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Assistive Technologies (ATs) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) may improve quality of life, extend length of community residence, improve physical and mental health status, delay the onset of serious health problems and reduce family and care-giver burden.

While the ageing of the population around the world raises serious concerns about social security, pensions, long-term care, health care and family systems, digital-age tools have been proposed as possible resources to improve outcomes. Considerable literature has appeared suggesting that Assistive Technologies (ATs) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) may improve quality of life, extend length of community residence, improve physical and mental health status, delay the onset of serious health problems and reduce family and care-giver burden.

The Nuffield e-learning project was launched on Friday 3rd October 2008 at the celebration of the international activities of the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences and the 30th anniversary of the Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development. The objectives are to enhance teaching quality for our present students through e-learning and develop distance learning options for those who are unable to leave their family and work commitments to attend courses in Leeds

ICT can help the elderly to improve their quality of life, stay healthier, live independently for longer and remain active at work or in their community. A wide range of services could be offered to address daily needs such as: • Social communication: easy and continuous access to phone and video conversations, overcoming social isolation;• Daily shopping: easy ordering of goods online for home delivery;• Safety: security systems to lock/unlock entrance doors and windows or to check for water and/or gas leaks, etc or installation of user friendly interfaces for domestic and other appliances;• Health: telemedicine from home, wearable systems for monitoring and diagnosis of individuals with a chronic disease (such as heart disease and diabetes). In many EU countries where over half of people aged 65+ live alone, such technologies can significantly extend the time that elderly people live independently in their own house, while at the same time avoid costs for hospitalisation and provide a basis for additional applications in the future (robotics, embedded systems, biosensors, etc...).

In this working document of the High Level Group on the Employment and Social Dimension of the Information Society (ESDIS) the health impact of the introduction of ICT in the workplace and its potential for an ageing society is analysed.

There is an assumption that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) will enhance quality of life. Additionally �electronic accessibility� is one of the goals for the European Information Society to support and enable self-determination and mobility. Dimensions of empowerment such as participation and ability to influence/control one�s life situation imply an approach to health care with the patient/client in focus.

the increase has been most striking in relation to adults aged 55-64 and 65-74; the percentage reporting that they are confident has increased by 15 and 13 percentage points respectively

it is notable that the majority of adults in all age groups use e-mail.

Some members of the ageing population struggle to use ICT because of accessibility issues, this might be because they have failing memory or physical health. Others may just not be interested in using for example, the Internet. This might be because they see no added value in using the Internet, consider it unnecessary or feel that alternative channels are adequate.

Research shows that only one out of three elderly people (over the age of sixty-five) are using the Internet. As a result, usability is a major issue. Vision along with hearing problems are a major contributor to the uneasiness many older adults feel. In direct correlation, this is one result of the many interfaces of the internet. Therefore, the demands of the new media on older adults are examined along with the physical and psychological changes older adults may have while using the Internet. Lastly, the article provides ideas on how changing interfaces on the internet will put older adults at a great advantage in the new media.

Older people frequently report problems with these tasks because of mobility issues, inconvenience, and fear of crime. Shopping, banking and even taking control of their health-care online, could improve these problems and allow seniors to play a more active role in their own social lives.

By 2020, around a quarter of the EU population will be over 65 and the number of people over 80 will more than double, leading to more spending (4-8% of GDP) on pensions, health and long-term care. Disability affects large parts of society and elderly groups. Around a fifth of people over 50 experience severe vision, hearing and dexterity problems. ICT offers many opportunities to lift this burden and enrich the lives of the elderly and ¡nfirmed.

ICT for ageing well can become a driver for jobs and growth and a successful lead market for Europ

Internet use by seniors has increased dramatically since the beginning of the millennium

The main uses of the Internet by people over 60 are email, news, health information, product information, family research, and travel reservations [18, 19]. Less common uses include online purchasing, searching government sites, online gaming, and online photo sharing.

besides practical knowledge, the Internet offers senior learners the opportunity to learn new job skills, access cultures and communities, and satisfy an intellectual curiosity that doesn't die upon retirement.