Ageing well with broadband

An online exercise program which promotes the health and wellbeing of elderly people, allowing them to stay in their homes longer, was launched by the Victorian government last week.

The Ageing Well at Home with Broadband project will begin as an 18-month trial to assess the effectiveness of broadband-enabled interactive gaming technologies to assist the elderly in maintaining independence in their home, helping to improve social connectedness, and physical and mental wellbeing.

The project is underpinned by a high-speed broadband capability provided by Australia’s Academic and Research Network (AARNet), which will connect 20 homes of elderly residents in the inner Melbourne suburb of Brunswick to the Australian Broadband Applications Laboratory and Institute of Broadband-Enabled Society (IBES) over the AARNet3 network and the National Broadband Network (NBN).

According to AARNet and IBES, there are many benefits offered by ‘new generation’ broadband services.

AARNet chief executive, Chris Hancock, told iTWire the project demonstrates the value of high speed networks in delivering next generation broadband services to benefit the wider community, marking “an important step forward in realising” the potential of broadband services.

The development of interactive gaming technologies to be used by older people in their own homes will reportedly become more vital as the population ages.

Advances in these types of technologies may also encourage the implementation of new approaches to help reduce the incidence of falls among older people.

“A reliable, high speed broadband network makes it possible to deliver interactive therapy to older Australians in their homes, using engaging video gaming technologies,” NBN chief executive, Mike Quigley, tells iTWire.