very specific needs and adapt services and applications
> accordingly. Real-life examples of the comfort and convenience offered by
> smart objects are emerging, and there is a great deal of research and
> development underway which explores and builds on the capabilities of this
> new technology to bridge gaps in the digital divide.
> The 10th European e-Accessibility Forum, organised by BrailleNet under the
> high patronage of French President François Hollande, will attempt to
> present an overview of the topic, look at how the needs of disabled users
> are being considered, raise questions around privacy and trust, and present
> solutions that are already available on the market or under development. It
> will provide an invaluable opportunity to get up to speed on the current
> situation, and to consider what role we can play as a community in ensuring
> that this cross-sector ecosystem is fully accessible. Speakers include
> Shadi Abou-Zhara of the W3C - Web Accessibility Initiative, Steve Tyler of
> the Royal National Institute of Blind People and Alexis Normand of Withings.
> For more details and to register online visit
> http://eaf2016.braillenet.org
> > > > >