COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
COM(94) 303 final 
Brussels, 12.07.1994 
94/0168 (CNS) 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
concerning the continued development of the HANDYNET system within 
the framework of Decision 93/136/EEC establishing a third 
Community action programme to assist disabled people 
(HELIOS H 1993 to 1996) 
(presented by the Commission) 
COMMISSION REPORT FOR SUBMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT. 
THE COUNCIL AND THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE 
Implementation of the HANDYNET computerized 
information and documentation system 
Proposal for a Council Decision 
concerning the continued development 
of the HANDYNET system 
as part of the HELIOS programme 
o 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
In accordance with article 4.1.(b) of the Council Decision of 
25 February 1993 (93/136/EEC) establishing a third Community action 
programme to assist disabled people (HELIOS II 1993 to 1996) the 
Council shall re-examine the HANDYNET system, before 31 December 
1994, on the basis of a Commission report evaluating, inter alia. 
the first HANDYNET module on technical aids and, acting on a 
proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European 
Parliament, shall decide on the conditions for continuing the 
HANDYNET system after that date. 
INTRODUCTION 
Since 1974, the Commission has focused part of its work in the 
social sector on issues relating to disabled people, both through 
the European Social Fund and by means of studies undertaken by 
working parties set up specifically for that purpose. 
The first action programme in favour of disabled people was 
launched in 1983. In 1988, the Council established the second 
action programme in favour of disabled people, entitled HELIOS. 
HANDYNET, the European information system, was developed as part of 
this programme. 
HANDYNET is a European multilingual computerised information system 
designed to inform disabled people. It comprises a database, an 
electronic mail facility and an electronic journal. 
The HANDYNET system's technical aids module became operational in 
1990-1991. The 30 million + disabled people living in the twelve 
Member States need information which will allow them to enjoy 
greater independence in the daily and professional life. The main 
aim of the HANDYNET modular system is to give these people access 
to Europe-wide - and hence multilingual - information which will, 
step by step cover all areas of interest to them. This drive 
towards greater transparency touches upon all aspects of economic 
and social life and promotes a truly European market at various 
stages of the process of integrating disabled people. HANDYNET is 
therefore a resource for information, communication and cooperation 
at the service of disabled people and the professionals promoting 
their economic and social integration. 
Two basic principles underpin the Europe-wide HANDYNET information 
system. First, it is multilingual. This poses a considérable 
technical challenge: Member States must be able to gather 
information in the language of their choice, which must then be 
made available in the nine official Community languages. Second, 
the HANDYNET system involves on-going partnership with the Member 
States, via the national data collection and coordination centres. 
The purpose of this cooperation is to ensure that the HANDYNET 
system is adapted to the real needs of the ultimate users -
disabled people. The HANDYNET system is therefore fully in line 
with the principle of subsidiarity. 
7 
Following consultation, the European Disability Forum, the Advisory 
Committee and the Liaison Group are in favour of developing further 
the HANDYNET system further. Prior to this, the HANDYNET technical 
coordination group had approved the figures given in this report, 
which are extracted from the national evaluations carried out in 
1992 and 1993. 
POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE HANDYNET SYSTEM 
In line with the general aims of integration and equal 
opportunities which govern Community action to assist disabled 
people, the Commission plans to study the possibility of expanding 
the HANDYNET system with two additional modules on the vocational 
training and employment of disabled people and the accessibility of 
public buildings. Furthermore, HANDYNET's electronic mail system 
will be extended to include all the partners of the HELIOS 
programme. Finally, the dissemination of the HANDYNET technical 
aids module on CD-ROM will be contracted out to an outside 
organisation which, in collaboration with the Commission and the 
Member States, will also be responsible for production and 
marketing. 
THE DECISION 
Sole article 
It is for the Council, after consulting the European Parliament, to 
determine the conditions for continuing the HANDYNET system on the 
basis of a Commission evaluation report. 
The national evaluations included in this report indicate, first 
that data collection for the first module on technical aids should 
be continued with regard to both technical aids manufactured in the 
Member States and technical aids manufactured in non-EU countries 
and available on the European market. 
Second, the vast majority of users are in favour of developing and 
expanding the HANDYNET system further. 
L, 
summary 
Implementation of the HANOYNET computerised 
information and documentation system 
1. The technical aids module of the HANOYNET database contains, in the nine languages of 
the Community, information on technical aids manufactured in the Member States, on 
manufacturers and distributors of the technical aids, on the organisations responsible for 
disseminating information and providing training etc in the field of technical aids as well 
as information on the regulations in force in the Member States with regard to the alloca­
tion of technical aids, (see Chapter 1.2) 
2. All the Member States participate in the collection of information for HANOYNET, either di­
rectly for HANOYNET or indirectly through the agency of national databases whose con­
tents, where relevant, are transferred to HANOYNET (DK-OE-JT-UK). (See Chapter 2.1.) 
3. CO ROM No 6 distributed in February 1994 contains 46 632 records of information, repre­
senting 32 266 records on technical aids and 14 366 records on manufacturers, distrib­
utors etc. (See Chapters 2.1.2 and 2.1.3.) 
4. 76% of technical aids reviewed in HANOYNET relate to motor disability since Member 
States appointed Data Collection Centres for this particular field as a matter of priority. 
(See Chapter 2.2.1.2.) 
5. The HANOYNET CO ROM contains textual data, pictures and demonstrations of technical 
aids for products which can be described as educational or reeducation software. 
(See Chapter 2.4.4.) 
6. Textual data in the HANOYNET system are structured and detailed to satisfy muitifinguai re­
quirements and other interrogation criteria desired by prospective users of the CO ROM (spe­
cialists) and the information users (disabled people). (See Chapter 2.4.2 and Chapter 2.4.3.) 
7. HANOYNET can be used in the nine official languages of the European Union. It is only the 
free-text descriptions which are available exclusively in the language of the country of 
manufacture and in English. (See Chapter 2.4.3.) 
8. HANOYNET can be accessed by the visually impaired using a data reader outputting vocal­
ly or in braille. (See Chapter 2.1.) 
9. HANOYNET's technical aids module is operational and currently runs on a network com­
prising 363 Information and Advice Centres. 47 specialist Data Collection Centres and 12 
National Coordination Centres.fSee Chapter 3.1.6.) 
r 
10. Six issues of the HANDYNET CD ROM have been produced since the end of 1991. Distribu­
tion of the European database is restricted to partners in the HANOYNET network and this 
is reflected in the consultation rate. At this stage in the distribution of the' system it is im­
possible to produce reliable data on the numbers of disabled people who have benefited 
by consulting the database. (See Chapter 2.1.1.) 
11. The Commission is hoping for a wide distribution of the CD ROM with effect from the be­
ginning of 1995 both within the Community and elsewhere. It is the responsibility of the 
Member States to organise the national level dissemination of the data on the technical 
aids. (See Chapter 2.1.). 
12. Although technical development of the first module can be considered complete, efforts 
on the collection must be pursued both with regard to technical aids manufactured in the 
Member States and the technical aids manufactured in non-EU countries and available on 
the European market. (See Chapter 2.1.) 
13. Communication within the HANDYNET system is backed up with the use of electronic mail 
and an electronic journal which ensure communication between the National Coordina­
tion Centres and the HELIOS team of experts responsible for providing assistance for the 
Commission. (See Chapter 3.3.) 
14. A breakdown of expenditure on the HANDYNET system since 1988 shows that 39% of 
overall budget has gone towards technical developments whereas 61% of the said bud­
get has been transferred to the Member States as a contribution towards costs, mainly 
for expert opinions and data collection. (See Chapter 4.2.) 
15. Overall, Member States' reaction to the content and use of the HANDYNET system has 
been positive (demonstrated by the evaluations which were carried out between 1992 
and 1994). Any criticism or proposals made by evaluators. have been, or are in the pro­
cess of being, taken into account by the Commission for the ongoing process of improv­
ing the system. (See Chapter 5.3.2.) 
16. A list of research projects for technological applications is currently being put into the system 
jointly with associated initiatives from other Commission services (DG XIH). (See Chapter 6.) 
17. The HANDYNET system is modular in structure. The structure of the module on technical 
aids is broadly speaking capable of being used, without changes, for any new module. 
(See Chapter 1.3.) 
18. In order to meet more fully the information requirements of disabled people, the Commis­
sion is proposing a study of two new modules (employment - training and accessibility) in 
the form of a review of the requirements of disabled people and utilising to the full at Euro­
pean level existing information tools available in the Member States for information in the 
two fields in question. The Commission is also proposing that the HANOYNET mail system 
should be extended to cover all partners in the HELIOS programme. (See Chapter 9.2.) 
& 
PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION 
concerning the continued development of the HANDYNET system within 
the framework of Decision 93/13 6/EEC establishing a third Community 
action programme to assist disabled people (HELIOS II 1993 to 1996) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 
and in particular Article 235 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission , 
2 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament , 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee , 
Whereas the principal objective of Council Decision 93/136/EEC 
establishing a third Community action programme to assist disabled 
(2) 
people (HELIOS II 1993 to 1996) is to promote equal opportunities 
for and the integration of disabled people; whereas one of the 
general objectives is to meet the information needs of disabled 
people by means of the HANDYNET computerised information and 
documentation system based on data collected at national level and 
updated and adapted at European level; 
Whereas under the HELIOS II programme, the Commission, in 
accordance with Decision 93/136/EEC, has collected, adapted at 
European level, updated, exchanged and disseminated information on 
technical aids collected in the Member States; 
Whereas the HANDYNET system's technical aids module promotes 
transparency with regard to the technical and economic aspects of 
the rehabilitation technologies market by suggesting the benefits 
for disabled people for their integration into daily life; 
Whereas in accordance with Article 4.1. (b) of Decision 93/136/EEC, 
the Council shall re-examine the HANDYNET system, before 31 
December 1994, on the basis of a Commission report evaluating, 
inter alia, the first HANDYNET module on technical aids and, acting 
on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European 
Parliament, shall decide on the conditions for continuing the 
HANDYNET system after that date; 
OJ No L 56, 9.3.1993, p. 30 
9 
? 
Whereas the Commission's evaluation report demonstrates the value 
of continuing the HANDYNET computerised information and 
documentation system which, on account of its European scope, 
offers a broader range of information accessible in the nine 
official Community languages; 
Having regard to the opinions of the HELIOS programme's advisory 
bodies and in particular the Advisory Committee, the European 
Disability Forum and the Liaison Group, and cooperation with Member 
States' National HANDYNET Collection and Coordination Centres 
regarding the structure of the system and its supply of textual and 
multimedia information; 
Whereas the HANDYNET system should be continued under the 
conditions provided for in Decision 93/136/EEC; 
Whereas the Treaty does not provide, for the adoption of this 
Decision, powers other than those of Article 235; 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
10 
f 
SOLE ARTICLE 
The computerised information and documentation system HANDYNET 
shall be continued in the framework of the activities of the HELIOS 
II programme from 1 January 1995 to 31 December 1996. 
11 
/-& 
Commission Report 
for submission to the 
European Parliament, 
the Council 
and the Economic and 
Social Committee 
AA 
Implementation of 
the HANDYNET 
computerised information and 
documentation system 
HANDYNET 
Commission Report 
for submission to the 
European Parliament, 
the Council 
and the Economic and 
Social Committee 
n 
introduction 
Pursuant to Article 4.1 .(b) of the 
Council Decision of 25 February 1993 
(93/136/EEC) establishing a third 
Community action programme to as­
sist disabled people , known as the 
"HELIOS II Programme" to cover the 
period 1 January 1973 to 31 Decem­
ber 1996, the Commission is required 
to submit, before 1 July 1994, to the 
European Parliament, the Council and 
the Economic and Social Committee a 
report on the implementation of the 
HANDYNET system in order to allow 
the Council to take action before 31 
December 1994 concerning the con­
ditions under which the system will 
continue after that date. This report describes the content and operation of the 
HANDYNET system in the first half of 1994 and is based on the 
contents of CD ROM No 6, which was distributed at the end of 
February 1994. It summarises the results of national evaluations of 
the system which were carried out in the various Member States. 
