Philippines: Moving on to become a leader in ICT - Trade Union Congress of Philipines - January 15, 2011

Little has been known about the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), created in 2004 by Executive Order No. 269 as the primary policy, planning, coordinating, implementing, regulating and administrative entity of the government’s executive branch for Philippine ICT development.

Today, barely six years after its creation, the Philippines is slowly moving towards being an ICT-enabled society where citizens live in an environment that promote access to technologies providing quality education, sustainable employment, efficient government service, and ultimately, a better quality of life for every Filipino.
Ms. Patricia M. Abejo, CICT Chief of Staff, and Director of Cyberservices Group said the government recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building.

“We used to rely on the traditional mode of information like newspapers, television and radio. Now, we’re moving up to the use of more improved technology which provide high speed access to information,” Abejo explained.

“Access to information is very important, thus said Abejo. And for us to be really competitive, “hindi tayo dapat maiiwanan ng development.”

The Commission on Information and Communications Technology is proud of its pet projects which has brought honor to our country. We are slowly emerging as a leader in ICT.

The community e-center is a shared facility set up in far-flung municipalities. Of the country’s 1,511 towns, “we are getting there fast with about 1,000 CeCs already operational,” according to Abejo.
Another flagship project is the e-Skwela, implemented in collaboration with the Department of Education using the electronic module of the Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS) and TESDA. More than 50% pass the equivalency exam which is open to out-of-school-youth, housewives, and all those who want to get hold of a high school diploma without attending formal school in 4 years.

The i-schools are public secondary schools being provided by CICT with a computer laboratory, broadband internet, educator training, technical support, and monitoring/evaluation systems that open up access to digital material and applications.

According to Abejo, as of December, 2010, 550,000 are gainfully employed in the business process outsourcing industry and the number is fast growing.

Some of the most vital achievements of the CICT are as follows.

The Philippines was chosen as the world’s best BPO destination during the 2nd and 4th National Outsourcing Association (NOA) Awards, London, 2007 and 2009; the eSkwela received a Certificate of Commendation from the UNESCO ICT in Education Innovation 2007-2008 for Non-Formal Education; the iSCHOOLS Digital Inclusion Award won the 3rd Government Technology Awards in Bali, Indonesia on September, 2009; PhilCeCNet.ph won as Semi-Finalist for Community and Portal Category during the 11th Philippine Web Awards 2008; and, bagged the Disabled-Friendly Website Award in July 2009 given by the Philippine Web Accessibility Group and the National Council on Disability Affairs.

The creation of a Department of ICT is still under consideration in both houses. Its creation will more effectively coordinate and implement national ICT programs, projects and other related initiatives. “Hindi tayo dapat magpaiwan sa ibang countries, Abejo said, we should move on with the times.”

Source URL:
http://www.tucp.org.ph/news/index.php/2011/01/philippines-moving-on-to-become-a-leader-in-ict/

Youth Worker connects at-risk teens to workplace – DotNews - 16 Dec 2010

Source: http://www.dotnews.com/2010/youth-worker-connects-risk-teens-workplace

After 30 years of ground-level violence intervention work at the Dorchester Youth Collaborative, executive director and founding member Emmett Folgert has little time for ponderous citywide shifts in intervention strategies.

The Youth Collaborative opens its doors to more than 100 teens in the Fields Corner area daily, offering them a safe environment to practice break dancing, play ping pong and find employment opportunities, which Folgert believes is key to restoring a sense of self-worth to kids who have fallen through social service nets and see street violence as an unavoidable reality.

“If you live in what the police consider a crime hotspot, the likelihood you will be a victim, a witness or join a gang is 100 percent,” Folgert said. “The only way to avoid it is to provide some kind of alternative.”

While social service departments refer a small number of teens to Folgert's program, the youth collaborative often targets those who live under the radar of these departments, teens who have already given up on school and need structure to their days. With more than 1300 students failing to graduate from Boston public schools annually, Folgert says there is no shortage of teens who feel they have nothing to lose.

Folgert believes the gang landscape has changed drastically over the past decade, from large organizations dependant on teen drug dealers working corners to more dispersed operations involving older dealers who receive text-message orders and deliver to clients doors.

With less employment opportunities, teens without GEDs are now scrambling for honest jobs more qualified, recently laid-off adults have turned to during the recession, this in turn leaves many kids with no means to support themselves and little sense of worth, a “perfect storm” for street-level gang membership to swell.

In hopes of providing at-risk youths an alternative to crime, Folgert has appealed to their wallets and minds through what he calls the “second chance school.” Through this program, the DYC can offer kids who have dropped out of school a weekly stipend of up to $100 in exchange for entering a GED program during school hours and spending their free time maintaining city-owned foreclosed homes throughout Boston.

Through this “no BS jobs program”street staff can offer a potential gang member a paying, legal job regardless of whether they can produce social security cards or other documentation, a hurdle which Folgert said would make it nearly impossible for the 30 young adults in the program to find honest employment themselves.

Folgert said his organization also keeps close tabs on potential grudges between rival gangs because the youth collaborative staff is largely made up of local teens who have grown up in the neighborhood. This staff serves as eyes and ears on the street, catching rumors of escalating gang rivalries, allowing street workers to identify key players and mediate conflicts.

