The so called "Senior-Info-Mobil" (SIM) is an awareness rising campaign focusing on new technologies for older people. Since 1998, a two-level omnibus bus equipped with six Inter-net terminals has been touring across Germany. Another seven mobile Internet-terminals are available to be used for demonstrations in elderly people's meeting places. Information days and training courses are offered. Apart from this, assistive technology such as a special PC with speech software serving the needs of blind and visual impaired people as well as video telephones are presented. Further to this, a mobile "smart home" equipped with fully working devices is presented.
The general approach is to "take the offer to the people" instead of "taking the people to the offer". Local authorities or local older peoples organisations can apply for a four days stay of the SIM. Older people are invited to inform themselves about the about the presented tech-nologies and to make their hands-on experience with the support of qualified tutors.
last update 2002-04-25