An evaluation of the HANDYNET system by an organisation out­
side the European Commission is being prepared. 
This report describes developments with the "technical aids" mod­
ule. It also stresses the need for supplementing existing data in the 
field of technical aids and for studying the development of two other 
modules, one of which relates to the vocational training and employ­
ment of disabled people and the other to the accessibility of public 
buildings. These two areas are of critical importance for independent 
living and the promotion of equal opportunities for disabled people. 
Lastly, the report describes how the information is distributed. Distribution of the 
HANDYNET database is currently restricted to the National collection Coordination 
Centres, the specialist Data Collection Centres and the Information and Advice Cen­
tres set up by the Member States. 
In order to comply with requests from other organisations in the Member States and 
in non-EU countries, the HANDYNET CD ROM will be distributed from the second 
half of 1994 onwards by an organisation outside the Commission. This organisation 
will be selected on the basis of an invitation to tender. 
'OJ .No I.56, 9.3.9?. p.30 
il 
HANDYNET - European information system on technical aids 
The HANDYNET database today Bf 
The operating structures of the HANDYNET system 
The cost of the HANDYNET system 
Evaluation of the HANDYNET system by the users 
HANDYNET Cooperation with Community initiatives 
Cooperation with international organisations 
Developments in progress 
Conclusions and future prospects 
AU 
contents 
INTRODUCTION 
SUMMARY 
I HANDYNET • EUROPEAN INFORMATION SYSTEM 
ON TECHNICAL AIDS 
1.1 Aims and coverage 
1.2 The composition of the system 
1.3 The modular approach 7 
9 
9 
10 
10 
II THE HANDYNET DATABASE TODAY 
2.1 The data collected 
2.1.1 Progress with data collection 
2.1.2 Data collected on technical aids 
2.1.3 Data collected on manufacturers and non-profit making organisations 
2.1.4 Data collected on national statutory procedures 
2.2 Composition uf the data base in terms of content 
2.2.1 Categories of technical aids in database 
2.2.1.1 Number of technical aids described (main categories) 
2.2.1.2 Number of technical aids designed to compensate 
for impairment, disability or handicap 
2.2.2 Activities of the organisations listed 
2.2.2.1 Type of business 
2.2.2.2 Non-business activities 
2.3 The structure of the data 
2.3.1 Information on technical aids 
2.3.1.1 General information 
2.3.1.2 Technical information 
2.3.1.3 Econom/cdata 
2.3.2 Information en the organisations 
2.3.2.1 General information 
2.3.2.2 Information on their activiiiss 
2.3,2.-3 information on the impact 
2.3.3 The national statutory procedures 11 
11 
12 
12 
12 
13 
13 
13 
13 
14 
14 
14 
15 
15 
15 
15 
16 
16 
16 
76 
17 
17 
17 
(3) /) 
2.4 The technical aspects of the database ' * 18 
2.4.1 Why CD ROM was chosen 18 
2.4.2 The interrogation software 19 
2.4.3 Multilingual aspects 20 
2.4.4 Multimedia data 20 
III. THE OPERATING STRUCTURES OF THE HANDYNET SYSTEM 21 
3.1 The partners 21 
3.1.1 National Data Collection and Coordination Centres (NCC) 21 
3.1.2 Data Collection Centres (DCC) 21 
• 3.1.3 Information and Advice Centres (IAC) 21 
3.1.4 Information Centres (IC) 21 
3.1.5 The HANDYNET Technical Coordinating Unit of the HELIOS Team of Experts 21 
3.1.6 Numeric overview of the HANDYNET network 22 
3.2 The benefits of network-based operation 22 
3.2.1 ... as regards the HANDYNET system itself 23 
3.2.2 ... as regards the partners' development 23 
3.3 Communication = electronic mail and journal system 23 
IV. THE COST OF THE HANDYNET SYSTEM 24 
4.1 Overall cost 24 
4.2 Cost of developing HANDYNET 24 
BUDGET - HANDYNET activities 1988-94 
4.3 Allocation of expenditure 25 
4.3.1 Allocation of expenditure for activities 25 
4.3.2 Allocation of expenditure to cover staff costs 25 
4.3.3 Expenditure for general expenses 26 
4.4 Trends in expenditure for each budget item 26 
,4.4.1 Expenditure for activities y 26 
4.4.2 Staff costs 27 
4.4.3 General expenses (missions and administration) 27 
V. EVALUATION OF THE HANDYNET SYSTEM BY THE USERS 28 
5.1 The evaluators of the HANDYNET system 29 
5.2 Evaluation methodology 29 
5.3 Results of the evaluations 30 
5.3.1 Distribution of the HANDYNET system 31 
5.3.2 User-friendliness of the HANDYNET system 34 
5.3.3 Content of the database 34 
5.3.3.1 Textual information 34 
5.3.3.1.1 As regards technical aids 
5.3.3.1.2 As regards organisations 
5.3.3.1.3 As regards national rules and regulations 
5.3.3.2 Multimedia information 3^ 
36 
3n 
5.4 The social impact of the HANDYNET system 
5.4.1 Advantages of HANDYNET dissemination 
5.4.2 Advantages of a European system compared with a national system 
5.4.3 Drawbacks of a European system compared with a national system. 36 
36 
39 
40 
VI COOPERATION WITH COMMUNITY INITIATIVES 
HORIZON, TIDE, COST 219, RACE 
VII COOPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS 
7.1 The Council of Europe 
7.2 The ISO (International Standards Organisation) 41 
41 
42 
42 
42 
VIII DEVELOPMENTS IN PROGRESS 
8.1 Orthoses and prothèses 
8.2 The HANDYNET thesaurus 
8.3 The inventory of research and development 
8.4 Information on quality 43 
43 
43 
43 
44 
IX CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS 
9.1 The technical aids module: prospects 
9.1.1 Technical and data processing developments 
9.1.2 Developments relating to information content 
9.1.3 Dissemination of the HANDYNET CD-ROM 
9.2 Supplementary modules 
9.3 Electronic mail system 45 
46 
46 
46 
46 
47 
48 
ANNEX 1 
Equipment necessary for the HANDYNET databank on CD-ROM 49 
ANNEX 2 
The cost of the HANDYNET system 50 
ANNEX 3 
List of National Data Collection and Coordination Centres 52 
.^ ? 
summary 
Implementation of the HANDYNET computerised 
information and documentation system 
1. The technical aids module of the HANDYNET database contains, in the nine languages of 
the Community, information on technical aids manufactured in the Member States, on 
manufacturers and distributors of the technical aids, on the organisations responsible for 
disseminating information and providing training etc. in the field of technical aids as well 
as information on the regulations in force in the Member States with regard to the alloca­
tion of technical aids, (see Chapter 1.2) 
2. All the Member States participate in the collection of information for HANDYNET, either di­
rectly for HANDYNET or indirectly through the agency of national databases whose con­
tents, where relevant, are transferred to HANDYNET»(DK-DE-IT-UK). (See Chapter 2.1.) 
3. CD ROM No 6 distributed in February 1994 contains 46 632 records of information, repre­
senting 32 266 records on technical aids and 14 366 records on manufacturers, distrib­
utors etc. (See Chapters 2.1.2 and 2.1.3.) 
4. 76% of technical aids reviewed in HANDYNET relate to motor disability since Member 
States appointed Data Collection Centres for this particular field as a matter of priority. 
(See Chapter 2.2.1.2.) 
5. The HANDYNET CD ROM contains textual data, pictures and demonstrations of technical 
aids for products which can be described as educational or reeducation software. 
(See Chapter 2.4.4.) 
6. Textual data in the HANDYNET system are structured and detailed to satisfy multilingual re­
quirements and other interrogation criteria desired by prospective users of the CD ROM (spe­
cialists) and the information users (disabled people). (See Chapter 2.4.2 and Chapter 2.4.3.) 
7. HANDYNET can be used in the nine official languages of the European Union. It is only the 
free-text descriptions which are available exclusively in the language of the country of 
manufacture and in English. (See Chapter 2.4.3.) 
8. HANDYNET can be accessed by the visually impaired using a data reader outputting vocal­
ly or in braille. (See Chapter 2.1.) 
9. HANDYNET's technical aids module is operational and currently runs on a network com­
prising 363 Information and Advice Centres, 47 specialist Data Collection Centres and 12 
National Coordination Centres.(See Chapter 3.1.6.) 
/>)• 
«IBB 10. Six issues of the HANDYNET CD ROM have been produced since the end o' 1991. Distribu­
tion of the European database is restricted to partners in the HANDYNET network and this 
is reflected in the consultation rate. At this stage in the distribution of the system it is im­
possible to produce reliable data on the numbers of disabled people who have benefited 
by consulting the database. (See Chapter 2.1.1.) 
11. The Commission is hoDing for a wide distribution of the CD ROM with effect from the be­
ginning of 1995 both within the Community and elsewhere. It is the responsibility of the 
Member States to organise the national level dissemination of the data on the technical 
aids. (See Chapter 2.1.) 
12. Although technical development of the first module can be considered complete, efforts 
on the collection must be pursued both with regard to technical aids manufactured in the 
Member States and the technical aids manufactured in non-EU countries and available on 
the European market. (See Chapter 2.1.) 
13. Communication within the HANDYNET system is backed up with the use of elearonic mail 
and an electronic journal which ensure communication between the National Coordina­
tion Centres and the HELIOS team of experts responsible for providing assistance for the 
Commission. (See Chapter 3.3.) 
14. A breakdown of expenditure on the HANDYNET system since 1988 shows that 39% of 
overall budget has gone towards technical developments whereas 61% of the said bud­
get has been transferred to the Member States as a contribution towards costs, mainly 
for expert opinions and data collection. (See Chapter 4.2.) 
15. Overall, Member States' reaction to the content and use of the HANDYNET system has 
been positive (demonstrated by the evaluations which were carried out between 1992 
and 1994). Any criticism or proposals made by evaluators have been, or are in the'pro­
cess of being, taken into account by the Commission for the ongoing process of improv­
ing the system. (See Chapter 5.3.2.) 
16. A list of research projects for technological applications is currently being put into the system 
jointly with associated initiatives from other Commission services (DG XIII). (See Chapter 6.) 
17. The HANDYNET system is modular in structure. The structure of the module.oh technical 
aids is broadly speaking capable of being used, without changes, for any new module. 
(See Chapter 1.3.) 
18. In order to meet more fully the information requirements of disabled people, the Commis­
sion is proposing a study of two new modules (employment - training and accessibility) in 
the form of a review of the requirements of disab'ed people and utilising to the full at Euro­
pean level existing information tools available in the Member States for information in the 
two fields in question. The Commission is also proposing that the HANDYNET mail system 
should be extended to co«er all partners in the HELIOS programme. (See Chapter 9.2.) 
A>, 
HANDYNET - European information 
system on technical aids 
1.1 AIMS AND COVERAGE 
HANDYNET, the European computerised information system has been set up by the Europe­
an Union under the HELIOS programme. HANDYNET aims to achieve a gradual coverage of 
the information requirements of disabled people throughout their integration process. 
Priority was given to developing the information module on technical aids which help dis­
abled people achieve a greater degree of independence. 