While the Dorchester Youth Collaborative has made strides in reducing gang violence, its reach only extends into a small corner of the Dorchester community. Folgert suggests similar programs could begin building what he calls “cultures of peace” in as little as three years by inviting kids 11 and under to participate in a community setting, instilling nonviolent principles at a young age and training these early adopters as role models for the next generation of youths.

Even with a tiered approach to peace, Folgert said organizers must be ready to face setbacks when teaching kids that they can escape inner-city violence. Sometimes, Folgert said, even the most well-prepared teen can become collateral damage on their way to school or home, causing others to ask whether or not there really is a peaceful way to reach 20.

Folgert said that despite these losses, workers need to press on for the thousands of children who visit the DYC annually in hopes of finding a safe haven.

“The loss of an innocent is a real blow, but you’ve got to pull them out of the predestination mindset and you do it one relationship at a time.”

Giving Back to At-Risk Youth - TMCnet – 23 Dec 2010

Source: http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/rich-tehrani/call-center/giving-back-to-at-risk-youth.html

I love to see companies give back to their communities and people in need.

In fact you may have noticed as of late I have become an advocate of smaller government with far less overhead and taxes; in-part so organizations and wealthy individuals can have more money to spend on causes they deem wealthy.

The alternative where higher tax rates are imposed and the proceeds used to benefit special-interest groups with voting power never has and never will make sense to me.

To me, the American Dream is to start from humble means and make a positive difference on the lives of others through continued success.

So when I heard Interactive Intelligence starting a foundation for at-risk youth, I couldn't help but smile.

It's worth pointing out other companies who are successful and have made a difference via charity include Google, Salesforce.com and Facebook.

During this time of holiday cheer, it is gratifying to see companies taking the proceeds from their success and using them to help others.

When you allocate your charitable contributions at year-end and beyond, you may want to consider this foundation.

Here are some details:

·            Funds raised by the foundation are distributed to a small number of not-for-profit organizations roughly commensurate with the Interactive Intelligence Inc. employee distribution in Indiana (66%), Non-Indiana U.S. (19%), and Non-U.S. (15%).

·            Monetary distribution decisions are made one time each year by the foundation’s board of directors.

·            Special emphasis is placed on projects that promote technology education amongst the targeted at-risk youth sector.

·            At the decision of the board of directors, a portion of the foundation’s funds may be directed at times to assist world crises or natural disasters.

Intervention Activities for At-Risk Youth – eHow – 14 Dec 2010

Source: http://www.ehow.com/list_7641397_intervention-activities-atrisk-youth.html

Programs for at-risk youth focus on building the teens' self-confidence, working with their parents and promoting positive interaction with their peer groups. Children who are involved in after-school activities are less likely to smoke, drink, use drugs or engage in sexual activity. According to the Ada County, Idaho, Sheriff's Department, juvenile incarceration costs can top $45,000 annually, while positive, alternative activities for at-risk youths cost $480 per year (as of 2010). Successful intervention programs combine the use of two or more activities to engage as many youths as possible.

Sports

  After-school sports and recreation programs promote self-esteem and working with others. Involvement in recreational activities can improve school attendance and grades. Little League and other city league opportunities, informal games and after-school programs based out of schools all offer opportunities for structured sports activities. Sports involvement can provide constructive activities, offer positive adult mentoring and role models and encourage self-esteem in at-risk youth.

Tutoring

  At-risk youth who struggle with grades need immediate scholastic help. Tutoring promotes one-on-one or small group classes that not only provides academic assistance but offers informal mentoring services from an older student or teacher. Having a tutor can improve student grades and boost self-esteem and confidence for students who struggle with academic performance.

Arts

  Most youths enjoy the opportunity to express their creativity through art. For at-risk youth, a visual and performing arts program can increase the student's awareness and promote positive thinking. Drama, music, dance, arts and crafts all offer hands-on ways that students can engage in healthy activities. As students participate in creative activities and see their finished products and performances, self-confidence for at-risk youth will improve.

Science and Math

  Science and math programs can improve self-esteem, increase teamwork and promote a new appreciation for science or math. Other intervention activities can be as simple as offering extra academic support for students struggling in school. A program such as the Exxon Mobile Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp offers a free program that promotes the value of science and math. Students take field trips and work on lab projects while meeting with scientists, medical personnel and others in technology-related fields. The program promotes intelligence as a value for at-risk youth and encourages them to pursue careers in technological fields.

Vocational

  Organizations such as the Job Corps offer specific vocational training for at-risk youth. Juveniles who may not have even realized what services are available can attend job and career training. A wide variety of classes are offered to spark the interest of young people. Job Corps provides free services toward a high school diploma or GED, career training and getting a job. Life skills classes round out the student's classes, which helps at-risk youth with day-to-day practical skills.

Specific Programs

  Some schools offer specific workbooks and programs designed to target high-risk behaviors, such as violence and gang activity. These programs, used alone or in conjunction with other services, offer a focused look at the issue. Small groups effectively offer youths the opportunity to discuss issues in a non-threatening environment, sometimes during the school day.
 

Helping Youth at risk stay in school – CYC-Net – 5 Dec 2010

Source:  http://www.cyc-net.org/today2010/today101206.html

Faculty members from Nipissing University’s Schulich School of Education are part of a collaborative team working to enhance educational opportunities for Youth in Care.

Nipissing’s Dr. Mike Parr and Dr. Warnie Richardson are working with stakeholders, agencies and institutions, including representatives from school boards, the Children’s Aid Society, colleges, universities and other child advocacy agencies, to form the Northern Ontario Championship Team. Together, the team is working to study and advance initiatives geared to enhancing the prospects for educational success and general life trajectories of youth at risk, specifically those under the care of the Crown, or Crown Wards.

The team recently received a $150,000 grant from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities for seed money based on their proposal to increase participation of Crown Wards in intermediate schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities through self-advocacy skills, awareness and support; and to increase awareness of how partners can be more responsive to the needs of youth with Crown Ward status in the communities of Nipissing, Parry Sound and Muskoka.

Phase one of the team’s initiative is complete. It included creating a website for students, parents and service providers that provides links to all contributing agencies offering services and programs to support Youth in Care (Crown Wards). The site can be accessed at: www.clickforsuccess.ca.

Future phases include plans for a symposium for all stakeholders to investigate current initiatives, concentrating on identifying best practices; and launching and measuring strategic initiatives designed to enhance the overall life trajectories, particularly related to schooling experiences of at-risk, marginalized and Youth in Care.

As representatives from the university sector, Parr and Richardson will be working from a research perspective to evaluate and report on the effectiveness of the team’s initiatives.

“The program is aimed at Crown Wards, youth who have been removed from their homes and placed in the care of the government, many of who are at risk of being marginalized and dropping out of school” said Parr. “All of these kids have great potentials yet to be harnessed, and we hope that though collaboration within the Championship Team we can help these youth not only in their schooling endeavours but with their overall development as individuals as well.”

CDC's $1.5 mil plan to reach at-risk youth – asiaone – 1 Dec 2010

By David Lim

YOUTH at risk will be encouraged to participate in activities aimed at keeping them off the wayward path, through a three-year youth-engagement plan.

Youth@North West, launched by the North West Community Development Council (CDC) yesterday, will provide platforms for young people to pursue sports, the arts or community work to benefit the community.

Said Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mayor of North West District: "Although the majority of youth are engaged in meaningful activities, there is a small percentage who may be at risk of straying to other activities."

Hence, the plan aims to "guide these youth who are at risk to join the community in our morewholesome activities", said Dr Teo.

This $1.5-million initiative comes in the wake of two separate gang-related attacks which took place in Bukit Panjang, part of the North West District.

It aims to reach out to young people in the North West District and guide them to develop a sense of ownership over the community, by running projects that are beneficial to the whole community.

The CDC aims to increase the annual participation of young people in its youth-outreach activities, from between 20,000 and 25,000 to about 60,000 annually after three years.

Since its formation nine years ago, the CDC has been organising many outreach activities for youth.

However, these were on an ad-hoc basis.

Dr Teo said that the CDC wanted to have a more structured and coordinated approach to its outreach activities and, therefore, spent a year to develop this framework with its stakeholders.

The execution of this plan will see the CDC spend up to $500,000 annually on its outreach activities, as compared to between $150,000 and $180,000 before this initiative.

An amount of $250,000 will also be set aside for the North West Youth Engagement & Support (YES) Fund. Through the YES fund, young people are encouraged to propose projects beneficial to the community, with a maximum cost of $10,000.

If the proposal is accepted, the CDC will fund 75 per cent of the total cost and the remaining sum will be funded by sponsors.

Youth@North West aims to attract young people through five areas: the arts, community work, leadership development, sports, and discussion and free speech. Each area is championed by a youth leader who has been trained in community development.

Ms Adrienne Ser, 23, who helms the leadership development category, said that she strongly believes friendship is key to reaching more youth.

"I believe in multiplying our number from one to two to three and so on. I feel that's how it should work. Moreover, when we organise activities, we cater to the interests of our own members as well," the executive assistant with the Singapore Sports School said.

India: Digital Inclusion for Rural Empowerment – tmcnet – 20 Dec 2010

Source: http://www.unpan.org/PublicAdministrationNews/tabid/115/mctl/ArticleView/ModuleID/1467/articleId/23919/default.aspx

Dec 20, 2010 (Mint - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- India needs to develop its own model of how to utilize information and communication technology (ICT) to benefit the masses, said Sam Pitroda, adviser to the Prime Minister on public information infrastructure and innovations.

"We need to create an Indian model of information system suited to our needs," Pitroda said at the 7th Manthan Award South Asia 2010, hosted in New Delhi on Saturday.

Organized by the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF); One97, a provider of mobile value-added services; Internet Society; and the Indian government's department of information technology (DIT), the theme of the awards this year was "empowering rural masses through wireless, 3G and broadband". Mint is a strategic partner of The Manthan Awards.

The awards seek to promote innovative ICT products from across South Asia.

Organizers received 456 entries for the competition, of which 434 were accepted. These included 313 from India, 57 from Sri Lanka, 51 from Bangladesh, 31 from Pakistan, two from Nepal and one each from Afghanistan and the Maldives.

A 20-member jury selected 41 winners out of 77 finalists in 15 categories: e-agriculture and livelihood, e-business and enterprise, e-culture and heritage, e-education, e-entertainment, e-environment, e-governance, e-health, e-learning, e-localization, e-news and media, e-inclusion, e-travel and tourism, community broadcasting and most innovative nominations.

