The research study was commissioned by Ofcom’s Advisory Committee on Older and Disabled People, and looks at the effects that Next Generation Services can bring to older and disabled people and their access to information online.
Next Generation Services (NGS) refer to telecommunication services that use improvements in speed and capacity to deliver high-speed network connections to your home or workplace. New technologies include using fibre optic cable to increase data speeds, or fourth generation mobile networks.
The study identifies a range of potential benefits to older and disabled people from the Next Generation Services in health and wellbeing, work and education, leisure and entertainment and other day-to-day activities, including:
- Remote health monitoring and consultation, including using the TV as a familiar device for information provision and communication
- Teleworking (using telecommunications as a substitute for any form of work-related travel)
- Support for life-long learning initiatives and an increase in accessible learning materials and modes of delivery for older and disabled people
- Improved quality of entertainment through more engaging entertainment and more life-like remote social interactions
- Reduced isolation through life-like remote social interaction using instant messaging software (e.g. Windows Live) and voice over internet protocol (VOIP)
- An increase in the number of accessible products and services and a reduction in the cost of these items
- Along with identified benefits, the report highlights a range of challenges to Next Generation Services benefiting older and disabled people.
According to the report, “A theme, which emerged repeatedly in the project interviews, was the risk that the roll-out of the NGS contributes to a bigger divide between people with and without access to online products and services, with more negative impact for those without access than currently.”
In addition, there were particular concerns around infrastructure, usability and accessibility, cost, implementation and motivating customers.
The report clearly shows that the Next Generation Services can benefit older and disabled people in many different areas of life, from work and social activities through to physical and mental health. However, in order for the benefits to be realised, the challenges must be addressed and managed appropriately, or we run the risk of providing little to no benefit to those who are older or disabled.
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