Senior Citizens in Spain to Gain New Independence
with Mobile Broadband
Qualcomm partners with Spanish Red Cross, Vodafone
España Foundation to form 3G Connecting Generations
Sept.
13, 2008 – An innovative program was introduced in Spain yesterday that
will help the elderly stay connected and interact with their friends and
caregivers. Designed to help senior citizens remain independent and in
their homes longer, it uses a video conference system that works as a TV
monitor, a webcam and a phone with mobile broadband Internet
connectivity (HSPA).
The Vodafone España Foundation (FVE), the Spanish
Red Cross (CRE) and Qualcomm Incorporated through its Wireless Reach
initiative, yesterday announced an alliance to launch the pilot project
named “3G Connecting Generations.”
The project aims to take advantage of 3G mobile
broadband technology to connect the elderly to their caregivers and
families by unifying voice and videoconferencing through a familiar
device like television.
“The elderly are a rapidly growing community in our
country,” said Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro Rivero, president of the
Spanish Red Cross. “Many of these people need assistance for daily
activities and the new technology provides innovative ways to enable
them to easily keep in touch with those who care for them and the people
they trust.”
Through the video conference system, participants
in this project can establish personalized video communications with the
Contact Center at the Spanish Red Cross, which answers their questions
and motivates them with consistent social interaction. Additionally,
the Red Cross is able to conduct periodic and personalized follow-up
video calls to check the health and well being of participants and
ensure they feel included.
The 3G Connecting Generations project also provides
participants’ families with 3G phones to communicate with their elderly
family members via video calls, which is particularly helpful since
participants in the program do not live near their family.
In addition to communicating with the Red Cross and
family members, the project enables participants to use their 3G video
communication platform to meet and communicate with other people in
order to expand their social circle.
They also can learn to download multimedia content,
including physical exercise videos and interactive games, which help
them stay active. The devices will be available at selected elderly
community day centers, enabling participants to connect with friends
when they are unable to access the devices.
“The 3G Connecting Generations project not only
provides the elderly with tools to lead independent lives, but it also
grants access to the latest communications technologies, giving them the
opportunity to actively participate in the 21st century,” said José Luis
Ripoll, president of the Vodafone España Foundation.
One hundred elderly people will participate in the
pilot, of which the majority live alone and far from their families. The
initiative also involves family members or day centers from more than 10
provinces in nine independent communities, including, Barcelona, Huesca,
León, La Palma, Madrid, Salamanca, Toledo, and Valladolid.
3G Connecting Generations was based on the
experience gathered by the Spanish Red Cross and the Vodafone España
Foundation through the PLATAS project, which was financed by the
Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce as part of the 2006-2007
Advance Plan.
Qualcomm is supporting 3G Connecting Generations
through its Wireless Reach initiative, designed to bring 3G technologies
to underserved communities around the world.
“We are proud to team up with the Vodafone
Foundation and the Red Cross in Spain to launch our first Wireless Reach
initiative in Europe,” said Andrew Gilbert, executive vice president of
Qualcomm and president of Qualcomm Internet Services, MediaFLO
Technologies and Qualcomm Europe.
“We are pleased to help the elderly feel more
assisted at home and connected to their families. 3G Mobile broadband
technology enables these new digital services even in low populated
areas, where it would be very difficult and expensive to bring them this
type of communication system any other way.”
Editor's Notes:
Information provided by sources
Qualcomm believes access to advanced wireless voice and data services
improves people’s lives. The Company’s Wireless Reach initiative
supports programs and solutions that bring the benefits of connectivity
to underserved communities globally. Wireless Reach projects create new
ways for people to communicate, learn, access health care and reach
global markets. For more information, please visit
www.qualcomm.com/wirelessreach.
Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) is a leader in developing and
delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and
services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies. Headquartered
in San Diego, Calif., Qualcomm is included in the S&P 100 Index, the S&P
500 Index and is a 2008 FORTUNE 500 company. For more information,
please visit
www.qualcomm.com.
Qualcomm is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Wireless
Reach is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. All other trademarks are
the property of their respective owners.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
Sept.
13, 2008 – An innovative program was introduced in Spain yesterday that
will help the elderly stay connected and interact with their friends and
caregivers. Designed to help senior citizens remain independent and in
their homes longer, it uses a video conference system that works as a TV
monitor, a webcam and a phone with mobile broadband Internet
connectivity (HSPA).