Ambient Intelligence in Addressing the Mobility Needs of People with Impairments: The Case of ASK-IT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) July 24, 2006 -- Venue: Nice, the French Riviera, 26-27 October, 2006

The ASK-IT International conference marks the two year point of this EU research funded project. The conference will provide the opportunity to take stock of the progress made in ASK-IT so far. It will also provide a unique occasion for different stakeholders, whether it be telecom providers, industry, user representatives, research institutes or local authorities, to gather together to discuss the role of Information Communication Technology in aiding and improving the everyday lives of mobility impaired people. The conference will welcome high level speakers and experts from around the world that will look at various issues, such as making content accessible, accessible tools and Ambient Intelligence, and will provide state-of-the-art information on accessibility initiatives in Europe and beyond.

ASK-IT �Ambient Intelligence System of Agents for Knowledge based and Integrated Services for Mobility Impaired Users

ASK-IT is an integrated project, partly funded by the European Commission under the 6th Framework Programme, e-Inclusion. The driving vision behind the ASK-IT project is to develop services based on Information Communication Technologies (ICT) that will allow Mobility Impaired people to live more independently. Through a device (mobile phone, PDA) users will have access to relevant and real-time information primarily for travelling but also whilst home, for work and leisure services. The emphasis is on a seamless service provision and a device that is intelligent enough to address the personal needs and preferences of the user. For example, information for a visually impaired person will be given orally, while for an illiterate person mostly in graphics. The project involves a demonstration phase during which the ASK-IT system will be tested and evaluated in 8 cities across Europe. ASK-IT involves 57 partners from a range of organisations, including industry, research institutes and European user associations and is coordinated by SIEMENS (Spain) and CERTH/HIT (Hellenic Institute of Transport, Greece).

Exhibition and sponsors

The conference exhibition area will be formally opened and forms an integral part of the conference. Delegates will be given ample time to visit the exhibition area. For more information on the exhibition and rates please contact icre@polis-online.org .

Scientific Committee

The speakers selected by the Scientific Committee from the call for papers will be announced soon. The scientific committee is made up of a panel of experts:

Dr. Evangelos Bekiaris (Centre for Research and Technology Hellas/Hellenic Institute for Transport), Dr Constantine Stephanidis (Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas) Dr. Jan Ekberg (National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health), Dr Karel Brookhuis (Technical University Delft), Prof. Phil Blythe (University of Newcastle upon Tyne) Dr Alex Bullinger (Centre of Applied Technologies in neuroscience).

For more information contact: POLIS, Ivo Cr�, Rue du Tr�ne 98, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, Tel: +32 2 500 56 76, Fax: +32 2 500 56 80, e-mail: icre@polis-online.org or visit http://www.ask-it.org to register.