Smart Accessibility Awards: €200,000 prize for the best Android apps to assist disable and ealderly people

The Smart Accessibility Awards is a contest sponsored by Vodafone Foundation to promote the development of IT applications designed to improve the lives of those with disabilities and elderly people, to help them get more actively involved in society.  This is an interesting contest that could give us an inspiration in our work on accessibility technologies.

A €200,000 prize fund for the best Android apps to assist those with disabilities and the elderly has been shared between four winners.

The awards ceremony took place On the 17th December 2013 in Brussels, a keynote speech was delivered by Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.
 
The awards categories included: social participation; independent living; wellbeing and mobility. The winning apps were:
 
• Jaccede (Mobility category) The app enables users to search for places that are accessible to those with a disability. Information, such as whether the entrance is step-free and accessibility of toilets, is displayed alongside photos, user comments and other relevant information. Users can contribute by adding accessible places anywhere in the world, or by editing existing listings.
 
• Happen (Independent living category) This app allows users to search for information on a range of different topics, including daily news, weather and sports scores. The information is presented in a format adapted to each user's needs, either visually, motor-based or by supporting spoken feedback. This application is aimed at the elderly and visually impaired.
 
• Starting Blocks (Social Participation category) The app is aimed at people new to mobile technology, particularly the elderly. Starting Blocks teaches the skills necessary for using their Android device, including coping with the unfamiliarity of using a touchscreen device.

• Ablah (Wellbeing category) The app is based on the exchange of images, sounds and text via touch screen devices to ease the communication especially for autistic people.

The Smart Accessibility Awards are supported and co-organised by AGE Platform Europe and by the European Disability Forum (EDF).
 
The Smart Accessibility Awards is part of the Vodafone Foundation’s ‘Mobile for Good’ programme, which supports initiatives around the world which use mobile technology to drive positive social change. The awards are helping to extend the smartphone revolution to as many communities as possible.

Reding recently announced plans to propose a European Accessibility Act, which included measures to improve the accessibility of goods and services in Europe. The Act is expected to address a range of issues, including improving the inclusion and participation of people with disabilities throughout Europe.

For more information please click on the ling below:
http://developer.vodafone.com/smartaccess2012/home/
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