ICT 2013 conference will feature top ICT professionals from industry, academia & research. Speakers from across the ICT sector will address a range of issues from cloud computing, broadband, ICT infrastructures, ICT skills, cyber security, long term visions on the future and much more. Experts will present details on how to participate in the next EU's Research Programme - Horizon 2020.
European Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes said: "Today we can celebrate our efforts to bring government data closer to citizens and businesses in Europe. We are finally getting the much needed legal framework to boost the economy and create new jobs.
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On 30 May 2013 the Government approved a bill on the "public administration delivery of electronic forms and amendment of certain other acts" (Act on eGovernment).
DG CNECT has now launched an open-procedure public procurement for the study:
"Best practices for ICT procurement based on standards in order to promote efficiency and reduce lock-in" - SMART 2013/0048
The subject matter of the contract is described under the following context: The European Commission has developed a "Guide for the procurement of standards-based ICT: Elements of Good Practice" in the context of Action 23 of the Digital Agenda of Europe.
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Launched on 28 May 2013, the ‘10th eGovernment Benchmark 2012 - Insight Report’ of the Directorate-General of Communications Networks, Content & Technology reveals that 46 % of EU citizens use online public services. The report surveyed 28 000 Internet users across 32 countries.
Conforming to the international industry standard Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) can be “ineffective” as a method of reducing problems encountered by blind and visually impaired web users, one IT academic has claimed.
The OneVoice for Accessible ICT Coalition has elected its first formal controlling council, as it works towards its goal of becoming lead facilitator for the digital inclusion and accessible ICT sectors in the UK.
Nigel Lewis, chief executive officer of technology access charity AbilityNet and chair of OneVoice, told E-Access Bulletin that the group aims to become a hub through which organisations from all sectors can share information and best practice on inclusive ICT.
UK adults with a disability are still three times less likely to have used the internet than those without a disability, a report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has shown.
The figures in the latest Internet Access Quarterly Update, released every four months, show that at the first quarter of 2013, there were 3.7 million disabled adults – as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act – who had never used the internet, representing 32% of all adults in the UK with a disability.
By Tristan Parker
This year, 9 May recently marked the second Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), an event that aims to encourage web developers and related communities to think about accessibility for disabled computer users when designing and building web pages.
GAAD was inspired by a blog post in which US-based developer Joe Devon called for widespread accessible web design. The post was noticed by accessibility professional Jennison Asuncion, and the two began working to raise the profile of digital accessibility.
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On 23 May 2013, Ronald Plasterk, the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations wrote in his ‘Vision document on eGovernment 2017’ that the government can achieve major savings and that citizens will benefit from the digitalisation of the public secto
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The National Cancer Registry of Luxembourg was officially launched on 15 May 2013, following a relevant decision of the Luxembourgish Minister of Health Mars Di Bartolomeo back in July 2011.
Vodafone Foundation has announced the launch of the first Mobile for Good Europe Awards to search for iOS and Android apps designed to improve people's lives and deliver substantial public benefit.
Creators of the winning apps, in categories including accessibility, mobilising public services, health and education, will receive a shared prize fund of €200,000 to be used for the development of their innovations. Mobilising Public Services will focus on how local and national governments can leverage mobile technology to improve the delivery of public services.
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On 15 and 16 May 2013, the Director General of the Estonian Information System's Authority (RIA), Jaan Priisalu, and the Head of the State Portal (eesti.ee), Mihkel Tikk, met the President of the Portuguese Agency for the Modernisation of the Public Administration (AMA), Paulo
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Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced on 17 May 2013 a new £260 million (approx. €305 million) fund for hospitals to increase the use of technology.
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A network of NHS trusts has developed a free app to help soldiers who suffer from mental illnesses. The app, called ‘Joining Forces’, provides tailored information on 11 mental health problems such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.
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European Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes has awarded prizes to eHealth SMEs from Finland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland and United Kingdom as part of eHealth Week 2013 in Dublin, Ireland.
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In May 2013, the Deputy Minister of Administrative Reform and Electronic Governance, Mr Manousos Voloudakis, disseminated to all Citizen's Service Centres (KEP) a circular newsletter that provides guidance on the way in which a range of services to citizens – currently 81 – can be handled entir
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After the release of the first version of the ENGAGE platform in 2012, the ENGAGE consortium has recently released ENGAGE v2.0 with new and improved features and architecture.