"Broadband is electricity for the 21st century. You give bandwidth to grassroots innovators and they are ready to implement a million ideas," said Osama Manzar, founder of DEF and curator of the award.

"The maximum participation we saw was from the inclusion category and also the toughest to decide for the obvious reasons. Categories like environment, entertainment, culture and heritage and science are the least popular ones, which is a concern," he said.

The participants in the programme included government officials, students, community and industry leaders, and entrepreneurs. They addressed concerns such as content, connectivity, infrastructure and policy and regulation with regard to rural technology.

Ramamurthy Sivakumar, managing director, sales and marketing for Intel (South Asia), said digital information and consumption, especially for mobile data, is growing twice as fast in tier-3 and tier-4 cities compared to tier-2 cities. This will be boosted further by the availability of cheap mobile phones that can be used to communicate via video. "India is a content-rich nation. In five years, an average Indian will have three devices in their hands." But Rajneesh D. Singh of the Internet Society disagreed. There are more content consumers than content creators, and this is the biggest challenge for India, he said.

Jayalakshmi Chittoor, a consultant on ICT for development, said a platform was needed to allow people working on similar technologies to be able to coordinate with each other.

Poor connectivity is another challenge in the dissemination of content. "The Internet is the greatest instrument of providing equal opportunity as enshrined in India's constitution. But the constraint is Internet access and broadband in remote areas," said Mohammed Haleem Khan from the ministry of rural development.

"The government should provide access to existing infrastructure on a sharing basis," said Michael Ginguld, chief executive of AirJaldi, a wireless network provider. "This will help in fixing the gaps in digital infrastructure." Power shortages hamper steady connectivity. "Technologies should be developed which complete the whole process of transaction, even if the power goes off. Work your way around your weaknesses," said Ashish Sanyal, secretary, DIT.

Mahabir Pun of Nepal Wireless, a 2007 Magsaysay awardwinner, said the right policies were crucial. "Funds are not a problem for people like us, we can somehow manage," Pun said. "But clarity on policy and regulations needs to be achieved." The experts also suggested that taxes should be reduced on Internet access and delivery terminals, and there should be collaboration between government and industry for providing demand-driven training, content creation and delivery platforms.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities: EU shows the way on e-inclusion – EIS – 3 Dec 2010

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/einclusion/policy/accessibility/disability_day/index_en.htm

EU-funded high-tech research makes a reality of legal requirements and policy initiatives that aim at unlocking truly equal opportunities and rights for disabled citizens

Besides offering smart solutions to empower persons with disabilities, digital technologies are becoming the more and more necessary, when not the default channel, to access services and exercise one’s basic rights. That is why giving to the 80 million Europeans with a disability the same access to ICT as all other citizens is imperative to counter the emergence of new digital divides and fully realise the EU’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is celebrated today across the world.

The recent Digital Agenda for Europe and European Disability Strategy embrace a vision of ICT as the key to making the living environment, services and products personalised and adaptable to the abilities of people with disabilities, and not vice-versa. In addition, EU legislation on electronic communications and audiovisual media already stipulates equal rights for persons with disabilities when it comes to access and quality.

One of the first Digital Agenda actions that we can tick as 'complete' is the signature, on 14 September, of a Memorandum of Understanding on access to works by persons with print disabilities, for example dyslexia and visual impairment. The Memorandum will spur the production and facilitate the cross-border distribution of works published in alternative formats, like audio-books and Braille for example.

Policies and legislation are only one side of the European Union's commitment to the rights of people with disability. The European Union is also supporting research and development activities aimed at delivering e-accessibility, i.e. making sure that ICT is an opportunity and not a barrier.

Since 2007, the European Commission has earmarked more than 110 million euro for research into accessible and inclusive ICT. Thanks to such funding, pan-European teams of researchers, public authorities, disabled users and industry work together to deliver meaningful technology for disabled people in all life environments.

Research into accessible and inclusive ICT – some examples

Since 2002, EU telecom rules have required that the 112 emergency number is available free-of-charge everywhere in the EU. However, disabilities like for example hearing or speech impairments, can make access to the emergency services via the traditional voice telephony impossible, thus putting more lives at risk. The EU-funded pilot project REACH112 is validating – over several Member States - alternative modes of communication, may it be real-time text, sign language, lip reading, voice or any simultaneous combination of these modes, as per the Total Conversation concept, both for calling the emergency services but also for any telephone call. View a short (2:13) video with Gunnar Hellstrom from the leading Swedish pilot site.

The large-scale pilot project DTV4ALL aims at ensuring that everybody enjoys the benefits of the switch-over from analogue to digital television taking place in Europe and to be completed by 2012. It is estimated that 15% of Europeans have difficulties in accessing digital TV for various impairments reasons. At the same time, the switch-over, although theoretically offering more access possibilities, poses also technical challenges to the delivery of such access services as subtitling, deaf signing or audio description, that are valued by users with disabilities. The project aims at validating solutions and issuing recommendations to the electronic industry, broadcasters, and possibly standardisation bodies.

The award-winning Robobraille project was supported by the European Commission to test and adapt in various European countries a service developed in Denmark to translate digital documents into Braille or synthetic speech. It does so through simple e-mail and is today available in various languages and free of charge to non-commercial users and licensed to companies and organisations.