Pisabled people are defined in Article 2 of the Council Decision of 25 February 1993 es­
tablishing the HELIOS II programme as: 
"People with serious' impairments, disabilities or handicaps resulting from physical, in­
cluding sensory, or mental or psychological impairments which" restrict or make impos­
sible the performance of an activity or function considered normal for a human being". 
Technical aids are understood to be as defined in ISO (International Standards Organisa-
• tion standard 9999) as "any product, instrument, equipment or technical system used by 
a disabled person, especially produced or generally available, preventing, compensating, 
relieving or neutralising the impairment, disability or handicap". 
The development of the information module on technical aids in the HANDYNET system is 
in response to: 
• a social need since technical aids allow a disabled person to be more independent and 
thereby strengthen that person's position in society; 
• a financial need since technical aids should help to reduce social spending and spending 
on health by assisting the reintegration of disabled people and by playing a secondary 
and tertiary prevention-type role (secondary prevention = preventing the disability, ter­
tiary prevention = prevention of the handicap); 
• an economic need by bringing together a producer and a user, promoting transparency 
in the single market in Europe, stimulating industrial and commercial competition to con­
tribute dynamic force to research and innovation and achieve products offering greater 
performance at lower cost. 
HANDYNET, which has been developed as part of the HELIOS programme, can in a general 
way contribute to: 
• improving the conditions for the integration of disabled people by making available to 
them more relevant information on technical aids; 
• bringing to the attention of people involved in the process of integrating disabled peo­
ple information on applied research projects relating to technical aids. 
2-
1.2 THE COMPOSITION OF THE SYSTEM 
The HANDYNET European information system comprises: 
• a database; 
• an electronic mail and journal. 
The multilingual database (in the nine official languages of the European Union) is avail­
able on compact disk (CD ROM - Compact-Disk-Read-Only-Memory) and can provide 
three basic types of information: 
• technical aids in the strict sense with a description of their technical, functional and eco­
nomic features, i.e. price; 
• the organisations involved with technical aids i.e. manufacturers, distributors, information 
centres, training organisations, research organisations etc.; 
• the statutory provisions in force in the Member States governing the supply of technical 
aids to disabled people. 
The electronic mail and journal are communication tools available via telecommunications net­
works which offer partners in the HANDYNET network, the National data collection and Coor­
dination Centres (NCC - see Chapter 3.1.1), scope for sending and receiving messages by 
computer as well as information oh European - scale events of relevance to disabled people. 
1.3 THE MODULAR APPROACH 
HANDYNET is modular in structure. 
File of 
organisations File of 
technical aids 
File of 
statutory procedures 
Employment 
and training 
MODULE 
Accessibility 
MODULE It will be seen that should other 
modules be developed to cover 
the information requirements of 
disabled people, two thirds of the 
information structures already ex­
ist in the technical aids module. 
These are: 
• the data on organisations; 
• the data on statutory procedures. 
The structures for these two categories of data can be used without change when new 
fields of information on disability are introduced. 
The modular structure means that the investment in setting up the first module on techni­
cal aids comprising three files can be used for future developments. 
CI MB HANOYriRr . EUROPEAN INFORMATION SYSTEM ON TECHNICAL AIOS 
the HANDYNET database today 
II THE HANDYNET DATABASE TODAY 
This report on the HANDYNET database, which is currently available on CD ROM No 6 
(whose distribution commenced in February 1994), describes how the data are struc­
tured, the technical aspects which represent original features of the system. The report 
also indicates the cost of the system since 1988. 
It should be stressed that HANDYNET is a system undergoing constant development 
both in terms of its data content and in terms of its interrogation procedures with a view 
to keeping abreast of latest developments in information processing. 
Improvements are made on the basis of remarks and suggestions from users, namely the 
National Coordination Centres on the one hand and the evaluators of the HANDYNET 
system, the disabled people themselves, on the other. 
2.1 The data collected 
One of the original features of the HANDYNET system is that data collection is a respon­
sibility shared between the 12 Member States. 
Interfaces allow data to be accessed in braille or by voice synthesizer. 
Given the abundance of technical aids on the European market it would seem that the 
large numbers of technical aids available on the market can be most comprehensively 
covered by the 12 Member States acting together, thereby minimising the effort required 
of each one individually to achieve this comprehensive coverage. 
In the first instance it was the National collection and Coordination Centres which under­
took to collect information on the technical aids manufactured in their particular Member 
State as well as on the manufacturers and distributors based there. 
The next stage is to collect data on technical aids manufactured in non-EU countries and 
available on the internal market. This is one of the objectives set for 1994. 
If the European Union is enlarged or if the European Economic Area Agreement (EEAA) is 
applied to the HELIOS programme, the collection of data on technical aids manufactured 
in the EFTA countries in question (Sweden, Norway, Austria, Finland and Iceland) will be 
covered by the Collection Centres appointed in these countries. This operation could 
commence early in 1995. 
2.1.1 Progress with data collection 
The situation reflected by the CD ROMs produced since 1991. 
Progress with data collection at European level (total number of technical aids and organisations 
CD ROM N* Production Date Items of data (data sheets!* 
CO ROM N* l December 1991 
May 1992 
January 1993 
May 1993 
October 1993 
February 1994 
September 1994 9 000 
18 944 
23 588 
35 663 
44 266 
46 632 
In progress The 4 800 items of data 
relating to sports for 
disabled people have been 
removed for updating 
(see chapiter 5.3.3.1.2..B) 
In two years the collection of data for HANDYNET has increased five-fold 
2.1.2 Data collected on technical aids 
.il .Li I 
BE OK DE CR ES n* IR tT LU NI FT UK Belgium 
Denmark ' 
Germany ' 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 465 
2189 
9730 
89 
463 
3145 
419 Italy ' 
Luxembourg 3 
Netherlands ' 
Portugal 
United Kingdom1 
Total 2524 
1 
3201 
211 
9829 
32266 
(1) The data sent by these Member Stotes ore obtained vio on interface between the notional databases 
and HANDYNET. 
(2) The network of Data Collection Centres in Greece is currently being reactivated. A sizeable increase 
should be evident for the production of CD ROM No 7 (planned for September 1994). 
(3) Only one technical aid is monufoctured in Luxembourg. 
2.1.3 Data collected on manufacturers, distributors and non-profit making organisations 
I.IZi Belgium 2 
Denmark ' 
Germany ! 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 1922 
316 
932 
70 
93 
b25 
380 Italy ' 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands ' 
Portugal 
United Kingdom1 
Total 
8E DK Of. CS M F» IS IT lu NL PT IJK 
(ij The doto sent by these Member jtotes ore obtained via on intenoce between the national 
databases and HANDYNH. 
(2) The French community in Belgium has o file of manufacturers and distributers and hes 
^quested on interface facility for the notional dotobese on organisations. 5421 
95 
1009 
209 
3394 
14366 
(4) '1^ 
2.1.4 Data collected on national statutory procedures 
With a view to comparing the statutory procedures in force in the Member States ena­
bling a disabled person to purchase or rent a technical aid or to arrange for its repair, the 
National Coordination Centres were asked to provide information in their national lan­
guages and in English. 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany 
Greece 
Spain 
France French + Dutch 
German + English 
Danish + English 
German + English 
Greek + English 
Spanish + English 
French + English Ireland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
United Kingdom English 
Italian + English 
French + English 
Dutch + English 
Portuguese + English 
English 
The degree of detail provided on the various statutory procedures is o matter for each Member State. 
2.2 COMPOSITION OF THE DATA BASE IN TERMS OF CONTENT 
2.2.1 Categories of technical aids in database 
2.2.1.1 Number of technical aids described (main categories) 
Categories of technical aides in accordance with ISO classification ISO 9999 
ISO Class 
lell.ll LI 
ISO o) o« o9 12 1$ It 21 24 2? 30 Aids for therapy and training 03 
Orthoses and prosthesis 06 
Aids for personal care and protection 09 
Aids for personal mobility 12 
Aids for housekeeping 15 
Furnishings and adaptations to homes and other premises 18 
Aids for communication, information and signalling 21 
Aids for handling products and goods 24 
Aids and equipment for environmental improvement 
Tools and machines 27 
Aids for recreation 30 Number of 
data sheets 
2 505 
1 952 
5 508 
7 063 
721 
7 008 
3 327 
1 920 
273 
1 909 
These figures relate to the moin use for the aids compared with ISO 9999. A number of aids are registered in more than 
one ISO category while others ore not assigned to any category. 
Aids for personal mobility (Class 12) and furnishings and adaptations to homes and other 
premises (Class 18) account for almost 50% of the technical aids contained in HANDYNET 
2c 
2.2.1.2 Number of technical aids'designed to compensate for 
Impairment, disability or handicap 
motor = 76<*o The opporent imbolonce between technical aids 
compensating for motor impairment and the 
other technical aids is the result of the priority 
given by the Member Stotes to the appointment 
of Data Collection Centres for information on 
technicol aids for the motor impaired. 
cognitive » 16% 
communication 
(aurai or sight-related) « 8% 
Distribution of specialised collection centres 
Communication 
Motor Aural 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany ' 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 
Italy ' 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands ' 
Portugal 
United Kingdom Communication 
sight-related Educational 
software 
(1) In these Member Stotes the Nationol collection ond Coordination Centre for HANDYNET operates also as 
both coordinator and collection centre 
Germany, Italy and the Netherlands have not appointed specialised Collection Centres 
for HANDYNET but currently provide data for the four areas. 
2.2.2 Activities of the organisations listed 
Organisations listed in HANDYNET grouped by nature of business 
2.2.2.1 Type of business 
676 „2768 
154 
1431 Manufacturers 
Exporters 
Wholesalers 
Distributors/retailers 
Service/maintenance 
Total 2768 
154 
1431 
7873 
676 
12902 
.'f is worth noting that not only are the manufacturers of technicol aids listed but also, ond more imporiontly. 
th<- distributors located neorest to the consumer. 
9IMW& !"Ht ,'ANOYNET DAÏAPASE TODAY 
2.2.2.2 Non-business activities 
_197 
773. .647 D Research 
Evaluation 
Training 
Innovation/technology 
Information 
Users associations 
Legal or supervisory work 
Specialists associations 
Total 233 
197 
647 
11 
773 
20 
438 
8 
2327 
The Notionol collection ond Coordination Centres were to concentrate on the collection of dota relating to busi­
nesses so thot a link con be established between technicol aids, their manufacturers ond their distributors. 
However, most of the collection centres hod already input other types of organisations into the databose. 
The organisations listed in HANDYNET ore most frequently organisations pursuing a number of activities, either 
business-type or non-business-type or both. 
2.3 The structure of the data 
• The data contained in the database needs to be highly detailed in terms of its structure 
as regards both the technical aids and the organisations. This way the purpose of the 
database is served, i.e. the creation of a transparent market allowing the most appropri­
ate product to be found. To this end all the NCCs: 
• take due account of the remarks made during the HANDYNET evaluation sessions organ­
ised in the various Member States; 
• take stock of the large number of items of data on technical aids and organisations listed 
in the HANDYNET database; 
so that multilingual requirements can be better served. 
2.3.1 Information.on technical aids 
2.3.1.1 General information 
General information Identification of 
technical aid . name of product 
. product category 
. name of 
manufacturer 
. brand name 
. functional impair­
ments compensated 
7i 
2.3.1.2 Technical information 
Technical data 
Technical information Depending on 
the category of 
technical aid 
. material 
. how operated 
. type of batten 
. how fixed, etc. 
Numerical data Depending on 
category of product 
. overall size 
. weight etc. 
2.3.1.3 Economic data 
Price of 
technical aid 
Economic data 
V Name of product in 
each Member State 
Brand names in each 
Member State 
indication of price in 
national currency of 
each Member State 
and in Ecu 
VAT rate 
National 
recommendations national standards 
financed by social 
securitv bodies 
2.3.2 Information on the organisations 
2.3.2.1 General information 
Contact 
information name of organisation 
(full name, common 
name, abbreviated 
name) 
telephone 
fax 
address for 
visitors (accessibility 
of premises) 
General information 
Type of 
organisation govermental 
profit-making 
non-govermental 
special 
«XSD n<E HANDYNET OA'' ASASE TODAY 
1> 
2.3.2.2 Information on their activities 
Area of activity 
Technical aids type of activity 
technical aids con­
cerned 
brands manufactur­
ed and distributed 
target groups 
Information on their activities 
Other areas 
of activity 
relating to the 
process of 
integration of 
disabled people type of activity 
target groups 
2.3.2.3 Information on the impact 
Geographical area 
of activity worldwide 
European 
national 
regional 
local 
Information on the impact Implication Community 
programmes or 
initiatives 
membership of a 
network or an 
international 
organisation 
Supplementary 
data description in 
national language 
description in English 
2.3.3 The national statutory procedures 
Information on the statutory procedures is presented as a flow chart, operating like a dia­
logue between the user and HANDYNET and describing the regulations applicable in 
each Member State with regard to their specific case. 
The consultation procedure is thus different for each Member State depending on wheth­
er national regulations relate to: 
• the type of technical aid; 
• the field of use (private, occupational or educational); 
• the age of the user; 
• the user's membership of a social protection scheme; 
• the cause of the impairment or disability. 
The overall aim is to provide the user with a practical guide for consulting the texts of na­
tional regulations, to find out about their rights and obligations and to understand more 
fully the steps that have to be taken and the bodies that have to be contacted in order to 
obtain a technical aid. 
2.4 THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE DATABASE 
Up to the end of 1990 the HANDYNET database operated online with the National collec­
tion, Coordination Centres connected via telephone to the server of the European Space 
Agency (ESA) in Frascati, Italy. The main problems that arose with this type of operation 
were the following: 
• slow response speed of server; 
• many breakdowns of communication lines during interrogation; 
• server inaccessible at certain times of the day and at weekends; 
• not particularly user-friendly interface for interrogation; 
• high cost of telephone links; 
• problems with introducing multimedia method (merging of texts, pictures and sound); 
• insufficient flexibility to extend dissemination of data to organisations other than HANDY­
NET's National collection Coordination Centres (12 Information Centres in Europe). 
Following an examination existing alternatives for the technical management of the 
HANDYNET database it was decided to opt for the CD ROM compact disk and to: 
• retain as far as possible the type of computer system already installed at the National 
Coordination Centres; 
• adopt some of the software developments produced at the ESA; 
• simplify the interrogation procedures for the user. 
2.4.1 Why CD ROM was chosen 
Since early 1991 HANDYNET has used CD ROM for the following reasons: 
• large information storage capacity (650 megabytes of texts, graphics or piaures, the 
equivalent of 470 computer diskettes or 470 000 pages of text (A4 size); 
• guaranteed lifetime of the data of at least 10 years. The data remain stable and retain 
their original quality; 
• direct consultation to avoid the cost of telephone links for each consultation of a server 
on line; 
• low-cost support for disseminating large quantities of data; 
• multimedia application options; 
• the cost of producing CD ROMS is inversely proportional to the number of copies manu­
factured; 
• CD ROM technology is expanding worldwide; 
• computer equipment is developing continuously and most equipment now incorporates 
a CD ROM reader. 
(The equipment needed to use HANDYNET is described in Annex 1). 
GXKE& THE HANDYNET DATABASE TODAY 
2.4.2 The interrogation software 
It is important to point out that the database operates with two types of interrogation 
software, one program runs on Windows software and the other on DOS 
The DOS version of the program hos been developed for use by the visuolly impaired ond severely motor 
disabled who con connect their own equipment to HANDYNET (voice synthesizer, track-boil etc) 
Options available with the two programs 
HANDYNET with Windows HANDYNET with DOS 
Use of the mouse to 
move around the database 
Language can be changed at 
any time during interrogation 
Font can be enlarged on the screen 
Different formats for information 
output can be set up 
Complete « 
Address labels •* 
Easy to use •* 
Others < 
Data can be printed out 
in format selected 
Visualisation of products 
by a succession of pictures 
Zoom function for particular 
details of the picture of the technical 
aid presented on the screen Use of the computer keyboard to move 
around the database 
Language can be changed only at the 
beginning of the intenogation 
Information output can be by voice 
synthesizer or in braille 
Various formats for information output 
can be selected 
• Complete 
• Address labels 
• Easy to use 
Data can be printed out in format selected 
Visualisation of products by a succession 
of pictures or several on the same screen 
(mosaic) 
Output of statistics as tables or diagrams 
3 
2.4.3 Multilingual aspects 
Data on Spain •^H"':?'^BS Information available in the 
in Spanish ** ^^JFTJC*^^^ 9 Community languages 
HANDYNET 
CD ROM 
HANDYNET is the only database operating in 9 languages 
This technical feat was made possible by: 
• the work of a group of experts from the various Member States to prepare the structures 
to receive the data; 
• using international classification system (the ISO 9999 International Technical Aids classifi­
cation and the WHO'S (World Health Organisation) International Classification of Impair­
ments. Disabilities and Handicaps); 
• setting up lists of terms offering accurate technical and functional descriptions of the 
technical aids and organisations in the nine languages of the Community on the basis of 
definitive translations; 
• limiting to an absolute minimum free text descriptions in national languages. 
The multilingual facility gives real added value to the HANDYNET database because: 
HANDYNET allows disabled European citizens to consult information of relevonce to them in their own lan­
guage irrespective of the Member State in which they ore located and it thus promotes mobility ond equal 
opportunities for disabled people; 
a large proportion of potential users in non-EU countries hove a knowledge of at least one of the nine offi­
cial Community longuoges; 
• HANDYNET can be adapted to other longuoges 
2.4.4 Multimedia data 
Every person who has used the database considers that the illustration of textual data is 
of fundamental importance. Following a detailed study by a group of experts from the 
various Member States HANDYNET introduced the multimedia aspect in 1993. 
The multimedia facility offered by HANDYNET is: 
2144 • the addition of pictures. 256 colour pictures for all 
types of technical aids; 
• the addition of software demonstrations for the 
technical aids listed in the education, reeducation 
and communication software. 
CD ROM N*5 CD ROM N*6 
a pictures • demonstration software The coordinating centres once set up will prepare 
pictures for inclusion in digitised form (scanner in­
put) the same way as they prepare textual data.* 
Collection of software demonstrations is still of an early stage. Continuation with the collection and 
iroining of experts will depend en the appointment (by the Member Stotes) of further collection centres 
specialising in edtication softwen. 
THE HANOYNET DATABASE TODAY 
(5) 
the operating structures of 
the HANDYNET system 
Operation of the HANDYNET system is based on: 
• shared collection of data; 
• decentralised processing of the information; 
• decentralised distribution of the information. 
This participatory approach relies on national and European partnerships between organ­
isations whose roles are clearly defined. 
3.1. THE PARTNERS 
3.1.1 National Data Collection and Coordination Centres (NCC) 
These are organisations appointed by each Member State to ensure coordination of the 
data collection at national level as regards planning and quality control of the data collect­
ed. These Centres preserve the cohesion of the HANDYNET system at national level and 
offer technical advice to the various collection centres and Information and Advice centres. 
At European level they constitute the HANDYNET Technical Coordination Group. 
3.1.2 Data Collection Centres (DCC) 
These are organisations appointed at national level to collect data at intervals agreed 
with the National Coordination Centre. The Data Collection Centres specialise in one or 
more technical aid categories and collect data at national or regional level depending on 
what the Member State decides. 
3.1.3 Information and Advice Centres (IAC) 
These organisations, appointed at national level, use the HANDYNET database to provide in­
formation and guidance for disabled people in choosing a technical aid suited to their needs. 
3.1.4 Information Centres (IC) 
These are non-specialist organisations in the field of technical aids which provide each 
user with access to the information contained in the database, and encourage those con­
cerned to seek further assistance from the specialist Information and Advice Centres. 
3.1.5 The HANDYNET Technical Coordinating Unit of the HELIOS Team of Experts 
This unit, which is made up of experts who assist the Commission in implementing the 
HELIOS programme, has the task of coordinating the system at European level. It gathers 
data from the various Member States, carries out quality control of the data collected, or­
ganises the European network of collection and coordination centres, and monitors the 
technical development of the system on the basis of proposals from the HANDYNET Tech­
nical Coordination Group composed of experts from the 12 National Coordination Centres. 
The HELIOS advisory bodies regularly receive reports on activities developed within the gen­
eral HANDYNET framework, w'rth-particular reference to the Technical Coordination Group. 
3.1.6 Numeric overview of the HANDYNET network 
CNC CCD C1C/C1 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
United Kingdom 
Total 12 2 
2 
1 
7 
3 
16 
1 
1 
2 
1 
• 4 
' 7 
47 3 
2 
9 
30 
20 
1 
58 
2 
20 
131 
87 
363 
The figure for the Information and Advice Centres, showing current dissemination of the CD ROM. gives the 
truest indication of the HANDYNET network. 
Germany has not appointed any Information and Advice Centres, choosing to disseminate material freely to ony 
interested person or organisation. 
The network of Information ond Advice Centres in Half mkmrs the network set up for dissemination of the SIVA 
(Servizio Informozioni e Valutazione Ausili) database. 
The Netherlands hove not officially appointed Information and Advice Centres, olthough the HANDYNET CD ROM 
has been distributed to 20 institutions in a pHat phase. 
distribution of the HANDYNET CD ROM to organisations which ore copobie of providing disobled people with 
professional advice (rehabilitation physicians, ergotheropists. physiotherapists) is in keeping with the conclu­
sions of the evaluation sessions. A large majority of the participants consider that HANDYNET is known more as 
o service than on information toot. 
3*2 THE BENEFITS OF NETWORK-BASED OPERATION 
The HANDYNET database is the result of the joint efforts of partners in the twelve Mem­
ber States. Able-Data, a database on technical aids produced in the United States, is the 
outcome of a wholly centralised operation. The network-oriented approach is more com­
plicated than the centralised approach but the resultant benefits are worthy of mention. 
THE OPEMATING STRUCTURES OF TMf HANOYNET SY?rïV 
~\\ 
3.2.1 ... as regards the HANDYNET system itself 
• Quicker, more exhaustive collection of data, since the task is shared by twelve Member 
States; 
• less time spent on data collection in each Member State; 
• greater likelihood of information being objective, since checks may be carried out by all 
the partners of the network; 
• concerted technical development of the system; 
• system has greater potential for dissemination. 
3.2.2 ... as regards the partners' development 
• Ongoing training for the Data Collection Centres and Information Centres; they provide 
one another with support services (training sessions + instructional material); 
• pooling of expertise in terms of both content and methodology of data collection (refer­
ence group on classification); 
• belonging to a group working towards the provision of better information to disabled 
people onthe basis-of a common tool. 
3.3 COMMUNICATION * ELECTRONIC MAIL AND JOURNAL SYSTEM 
In order to facilitate exchanges of information between partners in the HANDYNET net­
work, a computer-based message system has been developed comprising: 
• a standard message-sending function; 
• a newspaper function giving details of Europe-wide events. • 
A pilot phase linking the National Data Collection and Coordination Centres and the 
HELIOS/HANDYNET Technical Coordinating Unit has been established (Y-NET under the 
ESPRIT programme). 
While the network's partners have requested technical improvements, a communication tool 
of this kind serves a useful purpose only if a large number of organisations can access it. 
A proposal for developing the HANDYNET computer-based message system in terms of 
attracting more users is being studied. 
The service should comprise the following facilities: 
• sending and receipt of standard messages (letters, memos, invitations, general information); 
• forum for the discussion of a subject by groups of people; 
• schedule of European events relating to disabled people; 
• sending of computerised files. 
The HANDYNET electronic mail system is to operate from a host computer of the Com­
mission, with the aim of gradually embracing all the partners in the HELIOS programme. 
1 L-
the cost of the HANDYNET system 
4.1 OVERALL COST IN ECUS 
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 TOTAL 1994 BUDGET 
Activities 383678 
Staff 81727 
General Expenses 314392 
Overall Total 779797 752428 
205647 
378237 
1336312 607168 
249675 
294657 
1151500 801347 
214313 
479190 
1494850 774944 
322025 
584042 
1681011 800455 
295699 
439511 
1535665 4120020 
1369086 
2490029 
7979135 990000 
312090 
302102 
1604192 
4.2 COST OF DEVELOPING HANDYNET IN ECUS 
In connection with activities, part of the budget has gone into technical development, 
with a larger proportion being allocated to the Member States, as a contribution towards: 
• their expertise in study groups; 
• training of experts in data collection and use of the system; 
• collection of data; 
• production of the CD ROM and mail system. 
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 TOTAL 1994 BUDGET 
Technical development 383678 
Contribution 
to Member States 
Total 383678 505000 
247428 
752428 251500 
355668 
607168 406242 
395105 
801347 100587 
674357 
774944 318999 
481456 
800455 1966006 
2154014 
4120020 20000 
970000 
990000 
NB: A breokdown of expenditure for the period 1988 to 1994 is contoincd in Annex 2. 
Budget - HANDYNET activities 1988-94 
39% Technical development 
1.986.006 ECUS 
61 % Contribution to Member States 
3.124.014 ECUS 
THE COST OF THE HANOYNET SYSTEM 
4.3 ALLOCATION OF EXPENDITURE 
The budgetary analysis shown reflects trends in the last two accounting periods and the 
current period, viz.: 
• 1992 from 16 January 1992 to 31 January 1993 
• 1993 from 1 February 1993 to 31 January 1994 
• 1994 from 1 February 1994 to 31 January 1995 
The HANDYNET budget may be divided into three main items: 
1. activities; 
2. staff costs; 
3. general expenses. 
4.3.1 Allocation of expenditure for activities in ECUS 
AcnvmES 
Technical development 
Development of the system 
Documentation 
Sub-total 
Contribution to Member States 
Study groups 
Training and evaluation session 
Data collection 
Production of CD ROM and mail system 
Consultation 
Voice synthesizer 
Sub-total 
Total 1992 1993 1994 
96423 
4164 
100587 
150160 
142182 
144000 
172793 
65222 
674357 
774944 317407 
1592 
318999 
31630 
123324 
255000 
25002 
8500 
38000 
481456 
800455 10000 
10000 
20000 
230000 
100000 
540000 
100000 
970000 
990000 Expenditure - activities 
1992 1993 1994 
4.3.2 Allocation of expenditure to cover staff costs in ECUS 
1992 1993 1994 
1992 1993 1994 Staff 322025 1 295699 | 312090 | 
Estimated budget for the current accounting period (1994). 
<u 
4.3.3 Expenditure for general expenses in ECUS 
1992 1993 1994 1992 1993 199-
Administrative 546673 
Missions 37369 
Total 584042 411026 
28485 
439511 264672 
37430 
302102 
4.4 TRENDS IN EXPENDITURE FOR EACH BUDGET ITEM IN ECUS 
4.4.1 Expenditure for activities 
System 
development Study groups Training - evaluation 
1992 1993 1994 1992 1993 1994 1992 1993 1994 
96423' 3174071 10000' 150160 I 316301230000I 142182 I 123324 I 100000 I 142182 1 
Data collection Production - CD ROM 
+ Mail System Documentation 
1992 1993 1994 1992 1993 1994 
144000 I 255000 I 540000 I 172793 I 25002 I 100000 1992 1993 1994 
4164 1 1592 1 10000 
dBF fHE COf"1' OF THE HANOYNET SYSTEM 
4.4.2 Staff costs 
1992 1993 1994 
322025 1 2956991 312090 
4.4.3 General expenses (missions and administration) 
1992 1993 1994 
584042 1 4395111 302102 
evaluation of the HANDYNET system by the users 
AKhough the HANDYNET National Data Collection and Coordination Centres carry out 
ongoing evaluation of the system, it is essential that potential users of the database who are 
not involved in its construction or in the collection of information state their own views on: 
• achievement of the objectives set for this information tool; 
• the user-friendliness of the system and its content; 
• the social consequences and impact of such a tool, 
and give their opinion on: 
• the profile of potential users of the database; 
• meeting the cost of implementation; 
• distribution of the CD ROM. 
To this end, evaluation days were organised by the National Data Collection and Coordi­
nation Centres in different Member States: 
Italy 
Belgium (French-speaking) 
France 
Luxembourg 
Ireland 
United Kingdom 
Spain 
Denmark 
Portugal 
Germany 
Netherlands 
Greece • 26 July to 1 August 1992 
• 19 October 1992 
• 19 to 22 January 1993 
• 24 and 25 June 1993 
16 November 1993 
22 and 23 November 1993 
7 and 8 December 1993 
2 and 3 June 1993 
14 and 15 June 1993 
27 and 28 October 1993 
11 and 12 November 1993 
5 and 6 April 1994 
6 and 7 April 1994 
January to March 1994 
2 March to 22 June 1994 
Two other evaluation sessions were conducted with representatives of non-governmental 
European organisations for disabled people. 
i* European Blind Union (EBU) 
5 April 1993 in Brussels 
> Spanish association for persons of restricted growth, CREŒR 
15 and 16 November 1993 in Madrid 
s-VAl.UA 11OH Of THE HANDYNET SYSTEM 3Y THE USERS 
5.1 THE EVALUATORS OF THE HANDYNET SYSTEM 
Country/ 
organisation 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
United Kingdom 
EBU 
CRECER 
TOTAL (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) TOTAL 
10 
15 
30 
21 
5 
4 
19 
3 
12 
123 30 
1 
147 
23 
11 
18 
8 
5 
16 
259 45 
3 
3 
23 
5 
93 12 
70 42 
3 
61 60 
17 
45 
225 
59 
41 
23 
20 
50 
51 
3 
12 
606 (A) - disobled people 
- families (including those of 
mentally handicapped persons! 
- disobled people's organisations 
(B) - rehabilitation specialists 
- organisations for disabled people 
(C) - information specialists 
(D) - administrations 
(£} - manufacturers/distributors 
5.2 EVALUATION METHODOLOGY 
Participants 
Mixed groups composed of: 
• disabled people and their families 
• rehabilitation specialists 
• information specialists 
• administrations 
• manufacturers and distributors of technical aids 
Selection of participants 
• by the National Data Colleaion and Coordination Centre for the Member State concerned 
Session programme 
• presentation of the objectives of evaluation 
• presentation of HANDYNET to all the participants at the session 
• explanation of the evaluation sheet 
• practical work on computers in small groups 
• completion of the evaluation sheet by each participant 
Results 
• exploitation of the results by the National Coordinating Centre 
• réport to the Member State concerned and to the Commission 
Evaluation tools 
• the latest edition of the CD ROM in use at the time of the evaluation 
• standardised evaluation sheet supplemented by additional questions reflecting the situa­
tion in the Member States concerned 
• suitable computer equipment employing, where necessary, voice synthesizer for the visu­
ally impaired and track-ball for the severely motor disabled. 
Points to note in connection with the methodology: 
Ireland has adopted the methodology outlined obove ond has. in oddition. asked five groups of users to 
evaluate HANDYNET in greoter depth over a three-month period: 
in Germany, the evaluation sheet hos been sent out to oil the organisations using the HANDYNET CD ROM 
(i.e. 30 organisations known to the Commission): 
in the Netherlands, where evaluation is in progress, o phased approoch hos been adopted, with 13 organisa­
tions being asked to evaluate the HANDYNET CD ROM over a three-month period, holding interim meetings: 
5.3 RESULTS OF THE EVALUATIONS 
5.3.1 Distribution of the HANDYNET system 
Actual distribution of the CD ROM No 6 (February 1994) 
Number of copies 
Member States of the CD ROM 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 7 
2 
55 
36 
46 
20 
7 Number of copies 
Member States of the CD ROM 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
United Kingdom 
Total 39 
10 
25 
12 
21 
280 
Assessment, by the 606 evaluators, of potential users of the HANDYNET CD R0M._ (in %) 
Rehabilitation specialists 
Associations of and for disabled people 
Health workers 
Disabled people 
Manufacturers and distributors of technical aids 
Centres providing information and advice on technical aids 
Social workers 
Administrative bodies 
Mutual insurance companies and other bodies 
Libraries and other sources of information 67 
56 
51 
50 
49 
49 
35 
29 
17 
1 
CBRZi «•VALUATION OF THE HANOYNET SYSTf : BY THE USERS 
Other potential users: ' ' 
• schools, colleges and training organisations for health workers, rehabilitation specialists and architects; 
• businesses; 
• research and development centres in the field of technical aids; 
• promoters of sports and recreational activities. 
Evaluators' assessment of locations at which it should be possible to consult the HANDYNET CD ROM.... (in °/o) 
in centres providing information and advice on technical aids 
in rehabilitation centres 
within associations of and for disabled people 
within mutual societies and social security organisations 
at specialist and other libraries 
within administrations 
in hospitals 
within social services and cooperatives 
in private households 58 
57 
54 
33 
27 
23 
20 
14 
12 
Evaluators' comments concerning distribution of the HANDYNET CD ROM 
• 'All disobled people ond any person with on interest in technicol aids should be able to consult HANDYNET 
• 'A distinction must be mode between the HANDYNET system ond the information contained therein. The in­
formation should be ovoiloble to oil. whereas effective use of the system itself calls for appropriate equip­
ment ond. in particular, a basic level of knowledge'. 
• 'The services of professional stoff copoble of advising disobled people on the choice of technicol aids appear 
to be essential, regardless of where the system is consulted' 
• "Selection of a technical aid constitutes on element of functional rehabilitation ond rehabilitation specialists 
must be suitably trained. HANDYNET could act os o teaching tool in the training of specialists' 
• "£Very interested person must hove occess to the information' 
• "The place of consultation depends on: 
- the cost of the CD ROM; 
- the user-friendliness: 
- the frequency of use: 
- the possibility of professional guidance ' 
• 'A flexible opproach should be odopted to the dissemination of HANDYNET: 
- on CD ROM: 
- on-line vio notional networks such as Minitel. Prestel TV etc' 
5.3.2 User-friendliness of the HANDYNET system 
The user-friendliness of a database lies in its ease of use during the interrogation process 
and in the degree of user satisfaction with the outcome of information retrieval. 
The user-friendliness of the HANDYNET database has therefore been measured: 
• in general terms; 
• in relation to each of the files (technical aids, manufacturers and distributors, and national 
rules and regulations). 
h 
CD ROM 
N'2 
N-3 
N*4 
N*5 Ease of use of HANDYNET 
evaluators date Satisfied Unsatisfied No opinion 
Italy 
Belgium (FR) 
EBU 
Luxembourg 
Ireland 
Spain 
Crecer 
United Kingdom 
France 
Germany 
Portugal August and October 1992 
January 1993 
April 1993 
June 1993 
June 1993 
November 1993 
November 1993 
October 1993 
December 1993 
January 1994 
April 1994 
Vo Total 28 
15 
2 
11 
28 
33 
10 
40 
182 
3 
40 
67% 13 
26 
1 
12 
20 
12 
2 
11 
43 
12 
10 
28% 19 
11 
5Wo Total 
41 
60 
3 
23 
59 
45 
12 
51 
225 
17 
50 
586 
Netherlands: results incomplete. 
On overoge, among the evaluators: 
• 67% of participants consider HANDYNET to be a user-friendly tool: 
• 28% consider HANDYNET to be insufficiently user-friendly. 
From CD ROM No S (October 1993) onwards, 80% of the evaluators are satisfied with the ease of use of tht 
HANDYNET system. 
It is important to note that the evaluators' opinions relate to the latest CD ROM available 
at the time of the evaluation. The results of each evaluation have been taken into account 
in the interest of progressively improving the database by the following process: 
Action HANDYNET 
CD ROM 
Criticism 
Report Evaluation 
The process is outlined in the following tabic which shows the comments of evaluators 
and the steps consequently taken. 
csm* EVALUATION Or TKf. HANOYNET SYSTP.M ilY THE USE«S 
Comments made bv evaluators 
Interrogation procedure entailing 
too many stages between the beginning 
and end of the search. 
Too many functions to be activated 
before reaching the conclusion. 
Difficult to mix interrogation criteria. 
No stored pattern of questions 
or interrogation strategies. 
Help function inadequate and not linked 
to the interrogation context. 
Difficulty in using listed criteria organised 
on a hierarchical basis. 
Inability to understand the terminology 
used in some parts of the database. 
Inconsistencies in the use 
of function keys. 
Lack of interrogation by key words. 
Search time too slow. 
Poor quality of voice synthesis. Steps taken to improve HANDYNET 
Reorganisation of screens and listed criteria. 
Removal of superfluous functions. 
Organisation of interrogation logic with removal of 
non-essential mixed criteria. 
Possibility of storing interrogation strategies. 
Help function linked to the stages of interrogation. 
Preparation of teaching software to be incorporated 
into the program (September 1994).. 
Criteria accessible alphabetically in the nine languages. 
Introduction of a multilingual thesaurus containing 
definitions of the "terminology used and equivalent 
terms (1995). 
Reduction in. the number of function keys; greater 
consistency sought. 
Work in progress on the multilingual thesaurus which 
will allow interrogation using the textual descriptions 
in the nine languages. 
The response speed depends partly on the power of the 
computer used, on the quantity of data recorded in the 
database and on the number of interrogation stages to 
be covered. The steps taken to reduce the number of 
search stages will increase the response speed. 
HANDYNET was designed for use with voice synthesizer 
available on the European market which, more often 
than not, were already used by the blind and visually 
impaired for purposes other than consultation of 
HANDYNET. Linguistic quality varies greatly from one 
voice synthesizer to another. Few are multilingual. The 
Commission intends to look into the development of a 
high-quality European voice synthesizer. 
However, in terms of the interrogation programme for 
HANDYNET itself, improvements are being made to 
help blind and visually impaired users to find their way 
through the system. 
Evaluation of the HANDYNET dotobose by persons not mvb'.ved m devismç trie structures or in co.';fCf.,rc 
me dota is conducive to the development of the system. 
It is felt in some quarters that the ultimate users of this information too! ought to hove been involved from 
the outset. 
In any cose, on ongoing process ofobtoining feedbock from target groups should be applied more svstemctico'-
ly in the future, in order to ensure that development of the system is tailored to the octual needs of the users. 
b;; 
5.3.3 Content of the database 
The usefulness of any information system depends on two essential parameters: 
• the functionality of the system and its ease of use; 
• the content of the information recorded. 
The content of the information contained in HANDYNET is dependent on the efforts of 
the National data collection and Coordination Centres in quantitative terms and, more 
particularly, in qualitative terms. 
The attention of the database evaluators was drawn particularly to tie qualitative aspect. 
They examined in turn: 
• the textual information; 
• the multimedia information (pictures and education arid retraining software demonstrations). 
5.3.3.1 Textual information 
5.3.3.1.1 As regards technical aids 
Some views of the evaluators: 
A The technical aid should be described more fully: 
• functional description; 
• technical and numeric information; 
• price. 
These descriptions must be systematically accessible in all the languages. 
Results of analysis of the qualitative content of CD ROM No 6: 
Presence of functional description 
in the national language 
Presence of functional description in English 
Presence of technical and numeric information 
Presence of price indication 100% 
53.16% 
32.01% 
74.01% 
€3119 EVALUATION OP THE MANDYNEr SYSTEM y y THE USERS 
The National Data Colleaion and Coordination Centres were asked to supply descrip­
tions of the technical aids in their own language and in English, with the English versions 
serving as a basis for translation into the other languages by the National Centres. 
The average percentage figure for descriptions in English is attributable to the fact that, 
for Italy, Germany and Denmark, the data supplied for HANDYNET derive from interfac­
ing with national databases which contain fewor no descriptions in English. 
Some translation work is therefore needed to ensure that the information can be read by all. 
The presence of price indications depends largely on the willingness of manufacturers or 
distributors to give this information to the Data Collection Centres. More effort should be 
made to strengthen contacts between the collection centres and the manufacturers and 
distributors of technical aids. 
B Product name searches are not satisfactory since the term depends on the language 
used by the manufacturer. 
Each technical aid is recorded in the database: 
• according to its category = ISO 9999 = multilingual; 
• according to a generic term = multilingual glossary; 
• according to the name given by the manufacturer = unilingual, , 
as well as the type and model. 
C Coverage of technical aids for the visually impaired is inadequate. 
The extent of information on technical aids for the visually impaired depends on the ap­
pointment of specialist collection centres in the different Member States. 
D The quality of information varies depending on which Member State 
supplies the information. 
Since the beginning of 1993, the National data collection and Coordination Centres have 
focused more on the quality of information than on the quantity of technical aids listed. 
This is the result of an agreement between the centres concerned and the Commission, 
the latter making a financial contribution. 
E Functional restrictions for which the technical aid compensates may not be consistent 
with the international classification system. 
The International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH) of the 
World Health Organisation (WHO) is used as a criterion for analysing technical aids on the 
basis of the impairments and disabilities addressed (since September 1993). 
F Products which are no longer on the market should be deleted from the database but 
should be consultable in an archive file. 
The National data collection and Coordination Centres are responsible for monitoring the 
quality of the data collected for HANDYNET. They alone are entitled to add or remove data. 
G Information on a technical aid should be available in summarised or detailed form ac­
cording to the wishes of the users. 
The interrogation software affords every user an option in terms of the information out­
put format, whether summarised or detailed. Such flexibility is geared to the different tar­
get groups which may use the system. 
H Information on a technical aid must be accompanied, as a matter of course, by infor­
mation on the manufacturer or distributor. 
Oniy the manufacturer's name is contained in the files on technical aids. Since the aim of 
the system is to give an idea of the commercial network for each technical aid, there 
would be little point in having a long list of distributors' names and addresses within each 
technical aid description. HANDYNET makes it possible to move from consultation of the 
product to manufacturer and distributor references according to the needs of the user. 
I It ought to be possible to sort technical aids in terms of adult or child users. 
This facility is being incorporated into the information structures in the light of proposals 
from the group of experts from different Member States who have worked on the struc­
tures and protocols of the HANDYNET system. 
J The sort criteria need to be more explicit, with explanations of their meaning. 
Explanations are being inserted in the help function and in the teaching software which is 
to be incorporated into the HANDYNET interrogation program (September 1994). More­
over, a study group is currently preparing definitions of the HANDYNET terminology. 
5.3.3.1.2 As regards organisations 
• The points made regarding the quality of information and the lack of 
explanations for the interrogation criteria in connection with technical aids are repeat­
ed for the organisations file. 
The comments are therefore the same. 
Moreover, the evaluators are in favour of steps being taken: 
A to supplement the structured information on organisations with a description in the 
form of free text so as to detail the objectives and activities of the organisations listed. 
The present data collection structure for HANDYNET is geared to describing organisations 
in this way. It has to be made clear that such an addition means extra work for the collec­
tion centres, which must ensure translation into English then into the other languages. 
B to list more organisations which are not businesses (associations, research centres, re­
habilitation centres etc.) 
The HANDYNET file for collecting the information on organisations is designed to be 
highly flexible. It is possible to include in the database references to all organisations as­
sociated with disability in general. 
A pilot phase for the inclusion of organisations specialising in sports for the disabled in 
the HANDYNET database was successfully implemented in 1993. The European Commit­
tee on Sport for the Disabled is currently revising the data so that they can be updated 
and reinserted into the database some time in 1994. 
The flexibility of the HANDYNET file on organisations makes it possible to insert straight­
away any references to European or national non-governmental organisations and to ac­
tivities playing a part in the process of integrating disabled people. 
CUBS «VALUATION OP THE h'VMOYNET SYSÏI-: ! 3Y THE USES'". 
C to remove the distinction between commercial and non-commercïal organisations 
This division into two categories is removed in the current structure of the database. 
5.3.3.1.3 As regards national rules and regulations 
The evaluators are in favour of step's being taken: 
A to make national rules and regulations available in all the languages. 
The file on national rules and regulations is in the form of free text. Priority has been given 
to the version in the national language and in English. The ideal situation would be avail­
ability in all the languages. This once again raises the problem of translations to be provid­
ed in the Community languages by the National data collection and Coordination Centres. 
B to have the regulations updated more regularly 
Updating the information on a regular basis is a matter for the National data colleaion 
and Coordination Centres, which are responsible for quality control of the data supplied 
for HANDYNET. 
C to expand the information content, particularly as regards standardisation 
Aspeas of standardisation and the authorising of reimbursement in respea of technical aids 
by the responsible bodies are incorporated in the description of the technical aids themselves. 
D to make the interrogation procedure more dirert 
The rules and regulations file was devised as a decision tree, entailing closely guided pro­
gression which may at times appear lengthy. The introduaion of research based on key 
words prepared by a group of experts from the various Member States in connection 
with work on the HANDYNET thesaurus will address this concern (1995). 
5.3.3.2 Multimedia information 
The supplementing of HANDYNET's textual information with pictures and education and 
retraining software demonstrations is a welcome development. 
It seems necessary to have at least one piaure for each technical aid. 
However, the blind and visually impaired, who are denied the added value provided by 
such illustrations, are calling for a description of the piaure content in voice form similar 
to that which already exists in the arts seaor (cinema/theatre). 
Since all the National data colleaion and Coordination Centres have been trained in pho­
tographic techniques and the digitization of piaures, the aim of fully illustrating all the 
technical aids should be achieved by June 1995. 
There are two possible approaches to the preparation of education or retraining software 
demonstrations: 
• obtain the demonstrations directly from the producers; 
• prepare the demonstrations in each colleaion centre on the basis of an appropriate 
computer program. 
The latter method appears more satisfaaory in terms of enabling the specialist colleaion 
centres to build up a software library. 
5.4 THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE H AN D YN ET SYSTE M 
The HANDYNET database on technical aids is intended for fairly widespread dissemina­
tion. It is important to gauge the social impact of such dissemination on the main targe: 
groups who are likely to use HANDYNET. 
The HANDYNET evaluators have therefore successively examined: 
• the advantages of such a system for the various target groups; 
• the advantages of a European system compared with a national system; 
• the drawbacks of a European system compared with a national system. 
5.4.1 Advantages of HANDYNET dissemination 
For disabled people/families: 
• praaica! advantages: 
- information on the European single market; 
- greater variety of produrts presented; 
- enhanced technical and financial selection of the most suitable technical aid; 
- better information on disabled people's rights. 
• cultural advantage; 
- lending a European dimension to the concept of a more independent way of life. 
• equal opportunities for disabled people with regard to information. 
For associations: 
• availability of information on technical aids enabling comparisons to be made; 
• addressing the European dimension in the technical aids,market; 
• availability of information on other associations with the possibility of forging Europe-
wide contaas. 
For professional workers: 
• fuller, more relevant information helping to improve the quality of advice given; 
• time savings in seeking information; 
• information on technical developments; 
• enhanced knowledge; 
• means of changing the approach to advising disabled people; 
• instruaional tool to improve the training of technical aid users. 
For administrations: 
• saving in resources needed to construct a comparable information facility; 
• improved service; 
• reduced expenditure thanks to product comparison; 
• Europe-wide standardisation of the "technical aids" concept. 
CSXE2P EVALUAT!;>.\' OF THE >!\N0YN£T SYSTEM flY THE USERS 
For manufaaurers and distributors of technical aids: 
• better knowledge of what is available on the market; 
• opportunity for price comparison, thereby enhancing competition; 
• possibility of listing contraas for importation; 
• potential advertising tool with more extensive outlets outside the European Union. 
For other target groups: 
• For researchers and inventors: 
- possibility of gearing research and development towards new produas or improving 
existing ones; 
- prompting contaas and cooperation at European level. 
• For policy-makers: 
- availability of information on the aaivities of organisations, thereby avoiding unneces 
sary duplication. 
• For the public in general: 
- greater awareness of disabled people's problems. 
5.4.2 Advantages of a European system compared with a national system 
• Greater depth of information as a result of shared colleaion work. 
• Improved competition between producers from different Member States, encouraging 
them to choose the best produa, drawing on the most useful experience and the most 
appropriate legislation. 
• Europe-wide information less likely to be construed as commercially-oriented. 
• Greater transparency in the European single market. 
• Incentive to create new produas on a larger scale. 
• Single cultural reference enabling data from the technologically most advanced coun­
tries to be passed on to the less advanced countries. 
• Cultural vehicle employing a common terminology (classifications and descriptive criteria). 
• Contribution to development of common policies in the field of rehabilitation technologies. 
• Improved coordination and standardisation of information. 
HANDYNET is perceived as an information tool whose European dimension can only enhance: 
• the transparency of information; 
• cooperation; 
• research and innovation; 
• higher quality technical aids at more competitive prices; 
for the greater benefit of disabled people. 
The vast majority of evaluators of the HANDYNET system; 
• have welcomed their involvement in the evaluation of this European information tool; 
• wish to see HANDYNET disseminated more widely; 
• think that the HANDYNET system should be Considered as an information service sup­
plemented by personal advice from experts; j 
• feel that the users should be given training in its use; 
• suggest that the system's operation could be improved by simplifying the interrogation 
procedures; 
• are seeking colleaion of data on all the technical aids available on the European market, 
• wish to receive publications deriving from the database (technical files, catalogues); 
• wish to be kept informed of the development of the HANDYNET syster, 
5.4.3 Drawbacks of a European system compared with a national system. 
• The large quantity of data recorded: 
- makes choice more difficult; 
- increases the difficulty of keeping the database up-to-date; 
- calls for supplementary information for purposes of evaluation. 
• A European approach highlights inequalities between Member States, particularly in 
the legislative field. 
• Increased demand for technical aids on the part of users may outstrip the resources 
available to meet their needs. 
• More widespread distribution of products on the European market may give rise to 
problems of maintenance and after-sales service. 
• Local information becomes secondary to general information of interest at European level. 
• The cost of maintaining such a system is liable to be higher. 
CUE® EVALUATION OF THE HANOYNET SYSTEM 8Y SHE USERS 
cooperation with Community initiatives 
HORIZON, TIDE, COST 219, RACE 
Cooperation between HANDYNET and the above Community initiatives is direaed to­
wards three specific areas: 
• the training of professionals responsible for colleaing data for HANDYNET as well as 
for assisting disabled people in their choice of technical aids. 
Bilateral training artivities have been implemented under the Horizon initiative. Profes­
sionals from the following Member States were involved in these activities, either as train­
ees or as instructors: Belgium. Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal. 
• The relationship between the European market for technical aids and research and de­
velopment taking place in this field. 
Cooperation between HELIOS-HANDYNET and the TIDE and RACE programmes and the 
COST 219, COST A4 and COST A5 cooperation projeas was consolidated as a result of a 
seminar on the social impaa of new technologies on disabled and elderly people (17 and 
18 January 1994), though there had been regular exchanges of information prior to that. 
An inventory of research and development in the field of rehabilitation technologies is to 
be drawn up on the basis of this cooperation, supplementing the information on technical 
aids already available on the European market. 
• Availability of the instruments and experience acquired during implementation of the 
HANDYNET projea for use in other applications developed at European level. 
The first practical application of this is the databank of Horizon projeas set up jointly by 
HANDYNET and Horizon. 
As a result of greater cooperation, it will be possible for the Horizon initiative to have di-
recX access to the HANDYNET databank, CD-ROM providing greater access to informa­
tion concerning organisations involved in the Horizon projeas. 
cAi 
cooperation with international organisations 
7.1 THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE 
The Council of Europe convenes meetings of a Committee of experts for the application 
of the international classification of impairments, disabilities and handicaps (ICIDH/WHO) 
twice a year. These meetings are attended by a representative of the Commission. 
This classification of items relating specifically to impairments and disabilities has been in­
cluded in the HANDYNET system as a search criterion, making it possible to select the 
technical aids listed on the basis of the funaional disabilities for which they compensate. 
HANDYNET, along with other data media, is one of the fields covered by the ICIDH. 
A member of the Council of Europe's Committee of Experts represents that committee as 
an observer during work on the development of the classifications used in the HANDYNET 
system, thus providing a link between the HANDYNET system and the Council of Europe. 
7.2 ISO (INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ORGANISATION) 
ISO (International Standards Organisation) has been closely associated with the HANDYNET 
reference group on classifications since 1991. The amendments to ISO classification 9999 
proposed by the HANDYNET reference group have been taken into account by ISO's ad-hoc 
working party on amendment of the classification. 
Likewise, cooperation between HANDYNET and ISO concerning the compilation of a 
multilingual thesaurus on ISO is very encouraging. 
ISO is in favour of the HANDYNET thesaurus becoming an international terminological 
standard. 
A representative of ISO (Terminology working'party) attends the meetings of the HAN­
DYNET study group on the thesaurus. 
A member of the HANDYNET thesaurus group chairs ISO's terminology group. 
CEiE£9 COOPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS 
Developments in progress Mm 
On the basis of the Council Decision of 25 February 1993 establishing the HELIOS II pro-, 
gramme, in particular the Annex supplementing Article 4, the developments in progress 
r relate to: 
• orthoses and prothèses; 
• the HANDYNET thesaurus; 
• the inventory of applied research aaivities in the field of technical aids; 
• information on the quality of technical aids; 
•_ produas from non-member countries available on the European market; 
• educational material for users of the system. 
8.1:ORTHOSES AND PROTHESES 
According to ISO classification 9999 (International Standards Organisation) on technical 
aids, orthoses and prothèses are included among technical aids. A study group respon­
sible for defining the description of this very special type of technical aid will present its 
report before the end of 1994. 
,The databank colleaion and interrogation structures will then be adapted to enable infor-
ïmation on these technologies to be incorporated. 
8.2 THE HANDYNET THESAURUS 
At the request of present users and those evaluating the HANDYNET system, an interro­
gation system based on key words accompanied by their definition will be introduced 
into the HANDYNET system. 
A study group comprising experts from the various Member States has been assigned the 
task of defining the concepts used in HANDYNET and thus compiling a multilingual diaion-
ary. This will be included in the databank for automatic access. The HANDYNET thesaurus 
will also facilitate the work of European translators in the field of rehabilitation technologies. 
8.3 THE INVENTORY OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
Information on organisations, research centres, industries, etc. involved in or conneaed 
with research and technological development in the field of information technologies and 
communications applied to the needs of disabled or elderly people is available in the 
form of a database under the TIDE initiative. 
This database meets the organisational and monitoring requirements of the TIDE initia-
S^ 
tive, which are similar to the requirements of DG' Xll's and DG Xlll's other R&TD pro­
grammes. Nevertheless, the need for compatibility with HANDYNET and the principal 
iCIDH classifications has been taken into consideration and the file struaures have been 
developed by taking into account the file structures of organisations used by HANDYNET. 
The transfer of data is therefore very quick and no additional investment in data process­
ing technology is required. 
In order to facilitate and maintain compatibility, the HANDYNET and TIDE teams will es­
tablish a permanent coordination procedure. 
8.4 INFORMATION ON QUALITY 
In accordance with the Council's Decision and the European Parliament's opinion and fur-
ther to the comments made in particular by end users of the information contained in 
HANDYNET, the system has been adapted to enable references on the quality of tech­
nologies to be introduced. 
This involves: 
• references to tests by approved laboratories; 
• references to consumer tests; 
• references to technical, scientific or consumer publications. 
With the help of these references, the user may receive specific information on test re­
ports and publications. This information must be submitted by the National Coordination 
Centres responsible for data colleaion which maintain contaa with laboratories and con­
sumers' associations. 
CHER OKVCLOPMENTS IN r-aOGRESS 
conclusions and future prospects 
The work carried out so far to render the HANDYNET system operational is the result of 
close cooperation between the Member States, experts and the European Commission, 
. assisted by the HELIOS team of experts. 
HANDYNET is praaical and funaional and meets the information needs of disabled people. 
The information is available on CD-ROM and each Member State is responsible for its dis­
semination. 
The HANDYNET CD-ROM is available from the technical aids Information and Advice 
Centres designated by the Member States, which provide guidance and advice as well as 
the information produa. 
The struaure of the HANDYNET system makes it possible for the organisations file to be 
extended direaly to any organisation associated with disability. 
The information contained in the system is available in the nine languages of the Europe­
an Union. 
HANDYNET has social implications because it promotes the social and economic integra­
tion of disabled people, provides greater equality of opportunity for disabled people with 
regard to information on technical aids which are essential for greater mobility and inde­
pendence in their daily and professional lives. 
In economic terms, HANDYNET provides greater transparency within the rehabilitation 
technologies market and, as a result of greater competition, undoubtedly has a beneficial 
effea on the quality of technical aids and on pricing levels. 
On the communications front, HANDYNET makes it possible to develop contaas between 
organisations associated with the disabled by providing information on the aaivities under­
taken by such organisations, thus increasing opportunities for synergy at European level. 
On a political level, HANDYNET provides those administering Community policies at na­
tional, regional or local level with a faaual, statistical basis with which to examine the 
Ineasures taken or which they wish to develop in the field of technical aids. 
HANDYNET is a source of information to which any interested party may have access and 
whose prospeas under the HELIOS II programme might be the following: 
Ç G 
9.1 THE TECHNICAL AIDS MODULE: PROSPECTS 
9.1.1 Technical and data processing developments 
All major technical and data processing developments can be considered to have been 
completed. Only the following aaivities should be envisaged: 
• introduaion of struaures relating to orthoses and prostheses; 
• introduaion of new languages with the accession of the EFTA countries (Swedish, Nor­
wegian, Finnish and Icelandic) under the EEA agreement; 
• incorporation of the work of the thesaurus study group to provide more flexible access 
to information (search using key words); 
• incorporation of teaching software on the use of the data bank. 
9.1.2 Developments relating to information content 
As the quality of information depends on Member States' efforts to collea information, it 
is desirable to: 
• update data already colleaed (textual data, images and demonstrations of educational 
software); 
• continue to collea technical aids manufaaured in non-member countries and available 
on the European market; 
• supplement the information concerning technologies currently available on the market 
with information on research and development.in the field of technical aids, in coopera­
tion with the TIDE and RACE programmes and the COST 219 cooperation projea; 
• monitor the use of classifications and suggest possible improvements (ISO - ICIDH). 
9.1.3 Dissemination of the HANDYNET CD-ROM 
• An information system is only of any real value if it is widely disseminated and accessible. 
• On the basis of requests from Member States and others, the HANDYNET Technical Co­
ordination Group establishes the number of CD-ROMs to be produced and distributed to 
the National Coordination Centres and the Commission. 
• Distribution in the Member States is carried out via the National Coordination Centres 
which collea annual subscriptions at national level. 
• Distribution in non-member countries and to international organisations is carried out di-
realy by the organisation appointed following an invitation to tender by the Commission 
for the production and distribution of CD-ROM on the basis of annual subscriptions re­
corded by the Commission. 
• A single produaion price for the CD-ROM will be fixed on the basis of information sup­
plied by the appointed organisation, taking into account the following faaors: 
- preparation of data, 
- produaion of a master-copy; 
produaion of the number of copies necessary: 
• labelling; 
cost of dispatch to National Coordination Centres responsible for colleaion and to non-
member countries and international organisations; 
marketing costs; 
- administrative costs of the organisation responsible for produaion and distribution; 
•:ost of after-sales service. 
CSHE& CONCLUSIONS F.? 
• The relevant bodies are consulted. 
• The s:ngle produaion price is applied to each copy distributed. 
• The Commission is responsible for the cost of produaion of the copies intended for the 
Ne: ona! Coordination Centres and any national colleaors. 
• The CD-ROM may be sold or distributed free of charge to users nationally by the Nation­
al Coordination Centres. 
In the case of sale, the monies colleaed at national level flow direaly to the National Co­
ordinating Centre which fixed the selling price in agreement with the national authorities. 
The sale takes the form of an annual subscription so that users can be identified and, 
when new editions are issued, the old copies can be recovered and returned to the or­
ganisation designated to produce and distribute the CD-ROM. 
• The selling price of the CD-ROM for non-member countries and international organisa­
tions will be fixed on the basis of the highest selling price within the Member States. The 
monies received will be divided among the National Coordination Centres in proportion 
to the amount of data colleaed and updated. 
• The HANDYNET Technical Coordination Group regularly examines CD-ROM production 
and distribution aaivities and the planning of future aaivities. 
• The organisation appointed to produce and distribute CD-ROMs must present a half-
yearly report, comprising a clear statement of its accounts and a list of users and the 
number of CD-ROMs supplied. 
• The Commission provides technical support with regard to the training of CD-ROM users 
to those National Coordination Centres which request it. 
• Any modifications to the system as a result of general technical developments in the field 
of data processing are the responsibility of the Commission. ' 
9.2 SUPPLEMENTARY MODULES 
The main objeaive of the HANDYNET European computerised information system is to 
meet the information needs of disabled people in all areas affecting their daily and pro­
fessional lives. 
Two particularly important areas should be dealt with in terms of information: 
• vocational training and economic integration; 
• accessibility of public places. 
Technical aids, the subjea of an existing module, are a feature common to both these areas: 
r- i . T • • Adaptation of 
Employment - Training y 
workplaces 
Technical Aids 
V 
Accessibility Adaptation of 
existing buildings 
A f 
If we take the adaptation of workplaces as an exarriple, it is interesting to note that steps 
are already being taken towards the setting up of a databank on case studies relating to 
the adaptation of workplaces. Several Member States are involved and the work will pro­
vide a basis for a future module on employment and training. 
The HANDYNET system's multifunctional approach is appropriate because it offers users 
a basis of unique, reliable information for use in other fields of application which are com­
plementary to the process of integrating disabled people. 
The methodological approach towards the development of these two new modules will dif­
fer substantially from that which existed when the technical aids module was implemented. 
It is not intended to create an instrument from scratch, but to use what already exists to 
locate relevant organisations in the existing HANDYNET file. 
The procedure will involve: 
• Adding a European dimension to information tools existing in the Member States provid­
ed that these meet the information needs expressed by: 
• disabled people (NGOs from the Forum); 
• professionals working in one of the areas concerned (partners involved in the HELIOS 
programme's exchange and information aaivities). 
A study phase will be launched under the HELIOS il programme in cooperation with the 
other programmes (HORIZON, TIDE, RACE) and projects (COST 219) involved. 
This study phase will be divided into three stages: 
• analysis of information needs; 
• analysis of existing material; 
• gathering of opinions from consultative bodies; 
• report and proposal from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament. 
9.3 ELECTRONIC MAIL SYSTEM 
This is a modern and essential communications instrument. 
It deserves to be extended to all partners involved in the HELIOS programme during 
1995, i.e. 676 posts for exchange and information activities and also posts for European 
non-governmental partner organisations. 
COLLUSIONS :T PERSPECTIVES 
annex 1 
Equipment necessary for the HANDYNET databank on CD-ROM 
When using CD-ROM HANDYNET, WINDOWS version, it is recommended that each 
workstation be equipped with the following: 
• IBM compatible PC (386 or higher); 
• CD-ROM drive (internal or external), complying with ISO standard 9660, preferably with 
voice output capacity for future developments; 
• Diskette drive (3.5" for 1.44 megabyte diskettes) solely for installation; 
• SVGA (super video graphic adaptor) and monitor. The SVGA is necessary to give an im­
proved image; 
• 4 megabytes of random access memory (RAM) recommended for image processing; 
• Minimum of 10 megabytes of free space on the disk; 
• Microsoft mouse or 100% compatible; 
• DOS 3.3 (or higher); 
• Windows 3.1. 
6 
annex 2 
(Chapter 4) The cost of the HANDYNET system in ECUs 
Activities 
Documentation 
ESA activities 
ESA missions 
ESA management 
Study group on motor disabilities 
and training 
Group on visual aids 
Group on software 
Group on communication 
Study group on classification 
Study group on structures 
and protocols 
Study group on images and graphics 
Study group on special interfaces 
Study group on the thesaurus 
Consultation of centres 
Studies and planning 
Consultant 
External work 
Equipment, materials, software 
Translations 
Data processing developments 
Teaching materials 
Improvement of voice synthesis 
Bilateral training 
Training sessions 
Evaluation 
Image collection 
Data collection 
Production of CD-ROM+ 
message system + newsletter 
Implementation of orthoses/ 
prosthesc s module 
Implementation of thesaurus 
and classifications 
Inventory 
Quality labels 
Extension of the message system 
Statistical study on technical aids 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 Total Budget 1994 
383678 
266000 
197000 
42000 
150912 
37746 
58770 154500 
97000 
234259 
40060 
52966 
28383 
SUB-TOTAL 383678 1 752428 1 607168 1 801347 1719 
75000 
76000 
183994 
35425 
37220 
21472 
27358 
9636 
20000 
253523 
34000 
26000 4164 
50425 
53364 
10789 
15321 
20261 
34000 
31222 
15078 
40677 
40668 
5000 
121664 
15518 
24000 
120000 
172793 1592 
15973 
15657 
8500 
29697 
287710 
38000 
66323 
57001 
95000 
160000 
25002 
774944 I 800455 I 4120020 383678 
7475 
495500 
370000 
42000 
569165 
77806 
111736 
63808 
103618 
90493 
38147 
24957 
20261 
20000 
253523 
76500 
57222 
44775 
40667 
328378 
5000 
38000 
121664 
66323 
72519 
119000 
280000 
197795 10000 ! 
10000 
50000 
50000 
240000 
240000 
60000 
50000 
80000 
50000 
60000 
40000 
50000 
990000 
ANNEX 
<-' 
Personnel expenses 
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 Total Budget 1994 
Personnel expenses 81727 I 205647 I 249675 I 214313 I 322025 I 295699 I 1369086 312090 
General expenses 
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 Total Budget 1994 
Missions 18114 
Administrative 296278 
Total 314392 34326 
343911 
378237 38411 
256246 
294657 39806 
439384 
479190 37369 
546673 
584042 28485 
411026 
439511 196511 
2293518 
2490029 37430 
264672 
302102 
è 7 
annex 3 
List of National Collection and Coordination Centres 
BELGIUM 
Cepiath 
Rue J. Stallaert 1 bte 8 
B-1060 Bruxelles 
M. L. VOLON 
Tel: 32/2/344.25.34 
Fax: 32/2/343.89.90 
Vlicht v.i.w. 
Tervuursevest 101 
B-3001 Leuven 
M. Prof. SPAEPEN 
Tel: 32/16/20.79.88 
Fax: 32/16/29.32.53 
DENMARK 
DANISH CENTRE for technical 
aids for rehabilitation and 
education • Gregersenvej 
DK-2630 Taastrup 
Ms E. KAMPMANN 
HANSEN 
Tel: 45/43/99.33.22 
Fax: 45/42/52.70.72 
GERMANY 
Institut der deutschen 
Wirtschaft 
Gustav-Heinemann-
Ufer 84-88 
D-50968 Kôln 
Herr Dr. S. ISTAN8ULI 
Tel: 49/221/376.55.0 
Pax: 49/221/376.55.55 
IRELAND 
National Rehabilitation Board 
44 North Great Georges Street 
!RL-Dublin 1 
Mme O. GlLLiGAN 
Tel: 353/1/8747.503 
Pax: 353/1/8747.490 ITALY 
Fondazione Pro Juventute 
Don Gnocchi: S.I.V.A. 
Via Capecelatro 66 
1-20148 Milano 
Ing. ANDRICK 
Tel: 39/2/40.09.01.57 
Fax: 39/2/26.86.11.44 
LUXEMBOURG 
Centre de 
Coordination HANDYNET 
20. Rue de Contern 
L-5955 Itzig 
Dr U. VIDALI 
Tel: 352/360.886 
Fax: 352/360.885 
GREECE 
Institute of Computer Science-
Foundation of Research and 
Technology -Hellas 
Scientific + Technological Park 
of Crete - Voûtes - Heraklion 
P.O.Box 1385 
GR-7fl10lraklio-Crete 
M. C. STEPHANIDIS 
Tel: 30/81/391741-46 
Fax: 30/81/391740 
SPAIN 
Centro de Autonomie Personal y 
Ayudas Técnicas del Inserso: 
C/Los Extremenos 1 
E-28038 Madrid 
Mile C. GARCIA GAITAN 
Tel: 34/1/778.90.61 
Fax: 34/1/778.41.17 FRANCE 
HANDYNET France: 
c/o C.N.F.L.R.H. 
Boulevard Raspail 38 
F-75007 Paris 
Mme J. ROUX 
Tel: 33/1/45.48.38.00 
33/1/45.48.90.13 
Fax: 33/1.45.48.99.21 
NETHERLANDS 
IRV- Handynet Nederland 
p/a Zandbergsweg 111 
NL-6432 CC Hoensbroek 
M. T. BOUGIE 
Tel: 31/45/23.75.37 
Fax: 31/45/23.15.50 
PORTUGAL 
Centro Nacional de 
Coordenaçao HANDYNET 
Avenida Conde Valbom 63-2" 
P-1000 Lisboa 
Mme I. OLIVEIRA 
Dr. A. COSTA 
Tel: 351/1/793.65.17 
Fax: 351/1/796.51.82 
UNITED KINGDOM 
Disabled Living Foundation 
380-384 Harrow Road 
UK-London W9 2HU 
Mme S. CLARK 
Tel: 44/71/289.61.11 
Fax: 44/71/266.29.22 
CI 
KSN 0254-1475 
COM(94) 303 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 16 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-94-343-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-71850-1 
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