In ICE-T we describe Telecare as the use of information and communication and sensor technologies to deliver health and social support to people to help them live as independently as possible in the lowest intensity care setting consistent with their needs and wishes.
ICE-T was launched at the British Science Festival in September 2009 and is being developed by South East Health Technologies Alliance SEHTA in recognition of the benefits of and opportunities for employing information, communication and sensor technologies to meet the demographic challenges to our health and social care services.
ICE-T is the primary focus of the South East England Development Agency’s ‘Science and Innovation Campus in Telecommunications’ and builds on the success of the Telecare Knowledge Network (TKN), which was formed in 2006 to bring together practitioners from academia, statutory services and industry to share experiences and spread best practice in telecare.
ICE-T will provide support and seed funding to projects developing innovative telecare products and services and facilitate the formation of project consortia. ICE-T will develop new sustainable business opportunities by identifying and understanding user need, through open innovation and facilitated workshops.
ICE-T will focus initially on the development of three thematic market applications identified as having the potential to meet the sustainable business and care needs of the future. These themes are:
- Managed Environments = Private care home and domiciliary care market
- Home Settings = Support for fragile individuals or groups
- Workplace = Support for people in work or returning to work, through the workplace
Three action-research showcase sites are being established across the region, each acting as a lead centre of excellence for one of the identified themes. ICE-T and the showcase sites will also address the challenges inherent in the development of these three markets, recognised in the ‘enabling actions’ in the matrix below.
ICE-T is underpinned by the strength of South East England’s health technology and communications industries, world-renowned universities and innovative care providers. ICE-T will monitor and raise awareness of regional, national and international telecare initiatives and best practice. We will also foster strong links with other organisations and companies, nationally and internationally, in order to promote global business opportunities in telecare.
Click here for the full report detailing the background and future development of ICE-T.
