Accessibility through standardisation of ambient intelligent technology Kristina Unverricht

1. Accessibility through standardisation of ambient intelligent technology Kristina Unverricht Consumer Council of DIN, Germany Chairperson of ANEC ICT WG Nice, October 2006

2. ANEC - General • established in 1995 as a non-profit making international association with a secretariat based in Brussels • on the initiative of the European Commission and all consumer organisations in EU and EFTA countries ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

3. Members & Experts • a European wide network of more than 200 consumer experts (volunteers) • areas of priority: Child Safety, Design for All, Domestic Appliances, Environment, Information Society, Services, Traffic Safety ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

4. National Experts • Example: Germany • experts from consumer organisations, mainly nominated via the Consumer Council of DIN • Consumer Council of DIN: department in the German standards body that represents consumers in standardisation ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

5. ANEC ICT WG Priorities • eAccessibility and eInclusion • Electronic Communications • Next Generation Networks • Smart Houses • eRecognition ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

6. ANEC - projects in ambient intelligent technology • standardisation of Smart Houses • standardisation of Smart Cards and their related devices • standardisation of Biometrics ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

7. Smart Houses • CENELEC TC 205 WG 16 “Smart Houses„ • CWA 50487 SmartHouse Code of Practice ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

8. Problems with Smart Houses • consumers unaccustomed to technology may be disadvantaged – ironically this is the user group (elderly) gaining the most benefit • proprietary solutions may “tie-in” the consumer to one system • lack of interoperability of systems ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

9. Advantages of Smart Houses • increased comfort, convenience, security and energy savings • individual benefits for specific consumer groups (elderly, disabled consumers) • technological add-on to care services ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

10. Consumer Requirements on Smart Houses • interoperability • reliability and Quality of Service • cost benefit over a period of time • safety of the system and appliances • security and privacy • comfort and convenience • standard easy user interfaces • easy to understand and operate ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

11. Smart Cards and related devices • CEN TC224 Personal identification, electronic signature and cards and their related systems and operations • CEN TC224 WG6 Man-Machine Interface • CEN TC224 WG15 European Citizen Card ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

12. Problems with Smart Cards • usability problems • accessibility problems • jurisdictional and privacy problems • lack of transparency and information • liabilities not clearly regulated ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

13. Advantages of Smart Cards • means of access to the information society • fast and comfortable access • (contact-less) cards facilitate access to consumers with special needs, e.g. wheelchair users ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

14. Consumer Requirements on Smart Cards I • interoperability • customizable cards • access to data stored on the card • protection of personal data • security of card & related devices • standard procedures for right of redress ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

15. Consumer Requirements on Smart Cards II • user-friendly man-machine-interface • accommodation for users with special needs, e.g. via adaptability of system • information transmission and transparency • take consumer needs into account from the beginning ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

16. Biometrics • ISO/IEC JTC1 SC37 Biometrics Working Group 6 « Cross-Jurisdictional and Societal Issues » • CEN/ISSS Biometrics Focus Group ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

17. Problems with Biometrics • fears to use biometrics (health and hygiene, of data misuse, of criminal assaults) • aspects that decrease acceptance (cultural, societal, emotional) • access barriers to persons who cannot provide biometric sample • identity theft ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

18. Advantages of Biometrics • secure access to information society • ease of use (biometric features cannot be lost or stolen) • privacy enhancing technology (PET) • increased legal binding force • efficiencies in the operation ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

19. Consumer Requirements on Biometrics I • ease of use and access with respect to specific needs and societal backgrounds • low cost for use • privacy and data protection • security of the system • no misuse of derived data ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

20. Consumer Requirements on Biometrics II • health and safety • guaranteed fall-back systems • limited false rejection rates • usability of the physical system environment and the man-machine-interface ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

21. Consumer Requirements on Biometrics III • information on/transparency of biometric data • minimize negative impact on the consumer of aggregation of data from disparate databases • no covert surveillance • standardised redress procedures ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

22. Research and standardisation projects • before standardisation: research on consumers’ heterogeneous needs and on how to address their needs • completed research project: internet filtering tools • possible future research project: RFID technology ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

23. Conclusions • standardisation can help to improve ambient intelligent technology, e.g. usability and interoperability aspects • guidelines on consumer aspects can help to take into account the consumer needs from the beginning • the consideration of consumer needs will increase their acceptance ASK-IT Conference, Nice October 2006

24. ANEC B-1040 Bruxelles phone: +32-2-7432470 e-mail: anec@anec.org internet: www.anec.org Kristina Unverricht Consumer Council of DIN D-10772 Berlin phone: +49-30-2601-2460 e-mail: kristina.unverricht@din.de internet: www.verbraucherrat.din.de