Ethicted - evaluation process model to improve personalised ICT services for independent living and active ageing; future scenario model

Abstract

ICT innovations are constantly developed and there is no lack of elderly customers, as the number of the elderly is increasing. The elderly are willing to have ICT to increase their own safety and social activity, but they need to trust on the reliability, accessibility and other ethical aspects of the ICT to maintain privacy and self-determination. Ethical standards for ICT have still remained unconsidered and the current technologies should more be based on the users' needs. "Ethicted" means an ICT service or product ethically evaluated. As a standardized procedure, it will not only increase the acceptability of ICT, but also provide services for ICT developers. In the future scenario, the ICT under development should be evaluated by using a process model that is specifically built to find the lacks in ethical aspects. The model would then be tested by end-users, the formal and informal care givers, to receive direct feedback for redeveloping it. As final outcomes, there should be standards for ICT in elderly care and a service for ICT developers to utilize the evaluation model. This future scenario work included partners from 6 EU member countries. The combination of academic research and the industrial/commercial interest of ICT developers should and can bring a new value to assistive ICT for elderly care.