Centers Opened to Increase Pensioners’ Computer Literacy – St.Petersberg Times – 17 Dec 2010

Source: http://www.sptimesrussia.com/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=33285

By Irina Titova

The St. Petersburg Times

Two new computer centers for elderly people will open in St. Petersburg in December and January with the aim of raising computer literacy among elderly people and enabling them to communicate with their friends via the Internet.

The computer training given at the centers will be free, said Anatoly Vereschagin, director of communications, charity and sponsorship projects at the company JTI in Russia, which sponsored the opening of the centers.

“This project is oriented toward elderly people, many of whom suffer from loneliness — a problem that the Internet can help to solve,” Vereschagin said at a press conference Thursday.

Leonarda Pchelina, head of the Alternativa Internet Club — the first computer club for elderly people opened by JTI in the Moskovsky district of the city in 2007 — said it was “a great opportunity” for older people to start using modern communication means.

“Our generation always experienced a lack of knowledge in that sphere due to our age, but we always wanted to dive into the world of the Internet,” Pchelina said.

Two levels of computer knowledge are taught at the center, Pchelina said. The basic level includes email and other primary Internet functions. At the advanced level, elderly people learn how to use Skype and ICQ.

“The brains of people who use the Internet work more efficiently. The Internet makes people forget about their illnesses and loneliness,” Pchelina said.

Georgy Shalamov, one of the members of Alternativa club, said a number of the club’s advanced students have already learned how to use popular social networking sites such as VKontakte, and have already found friends online and joined various Internet groups. They have also learned how to use Twitter and Live Journal.

Alexander Rzhanenkov, head of the city’s Social Policy Committee, said there are at least 20 social services centers where elderly people can learn computer skills in the city.

“However, the opportunities at those centers are somewhat limited, and far from everyone who would like to learn computer skills can do so there,” Rzhanenkov said.

“So it’s great when we see mutual collaboration in opening such centers between the city authorities and business. We are thankful to JTI for its input into such projects,” he said.

During the first three years of the first Internet center’s existence, at least 3,000 pensioners have taken classes there. The two new centers in the Krasnoselsky district of the city will teach up to 800 people a year.

Rzhanenkov said elderly people account for 23 percent of the city population, meaning there are still plenty of people among them who would love to learn how to use a computer.

Basic Computer Skills for Senior Citizens and the Computer Illiterate: A Technophobe-Friendly Guide – Kristobaldude – 20 Dec 2010

Source: http://kristobaldude.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/basic-computer-skills-for-senior-citizens-and-the-computer-illiterate/

Recently, I received a call from my mom who lives in Portland, Oregon. She was having trouble with her printer after having previously also had issues with viruses and malware. As I attempted to assist her with her issues, I ran into a very frustrating situation that has continuously been a stumbling block in my ability to help get her up and running again. That thing that prevents our progress is her lack of basic computer skills, and she is not alone as millions of people today still have no computer education except frustrated hands-on attempts.

First, you must understand that I have no way of viewing my mom’s computer or connecting to it to fix things (In XP, I used to be able to remote in, but now she has Vista and that option is not available), so every time she calls me for help, I have to walk her through each part of the fix or troubleshooting process, step-by-step. I am known as a very patient person who is able to explain technical concepts well to most folks with little to no previous computer knowledge. Unfortunately, my mom seems to need a lot of repetition for her to finally be able to perform a simple instruction. I don’t mean to cast aspersions; this is just simply the way things are at present. She is not dumb either: to the contrary, she is very smart about some things. However, when it comes to computer, tech, science, etc … she falls short. And that’s OK. Some people have an aptitude to pick up new technical skills for their entire life, but are less apt at picking up new social skills. For Mom, it is simply “vice-versa” – She can pick up new skills, such as the concept of Social Networks like Facebook and MySpace easily. But when it comes to basic computer maintenance and ownership topics, like how to install a printer, defrag a computer, or find files in Windows, she is at a loss. These things don’t come easy to her and others like her.

The many frustrating hours I have spent trying to help my dear mother on “legit” level 2 technical support issues such as diagnosing printer failures and configuring antivirus/anti-malware programs, have usually been impeded by my having to re-explain the fundamentals of computer ownership, use, and maintenance (sub-Level 1 tech support) ad infinitum. For her it is a frustrating experience because it’s just not her domain of expertise. In my own life, I’ve had similar frustrations and it was always very hard, until I found a way to understand the concept through analogies that made sense to me, etc. One example from my past was my inability to understand the concept of “decimal places” … Had I never figured that out, I would definitely not have become a programmer or been good with math.

I too feel like my patience and time is being tried and wasted, respectively, because in my mind (and in reality) I am thinking “I already told you this!!! Why haven’t you learned this by now??? For over 10 years I have been telling you this!!!” Also, “No Mom – RIGHT-Click!!!” has been something I have had to say a lot. Imagine if every time you asked somebody to drive to the store to pick up some things, that you had to re-explain how to put the key in the ignition and how to operate the accelerator (aka: gas pedal) and brakes; now you have some idea of what I have to go through on a regular basis. That would soon grow tiresome to even the most kindhearted and helpful person.

This mutual pattern of frustration was the direct impetus for my writing this article. It culminated today when after another exasperating session of attempted technical support on a computer issue; I finally told my Mom that I can no longer help her with her issues because it is simply disrespectful to waste my time by not remembering or improving her knowledge of computers on her own.

