The Rhône Region, through its partner Erasme (The Centre for Technological Innovation of the Rhône Region), aims at ensuring ICT inclusion of all age groups.

The creed of the Webnapperon is: “Let's share the wealth of the web with older generations, without imposing on them constraints with the computer“.

Webnapperon was one of three Information and Communication Technology (ICT) iniatives funded by the Rhone Region following a survey performed in 2007 by Altivis, a consulting firm, and 2 psychologists. This inquiry, involving older people, between 81 and 90 years, family carers, professionals and people with functional limitations, revealed a strong interest for videophone contact with the doctor and/or the family to avoid isolation. The initiative is part of an effort by the Rhône Region, through its partner Erasme (The Centre for Technological Innovation of the Rhône Region), to oppose ICT exclusion of all age groups.

The inclusion criteria for the older person in the pilot phase were:

• ICT illiteracy
• access to the internet
• living in the Rhone region
• living at home
• poor eyesight

 Care Recipients
 Informal carers
 Paid assistants
 Formal carers

Not available

 Independent Living
 Information and learning for carers
 Personal Support and Social Integration for carer
 Care coordination

In particular the Webnapperon system allows:

• Voice synthesis;
• Audio messages;
• Skype access;
• Twitter access;
• Space for publications;
• Creation of an object and its contents;
• Private virtual space.

For example, the older person can put a picture of a grandchild on the table in front of the Webnapperon and many contents and photos related to the first picture appear on the webnapperon screen. When he/she puts a cd in front of webnapperon, the system starts to play its music. If the older person wants to go out of home and want to let know it to his/her carer, he/she can put on the table a paper in which is written “I’m going out” and a message is sent to carer automatically. If she/he wants to invite someone for the tea time, is sufficient he/she put the cup on the table. For instructions on the Webnapperon services follow this link to a demo: http://www.vimeo.com/1359904?pg=embed&sec=1359904.

It is possible to create a personal Webnapperon following the instructions at the link http://www.erasme.org/Webnapperon-DIY?lang=fr.

A personal computer connected to the internet.

-Public service funding: Regional

-Public research funding: European funds

Not applicable

During the pilot phase, the access to the service was free of charge for participants, but if they want to create it themselves the cost is between 50 and 600 euros (to buy the material differentiated by packeges) since 2010.

The sustainability of the initiative depends on whether families find the service helpful.

The initiative has gone through the pilot phase and is now funded through a European project led by OPAC, a company in the Rhône Region (http://www.opacdurhone.fr/cms/accueil/Tout-sur-l-Opac-du-Rhone/presentation-generale_1)

Not available

 Authorities
 Private Care Sector
 Health and Social Care Systems
 Third Sector
 Private Companies

Not available

 Informal Carers
 Health Professionals
 Social Care Professionals
 Privately-Hired Care Assistants (inc. Migrant Care Workers)
 Volunteers

Health and social professionals from 2 care homes and 1day care centre are involved and also professionals from an association in charge of ensuring the training of a leader and the collective usage with the old persons’ families.

Not involved

Not available

There is no specific information on the promotional strategies, but during the pilot phase, an association ensure the training of leaders and stimulate the use of Webnapperon with families.

Not available

Not available

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Strengths:

1. This important service fits into the wider macro level policy goal of reducing social exclusion of older people and fostering inter-generational solidarity.
2. The service does not require difficult installation and home adaptation.
3. The service is user friendly.
4. The device can be adapted to certain functional limitations.
5. The use of the device is a step towards the independent usage of internet by old persons.
6. Webnapperon is available 24 hours per day, which encourages its use.

Weaknesses

1. The service requires a significant investment from the old person’s informal caring network (such as family).
2. Little use of the devices outside the ateliers: elderly used the system mainly after the supervision and assistance of the Webnapperon staff, but they used it less when alone.
3. Short-lived enthusiasm by users.
4. Technical problems encountered by users.
5. The lack of an English language version ( both the website and the demo are in French) could be a limit for the dissemination of this service..
6. The lack of an impact assessment.
7. The older person should be encouraged to use objects rather than cards and an anchor. In real life it is needed to make the link with personal memory of old persons, in particular if affected by Alzheimer disease, when they used the Webnapperon system (for example watch the video tutorial where were used also objects of daily life, such as the cup).

Opportunities:

1. 1. Webnapperon could benefit from the coordination and interaction with other ICT initiatives run by the Rhone e-senior department that encourage medico-social coordination and night and day supervision of old people living in rural areas, because it is a system that can be used within these projects aiming at fostering elderly independent living.
2. 2. A Webnapperon application for tablet is being developed within a European project led by the OPAC of Rhône. 60 beta testers in Rhône are currently testing it.

Challenges:

1. The use of the Webnapperon should be adapted to older people living with functional limitations, considering that they are at risk of social isolation.

Webnapperon has a regional coverage and there is not the plan of exporting it to the national level nor to other Countries actually. The main transferability strategy may stand in the possibility that users create their own Webnapperon set by purchasing materials and following instructions available on the website.

Resources:

http://www.otablo.com/blog/2009/09/papy-et-mamie-surfent-grace-au-webnapperon/

http://www.digimagz.fr/liste-de-tous-les-articles/ecrans/web-napperon.html

http://www.webnapperon.com/

http://www.erasme.org/Webnapperon-DIY?lang=fr

http://www.opacdurhone.fr/cms/accueil/Tout-sur-l-Opac-du-Rhone/presentation-generale_1

Forum: http://www.erasme.org/Forum-Webnapperon

Twitter: http://twitter.com/webnapperon

E-mail: info@webnapperon.com