"Technology can alleviate the burden of dependency by allowing people to live autonomously at home or in an assisted environment," said Prof. Emilio Mordini who is coordinating the SENIOR project. "Yet technology can also seriously threaten people's autonomy and dignity. Modern information technology has increased the possibilities for surveillance. Relevant supervision technologies in the field of welfare services may be, for instance, sensors in exit doors that give warning about undesired movement or a form of electronic tag making localisation of the elderly possible. Technology surveillance is also facilitated to an even greater extent by RFID technology, which are beginning to be deployed on a large scale. These applications pose serious ethical questions. What ethical frameworks should be constructed to protect senior citizens, sometimes less able to give consent, from abuse by researchers? How can one ensure users' control over the systems?"
Other examples already meriting the attention of SENIOR include behavioural pattern monitoring systems, in which behaviour patterns of elderly subjects are monitored and any changes detected are reported to care givers, and underskin chips containing medical data and nanosensor for continuous monitoring of physiological parameters.
The Launching Workshops of SENIOR project will be held on the 3rd March, 2008, at Centre ALBERT BORSCHETTE, Rue Froissart 36, 1040 Bruxelles, Meeting room number AB‐3C.
Speakers include delegates from European industry (Bang & Olufsen Medicom, Motorola GmbH, WCC, Smart Search & Match, UNISYS Europe), leading European universities (Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology, and Society, Department of Computer Science of K.U. Leuven, Vrije Universiteit Brussels), research and technology centres (Centre for Science Society and Citizenship, Norwegian Board of Technology), civil society organisations (AGE ‐ the European Older People's Platform, ESPACE SENIORS), and EC services (Bureau of European Policy Advisers, DG Research, DG INFSO, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities).
Since conference places are limited, those interested in participating are kindly requested to get in contact with the conference secretariat at their earliest convenience. Registration deadline is February 27.
For further information, please contact the Conference Secretariat:
Mrs. Szilvia Simai-Mesquita
Centre for Science, Society and Citizenship (CSSC)
Piazza Capo di Ferro, 23
00186 ‐ Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 45551042/3
Fax: +39 06 45551044
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About Centre for Science, Society and Citizenship (CSSC)
Centre for Science, Society and Citizenship (CSSC) is Europe's leading independent research centre specializing in advice on political, ethical and social issues raised by emerging technologies. Its overall aim is to contribute to a better understanding of the contemporary world by clarifying the human (social, cultural and ethical) factors which shape technological innovation. For further information, please visit www.cssc.eu.