Let me give you a brief analogy: If you were in a musical band, and the band was learning a new song, and there was one part that you found particularly difficult to play, it would be your responsibility to learn that part on your own, would it not? Further, to come to the next band practice having NOT practiced on your own would simply be disrespectful of the other members’ time, because instead of spending time learning more new songs, they now have to take the band’s time to try and teach you what you should have worked on, on your own.

To ask someone repeatedly something they have already answered for you ad nauseam, is BLATANT DISRESPECT FOR THEIR TIME, and breeds resentment from the person who is attempting to give assistance.

So, here you see, I am trying to alleviate some of that frustration and resentment by providing a list of resources, including several online training videos, which cost nothing to make use of, except a few minutes of your time.

Though it was my mom’s lack of computer knowledge that prompted me to write this, my wish is that anyone else who is suffering from this problem may gain hope and a better understanding through their own self-study and efforts of the below materials. Now, everything is in one source, and at your fingertips!

For some, even searching the internet can be an ordeal. Truly, even for the experienced, it is sometimes difficult to find a topic online because of the way Google search works. Do not fear my friends, for I have invested several hours of my time researching and compiling the links and resources that for you, may have taken several weeks or months to accomplish.

I put a lot of my personal time into gathering these materials. The only thanks I ask is that you comment and let me know if you found this article helpful!!! Also, I would be happy to hear of any additions to the content you might suggest!

Senior moments in computer gaming – ChinaDaily – 31 Dec 2010

Source:  http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/2010-12/31/content_11782117.htm

BEIJING - Huang Jianqiu spends at least six hours a day on her computer playing games. But Huang is not an usual teenager or a 20-something gamer.

Huang is a mother, a retired government official and is 57 years of age. She's one of many seniors captivated by computer games who happily logs on to play games such as Happy Farm.
Happy Farm is a social game, letting users plant and harvest crops. This game has more than 10 versions in China, spread among different social network service (SNS) websites. Huang has registered five accounts on three SNS websites to play the games.

Games such as Happy Farm, which feature exquisite visuals and easy operations, are the rage in China and are attracting increasing numbers of non-typical players such as parents or even grandparents.

PopCap Games, the Seattle-based company that developed Bejeweled, Zuma and Plants vs Zombies, said that more than 15 percent of its regular users are over 50.

And QQ - one of China's most popular games site - has more than 1.5 million elderly people online daily, the company said.

Li Ping, CEO and vice-president of International Federation of Multimedia Associations, said that one trend of global game development is games for the elderly, even though most game companies target children or youngsters.

One survey on Internet development in China showed that almost 7 percent of regular users in the country are 50 and above.

But no game has yet been designed for the elderly, although Japan and the United States have carried out research on this. Nintendo, the Japanese company that developed Mario Bros., has a game aimed at helping seniors train their minds and has received favorable responses from the Japanese and British market.

PopCap has also been carrying out research with universities over the past five years around the stress relief and mental cognition benefits of playing Bejeweled.

Liu Chungang, secretary-general of the Beijing Animation and Game Industry Alliance, said the industry in China is dominated by massive multiplayer online role playing games, where the gross profit margin can be as high as 70 percent.

Five Chinese games, including Meng Huan Xi You and Perfect World, were on the Forbes list of the Top Moneymaking Online Games last year, with Meng Huan Xi You earning $400 million and Perfect World $300 million.

"The development of China's game is still aimed at youngsters who have better physical and mental conditions than seniors," said Deng Lili, professor of Institute for Cultural Industries at Peking University.

"Besides, many seniors don't have the opportunity to contact computer and the Internet, not to mention computer games."
Yet the demand of senior games is growing. "I know a lot of retired people who need games that can help them kill time and train the mind," Deng said.

"Some well-educated elders hope to learn more things through interesting games.
"Besides, games may help alleviate the pains of rehabilitation and improve the quality of treatment."
Gaming is gradually being applied in healthcare, education and other fields. Chen Yawei, from China Rehabilitation Research Center at Beijing Bo'ai Hospital, told China Daily it has adopted some games to ensure the rehabilitation process tht is not boring. Computers are used for cognitive training and balancing exercises.

"There is a trend in foreign countries to use games as treatment, and we have been exploring this, such as 'musical therapy'," Chen said.

"We really want to use more effective ways to help the elderly."

But key players in China's gaming industry, such as Tencent, Ourgame, Shanda and PopCap don't have specific plans for senior-oriented games at present.

However, Tencent has made many versions of its games more accessible to elders, such as bigger cards, fonts and slower operations.

Liu Qiang, director of the Internet culture department of the Ministry of Culture, said the industry should not attempt to hasten the pace and hope for quick successes of senior-oriented games.
"When there are demands, there will be potential markets; when there are potential markets, we can expect more companies to provide products," Liu said.

"The growing demand of the elderly for the Internet would push them to contact more entertainment online, including games. The seniors game market is a kind of blank in China. There is space for companies to expand their business."

While Huang is quite satisfied with the games available, she still prefers more suitable games.
"More interesting games with educational function maybe I'm not too old to read and learn," Huang said. "I hope I can harvest something from the game, just like I do in Happy Farm."

