The uptake of Information Society Technology (IST) among older people and care service providers is not at least affected by their wider environment. It is, e.g., known that uptake of relevant applications varies depending on the structure of the national social system, the geographic region, the economic development, national or regional policy priorities etc.
To obtain background information and understand different national environments, country reports were produced for 18 countries (all Member States of the EU plus Norway, USA and Japan), detailing for each country policy initiatives, industry/technology situation and trends, regulatory constraints, social system incentives and barriers etc. for the realisation of IST-based products, services and systems.
The research in each country was carried out according to a common structure and content. With help of an information gathering template which has been developed for this purpose relevant information was obtained mainly by means of desk research. Also some supplementary interviews with key-players and experts were included to check or to affirm obtained information or to present additional information.
The information gathering template can be downloaded below.
Selected results can be looked up here. These concern different policy lines which in principle are relevant for accelerating IST uptake among older Europeans and within organisations providing care to them.