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 II 1993 to 1996)
Date: 1994-07-12
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, access to information, disabled person, equal treatment, information system, project evaluation

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  6 1%  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 , 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament , 

2 

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 

H A N D Y N ET 

Commission  Report 

for  submission to  the 

European  Parliament, 

the  Council 

and the  Economic  and 

Social  Committee 

n 

i n t r o d u c t i on 

Pursuant  to  Article  4.1 .(b) of  the 

T h is  r e p o rt  d e s c r i b es  t he  c o n t e nt  a nd  o p e r a t i on  of 

t he 

Council  Decision  of  25  February  1993 

HANDYNET  system  in  the  first  half  of  1994  and  is  based  on  the 

(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 

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  t wo  other 

the  Council to  take  action  before  31 

modules,  one  of  which  relates to  the  vocational training  and  employ 

December  1994  concerning  the  con 

ment  of  disabled  people  and  the  other  to  the  accessibility  of  public 

ditions  under  which the  system  will 

continue  after  that  date. 

buildings. These t wo  areas are  of  critical  importance  for  independent 

living and the  promotion  of  equal  opportunities  for  disabled  people. 

Lastly,  t he  r e p o rt  describes  how  the  information  is  distributed.  Distribution  of  the 

HANDYNET  database  is  currently  restricted  to  the  National  collection  Coordination 

Centres,  t he  specialist  Data  Collection  Centres  and  the  Information  and  Advice  Cen 

tres  set  up  by  the  Member  States. 

In  order  to  comply  w i th  requests  f r om  other  organisations  in  the  Member  States  and 

in  non-EU  countries,  the  HANDYNET  CD  ROM  will  be  distributed  f r om  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 

H A N D Y N ET 

Cooperation  with  Community  initiatives 

Cooperation  with  international  organisations 

Developments  in  progress 

Conclusions  and  future  prospects 

AU 

contents 

I N T R O D U C T I ON 

SUMMARY 

I  H A N D Y N ET  •  EUROPEAN  I N F O R M A T I ON  SYSTEM 

ON  T E C H N I C AL  AIDS 

1.1  Aims  and  coverage 

1.2  The  composition  of  the  system 

1.3  The  modular  approach 

II  THE  H A N D Y N ET  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  t he  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 

7 

9 

9 

10 

10 

11 

11 

12 

12 

12 

13 

13 

13 

13 

14 

14 

14 

15 

15 

15 

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16 

76 

17 

17 

17 

(3) 

/) 

2.4  The  technical  aspects  of  the  database 

' 

* 

2.4.1  Why CD  ROM was chosen 

2.4.2  The  interrogation  software 

2.4.3  Multilingual  aspects 

2.4.4  Multimedia  data 

18 

18 

19 

20 

20 

I I I.  T HE  O P E R A T I NG  S T R U C T U R ES  OF  T HE  H A N D Y N ET  S Y S T EM 

21 

3.1  The  partners 

3.1.1  National  Data  Collection  and Coordination  Centres (NCC) 

3.1.2  Data  Collection  Centres (DCC) 

• 3.1.3 

Information  and Advice  Centres (IAC) 

3.1.4 

Information  Centres (IC) 

3.1.5  The  HANDYNET Technical Coordinating  Unit of the  HELIOS Team of Experts 

3.1.6  Numeric overview  of the  HANDYNET  network 

3.2  The  benefits  of  network-based  operation 

3.2.1 

... as regards the  HANDYNET system itself 

3.2.2 

... as regards the  partners'  development 

3.3  Communication  =  electronic  mail and journal  system 

IV.  THE  COST  OF  THE  HANDYNET  SYSTEM 

4.1  Overall  cost 

4.2  Cost  of  developing  HANDYNET 

BUDGET  -  HANDYNET  activities  1988-94 

4.3  Allocation  of  expenditure 

4.3.1  Allocation  of expenditure  for  activities 

4.3.2  Allocation  of expenditure  to  cover  staff  costs 

4.3.3  Expenditure  for  general  expenses 

4.4  Trends  in expenditure  for  each  budget  item 

,4.4.1  Expenditure  for  activities 

4.4.2  Staff  costs 

4.4.3  General expenses (missions and administration) 

y 

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V.  E V A L U A T I ON  OF  T HE  H A N D Y N ET  S Y S T EM  BY  T HE  U S E RS 

28 

5.1  The  evaluators  of  the  HANDYNET  system 

5.2  Evaluation  methodology 

5.3  Results  of the  evaluations 

5.3.1  Distribution  of the  HANDYNET system 

5.3.2  User-friendliness  of the  HANDYNET system 

5.3.3  Content  of the database 

5.3.3.1  Textual  information 

29 

29 

30 

31 

34 

34 

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 

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. 

VI  COOPERATION  WITH  C O M M U N I TY 

INITIATIVES 

H O R I Z O N,  T I D E,  COST  2 1 9,  RACE 

V II  COOPERATION  WITH  I N T E R N A T I O N AL  O R G A N I S A T I O NS 

7.1  The  Council  of  Europe 

7.2  The  ISO  (International  Standards  Organisation) 

V I II  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 

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 

ANNEX  1 

Equipment  necessary  for  the  HANDYNET  databank  on  CD-ROM 

A N N EX  2 

The  cost  of the  HANDYNET  system 

A N N EX  3 

List  of  National  Data  Collection  and  Coordination  Centres 

3^ 

36 
3n 

36 

36 

39 

40 

41 

41 

42 

42 

42 

43 

43 

43 

43 

44 

45 

46 

46 

46 

46 

47 

48 

49 

50 

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.) 

/

>

)• 

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  6 1%  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.) 

« I BB 

A>, 

HANDYNET  -  European  i n f o r m a t i on 
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  C O M P O S I T I ON  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 
technical aids 

File of 
organisations 

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 

t he  HANDYNET  d a t a b a se 

t o d ay 

II  THE  H A N D Y N ET  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  P r o g r e ss  w i th  d a ta  c o l l e c t i on 

T he  situation  reflected  by  the  CD ROMs  p r o d u c ed  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!* 

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) 

CO  ROM  N* 

l 

In  t wo  years  the  collection  of  d a ta  for  H A N D Y N ET  has  increased  five-fold 

2 . 1 .2  D a ta  c o l l e c t ed  on  t e c h n i c al  aids 

Belgium 
Denmark  ' 
Germany  ' 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 

465 
2189 
9730 
89 
463 
3145 
419 

Italy  ' 
Luxembourg  3 
Netherlands  ' 
Portugal 
United  Kingdom1 

2524 
1 
3201 
211 
9829 

Total 

32266 

.il .Li I 

BE  OK  DE  CR  ES  n* 

IR 

tT  LU  NI  FT  UK 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

The data sent by these Member Stotes ore obtained vio on interface between the notional databases 
and HANDYNET. 
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). 
Only one technical aid is monufoctured in Luxembourg. 

2 . 1 .3  D a ta  collected  on  manufacturers,  distributors  and  n o n - p r o f it  m a k i ng  organisations 

Belgium  2 
Denmark  ' 
Germany 
! 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 

1922 
316 
932 
70 
93 
b25 
380 

Italy  ' 

Luxembourg 
Netherlands  ' 
Portugal 

United  Kingdom1 

5421 
95 
1009 
209 
3394 

Total 

14366 

I.IZi 

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. 

(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  C O M P O S I T I ON  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 

Number  of 
data sheets 

Aids for therapy and training 

03 

Orthoses and prosthesis 

Aids for personal care and protection 

Aids for personal mobility 

Aids for housekeeping 

06 

09 

12 

15 

Furnishings and adaptations to homes and other  premises 

18 

Aids for communication, information and signalling 

Aids for handling products and goods 

Aids and equipment  for environmental  improvement 

Tools and machines 

Aids for recreation 

21 

24 

27 

30 

2  505 

1  952 

5  508 

7  063 

721 

7  008 

3  327 

1 920 

273 

1 909 

l e l l . ll  LI 

21  24  2?  30 

12  1$ 

It 

ISO  o)  o«  o9 

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 

Motor 

Communication 
Aural 

Communication 
sight-related 

Educational 
software 

Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany  ' 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 

Italy  ' 

Luxembourg 
Netherlands  ' 
Portugal 
United Kingdom 

(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 

Research 
Evaluation 
Training 
Innovation/technology 
Information 
Users associations 
Legal or supervisory work 
Specialists associations 

Total 

D 

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  information 

2.3.1.3  Economic  data 

Technical data 

Numerical data 

Price of 
technical aid 

Depending on 
the category  of 
technical aid 
.  material 
.  how operated 
.  type of  batten 
.  how  fixed, etc. 

Depending on 
category of  product 
.  overall size 
.  weight  etc. 