New computer for the Elderly – Denmark.DK – 9 Dec 2010

Source:  http://www.denmark.dk/en/servicemenu/news/scienceanditnews/newcomputerfortheelderly.htm

Danish IT company designs new ‘plug-and-play’ computer

DukaPC, a new Danish IT company, has designed a computer aimed at getting the elderly online.

According to Erik Hougaard, general manager of dukaPC, the new computer has been designed for people who are not used to using computers but want to learn.

“Of course, it can also be used by people who use computers already, but find it complicated and don’t want to depend on technical help from friends and neighbours,” he said.

Some 44 percent of people aged 65-89 have never used a computer, and 53 percent of this group have never used the internet, according to Statistics Denmark.

In addition, over 500,000 people over 60 do not have access to computers at home.

DukaPC said it hoped to close this digital age-gap its new computer.

Users will not need to deal with technical matters such as security updates, installations, and internet connectivity. DukaPC said that it would handling all updates related to the computer, and that employees would be able to remotely control it in order to fix any problems.

“This is the first plug-and-play computer I’ve seen. You don’t need to have broadband and you don’t need to deal with all the technical things in order to get start.

The mobile modem is installed, so all you have to do is plug it in, and then it just works,” said Søren Høyer, marketing consultant for DaneAge, an advocacy association for the elderly.

Turyak Distinguished Senior Citizens of the World Congress - "Wholesome Solution of the World Crisis: 4-5 December 2010 – IFA – 15 Dec 2010

Source: http://www.ifa-fiv.org/images/stories/PDFs/declaration%20of%20the%20turyak%20international%20congress%20on%20wholesome%20solutions%20to%20the%20world%20crisis.pdf

“We, as the senior citizens of the World, see it necessary  for the world system to shift to more efficient and  needs-based production policies that  are physically, ecologically, socially and emotionally sustainable” We must understand that the humanity and our world have lost their harmony with the cosmos.   This is where the crisis starts. We hope to succeed in bringing wisdom and culture to the forefront; we will see that they are both directed towards the same goal based on generally accepted values and norms which will provide a strong framework for full coverage of the entire humanity.  Thanks to such a global value system which truly understands that it is humankind’s common destiny; alliances of civilizations will increase, whereas competition among the strongest and the psychology of establishing hegemony over the others will decrease.

Interconnection and interdependency between the environment and people forms the very foundation of the universal system. The perception of nature as an unlimited resource is a wrong one. The ecosystem crisis that we are facing today mostly stems from the failure of natural systems to operate in a healthy manner due to the harmful effects of waste coming out of resource utilization processes as well as production and consumption of products. 

There are three reasons leading to this problem:

• consumption philosophy and patterns,
• resource, space planning and site selection,
• production technologies.

Even if the world has the capacity to cope with the increase in populations, it simply cannot do so due to this wrongful attitude of excessive consumption.  A lifestyle driven by the technological developments which does not take into account the future is not a sustainable one.  It is very important to ensure a change in mentality and concordantly to get organized for the cause of the environment. Once people grasp the wholeness of the ecosystem, then everyone should do their share of the work for balanced utilization.

It is observed that the environmental organizations around the world remain rather weak vis-à-vis  existing need, which stems from the following reasons: Civilizations are based on four fundamental values;

• principle of justice emerging from love (rule of law, potential justice),
• principle of fairness (kinetic justice),
• principle of honesty (loyalty and fidelity),
• principle of sincerity.

We should come to a mutual agreement on finding a shared notion of civilization which takes into account all of these principles.  Civilization is like a river.  It is not static, it continues to flow from the past to the future, and that’s the reason why we cannot really talk about a Western or an Eastern civilization as well as civilizations based on certain religions.  It is important for cultures to understand and respect one another’s differences without causing unnecessary polarization.  All cultures should be preserved to ensure the sustainability of diversity.

The very essence of wisdom/reason is to acknowledge the true nature of things.  Such an acknowledgement perceives the earth as a divine asset which is to be respected and not to beharmed. To be able to revive our capability to protect and restore the balance that we have lost, there is a great need for an effective and sincere effort starting at the individual level, further extending and reaching out to countries and the United Nations.

Since such an effort is not yet in place, it has become more frequent for the world crisis to centre around the economy.  Taking into account the recent monetary crises, we should not ignore the imperative need to structurally reform the economic system. Exiting such crises can only be possible by changing our perspective.  The world crisis can be overcome through such a production concept which is respectful of the world’s resources and is in harmony with the ecosystem.  While doing so, we need to pick up and focus on specific sectors within each country which will yield productive employment and quality products, innovation and innovative discoveries, patents, world-class companies and brands.

Thanks to the new technologies the trends within the labour market will be subject to change and in this way fewer people may prefer to live in cities.  Labour-intensive employment areas are increasing day by day including the emerging  branches of labour in the field of  advanced technologies,  in the field of education-training, home care or institutional care for the elderly and patients.

Financial systems should be perceived merely as one of the inputs of the economy amongst others. Unless  more  people earn their  income primarily through  production thenunemployment will increase. There is  surely an exit from each crisis. In order to secure astructural recovery such an exit should be accompanied by production based on the basic needs of human beings,  sustainable development, investments made to educate people throughout the lifecourse for more efficient employment, skills based  and vocational/professional training, and on-the-job training.

Greater importance should be attached to the development of employment friendly policies and the principles of decent work which include:

• proportionately charging lower taxes and lower premiums from lower wage earners,
• wage policies based on productivity and efficiency,
• flexible working hours,
• encouraging the employment of women,
• encouraging the employment of senior citizens,
• targeting the employment of more than one member in each family, making the necessary arrangements in agriculture and husbandry policies to address the hidden unemployment in agriculture.
  
  

It should be noted that as the labour markets become more rigid, unemployed people’s hope to find new jobs is fading. Social security should have a balanced distribution in the society.  Public pension systems should cover the fundamental pension rights of individuals, whereas people should exert additional effort to win further pension rights, and should also benefit from private insurance schemes.

It is necessary for all societies to benefit from the social capital offered by the elderly. As senior citizens, our main duties in achieving global recovery are as follows:

• promote the culture of coexistence,
• interconnect cultures without letting them segregate from one another,
• protect our similarities and differences without causing too much polarization,
• create an atmosphere of love in the world,
• make sure that love and mutual understanding is being spread especially among youth
• and children through our face-to-face encounters,
• enable  dialogues that will not only  bridge  different cultures  but also different
• generations,
• make sure that our words do translate into sincere actions.

It is very important and very much needed that young people work hand in hand with the elderly for the future world.  As we are able to utilize the wisdom, the experience, the energy and creativity  of senior citizens  and youth together, then we can definitely come up with effective and wholesome solutions to all kinds of problems of the world.

Digital Agenda: review shows strong SME interest and government backing for ICT to assist the elderly – Europa – 16 Dec 2010

Source: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1726&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

The European Commission today presented a report on the progress of the Ambient Assisted Living joint programme (AAL JP) which highlights very high levels of involvement by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in projects, strong levels of financial support by participating countries and recommendations to ensure ongoing positive results. This €600 million research and development funding programme involves 23 countries and the EU to improve the quality of life of senior citizens through smart ICT-based solutions. The report is addressed to the European Parliament and Council of Ministers and is an important step to reinforce the AAL JP, one of the key actions of the Digital Agenda for Europe (seeIP/10/581, MEMO/10/199 and MEMO/10/200). The AAL JP can make an important contribution to the forthcoming pilot European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (see IP/10/1609).

Neelie Kroes, Commission Vice President for the Digital Agenda said "I am pleased that participating countries see the Ambient Assisted Living joint programme as an important lever to tackle the challenge of demographic ageing, as shown by their substantial financial commitments. Information and communications technologies are crucial to improving the lives of the growing number of Europe's senior citizens.The AAL programme demonstrates how, by pooling our resources, the EU can achieve far more in this important area than individual Member States ever could".

The Commission's first evaluation of the AAL joint programme is based on the conclusions (also issued today) of a high level panel chaired by former European Commissioner Meglena Kuneva, which reviewed the AAL JP against the wider context of innovation responding to demographic challenges.

The report indicates that the joint programme has been very successful in uniting the 23 participating countries around a pressing societal challenge and filling a gap between advanced research and large scale market roll-out solutions for active and independent living. The AAL JP success is also enhanced by the substantial level of financial investment by participating countries. In 2009 this was 50% more than the minimum level originally foreseen. Another decisive indicator of success is the very strong participation of SMEs in project consortia (more than 40%).

New solutions

The programme develops new solutions that are ready for use on the market within two to three years. More than 50 research and innovation projects in the areas of chronic disease management and social interaction of seniors have been launched since 2008. Examples include robots performing household chores while helping the person to remain connected to their social surroundings and 'smart home' environments that respond to their inhabitants' movements and behaviour to make their lives easier.

To maximise the programme’s positive output, the Commission recommends closer and more meaningful involvement of end-users when solutions are being designed. More consistent eligibility and financing rules should also minimise operational hiccups and delays that sometimes affect the smooth progress of projects. The Commission will also work to set up financing arrangements to bridge the gap between the ‘pilot phase’ and large market uptake. This includes further supporting the AAL Investment Forum, and taking into account the possible contribution of the AAL JP to the pilot European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. The pilot Partnership, announced by the Innovation Union flagship initiative, will address barriers to large scale uptake of innovation that responds to the challenges of demographic ageing (see IP/10/1609).

The Commission will also further strengthen ties between the AAL JP, the other EU-funded research and innovation programmes and the 2012 Year of Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity.

On the basis of this report, the Commission will now discuss with the European Parliament and the EU's Council of Ministers the next steps in implementing these proposed actions and the continuation of the programme beyond its initial expiry date of 2013.

Background

The AAL JP brings together 20 EU Member States (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK), three associated countries (Israel, Norway and Switzerland) and the European Commission.

It supports ICT-enabled solutions for ageing well that can be launched on the market in two to three years and become commercially viable. This brings new business opportunities and huge savings in the cost of social and health care. For example, telecare solutions can cut the costs of care services by up to 30%.

More than €1 billion is being invested by the public and private sector in Europe in research and innovation for ageing well: some €600 million in the AAL joint programme (AAL JP), approximately €400 million in the EU's research framework programme and more than €50 million so far in the EU's ICT Policy Support Programme.

The Commission's participation in the Ambient Assisted Living programme results from a 2007 action plan on "Ageing Well in the Information Society" (see IP/07/831). Its goal is to strengthen research cooperation between Member States through matching EU funds.

The Commission's report, and the evaluation report by the high level panel, are available via:

http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/einclusion/research/aal/interim_review/index_en.htm