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10. Answering the questions Chapter 8 presented the results of the desk research, survey, and interviews in order to be able to find answers to the questions from the beginning. This chapter presents the answers.
1. How to enhance Places and People in the use and installation of eHealth and mHealth solutions, with special focus on quality and costs? To enhance People in the use and installation of eHealth and mHealth solutions, the first step must be to bridge the digital gap that is still present in European society. Although smartphones and other ICT devices are widely spread and used in Europe, still there is a group of people who do not use ICT or other technological solutions in daily living. In general, it is a matter of acceptance, willingness, and capacity to learn to use these technologies, but also due to technology push strategies and solutions that might not properly address the user needs or are not affordable. Financial investments are not apparent for many countries, and the price of the necessary equipment and data packages when compared to available income are sometimes a barrier to the implementation of innovative solutions. Lifelong learning, the user-friendly and intuitive design of technology, co-creation with endusers, secured data storage and data exchange are ways to bridge this digital gap. Broadband internet, cellular networks 3G, 4G and 5G and fibre optic cables gave a boost to the use of ICT devices in built environments and outdoor spaces. Wireless Fibre (Wi-Fi) is mostly available indoors. Mobile broadband connectivity is an issue. The enhancement of Places is a relevant question when addressing the installation of eHealth and mHealth solutions. Current living environments of the user can limit the implementation and use of ICT. It is recommended to find smart solutions that utilise existing ICT infrastructure of buildings and houses, or eventually understand how it is feasible and sustainable to renovate them. On the other hand, existing narrow houses and small rooms of older adults do not allow for sizable solutions such as robotics. Therefore, construction plans for new buildings and houses should already take into consideration guidelines and standards that allow for adequate and appropriate conditions for current and upcoming ICT demands. Focusing on quality and costs learns that, from a technological point of view, almost everything has already been invented and that many features with the capacity to improve wellbeing, health(care) and independent living already exist. Development of new technology, therefore, should not be a priority anymore, but rather implementation and integration are now the key issues: how to make sure that ICT solutions work correctly, are interconnected and adjusted to changing needs of the user? Cost-benefit analysis and economic impact assessments need further development to identify mid- and long-term implementation of ICT-solutions, to scale-up and to guarantee the quality of service, accessibility, and sustainable affordability over a longer period.
THEMATIC NETWORK 2018
SMART HEALTHY AGE-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENTS