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 

Economic  data 

V 

National 
recommendations 

national standards 
financed by social 
securitv bodies 

2.3.2 

Information  on the  organisations 

2.3.2.1  General 

information 

General  information 

Contact 
information 

Type of 
organisation 

«XSD 

n<E  HANDYNET  OA'' ASASE TODAY 

name of organisation 
(full name, common 
name, abbreviated 
name) 
telephone 
fax 
address for 
visitors (accessibility 
of premises) 

govermental 
profit-making 
non-govermental 
special 

1> 

2.3.2.2  Information  on  their 

activities 

Information  on  their  activities 

2.3.2.3  Information  on  the 

impact 

Area of activity 
Technical aids 

Other areas 
of activity 
relating to the 
process of 
integration  of 
disabled people 

Geographical area 
of activity 

Information  on  the  impact 

Implication 

type of  activity 
technical aids con 
cerned 
brands manufactur 
ed and distributed 
target groups 

type of activity 
target groups 

worldwide 
European 
national 
regional 
local 

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  T E C H N I C AL  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 

Use of the computer keyboard to move 

move around the database 

around the database 

Language can be changed at 

Language can be changed only at the 

any time during  interrogation 

beginning of the intenogation 

Font  can be enlarged on the screen 

Information output  can be by voice 

synthesizer or in braille 

Different  formats  for  information 

Various formats for information output 

output  can be set up 

can be selected 

Complete « 

•  Complete 

Address labels  •* 

•  Address labels 

Easy to  use  •* 

•  Easy to use 

Others < 

Data can be printed out 

Data can be printed out in format selected 

in  format  selected 

Visualisation of  products 

Visualisation of products by a  succession 

by a succession of pictures 

of pictures or several on the same screen 

(mosaic) 

Zoom function  for  particular 

Output of statistics as tables or diagrams 

details of  the picture of the technical 

aid presented on the screen 

3 

2.4.3  Multilingual  aspects 

Data on Spain 

in Spanish  ** 

• ^ H " ':? ' ^ BS 
^ ^ J F T J C * ^ ^^ 

Information  available in  the 
9 Community languages 

HANDYNET  is  t he  o n ly  d a t a b a se  o p e r a t i ng  in  9  l a n g u a g es 

HANDYNET 
CD  ROM 

This  technical  f e at  was  m a de  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: 

2 1 44 

• 

t he  a d d i t i on  of  pictures.  256  colour  pictures  for  all 

types  of  technical  aids; 

• 

t he  a d d i t i on  of  s o f t w a re  d e m o n s t r a t i o ns  f or 

t he 

technical  aids  listed  in  t he  e d u c a t i o n, 

r e e d u c a t i on 

and  c o m m u n i c a t i on  software. 

The  c o o r d i n a t i ng  centres  o n ce  set  up  will  p r e p a re 

pictures  for  inclusion  in  d i g i t i s ed  f o rm  (scanner  i n 

put)  t he  same  way  as t h ey  p r e p a re  t e x t u al  data.* 

CD  ROM  N*5 

CD  ROM  N*6 

a  pictures  •  demonstration  software 

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  t he  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  t he  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  C O M M U N I C A T I ON  *  ELECTRONIC  M A IL  A ND  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-

t he  c o st  of  t he  HANDYNET  s y s t em 

4 .1  OVERALL  COST  IN  ECUS 

1988 

1989 

1990 

1991 

1992 

1993 

TOTAL 

1994  BUDGET 

Activities 

383678 

752428 

607168 

801347 

774944 

800455 

4120020 

Staff 

81727 

205647 

249675 

214313 

322025 

295699 

1369086 

General Expenses 

314392 

378237 

294657 

479190 

584042 

439511 

2490029 

990000 

312090 

302102 

Overall Total 

779797 

1336312 

1151500 

1494850 

1681011 

1535665 

7979135 

1604192 

4 .2  COST  OF  D E V E L O P I NG  H A N D Y N ET  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 

505000 

251500 

406242 

100587 

318999 

1966006 

Contribution 
to Member States 

247428 

355668 

395105 

674357 

481456 

2154014 

Total 

383678 

752428 

607168 

801347 

774944 

800455 

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  A L L O C A T I ON  OF  E X P E N D I T U RE 

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 

1992 

1993 

1994 

Technical  development 

Development  of  the system 

Documentation 

96423 

4164 

317407 

1592 

10000 

10000 

Sub-total 

100587 

318999 

20000 

Contribution  to  Member  States 

Study groups 

Training and evaluation session 

Data collection 

Production of CD ROM and mail system 

Consultation 

Voice synthesizer 

150160 

142182 

144000 

172793 

65222 

31630 

230000 

123324 

100000 

255000 

540000 

100000 

25002 

8500 

38000 

Expenditure - activities 

Sub-total 

674357 

481456 

970000 

Total 

774944 

800455 

990000 

1992 

1993 

1994 

4.3.2  Allocation  of  expenditure  to  cover  staff  costs in  ECUS 

1992 

1993 

1994 

Staff  322025  1  295699  |  312090 | 

1992 

1993 

1994 

Estimated budget for the current accounting period (1994). 

<u 

4.3.3  Expenditure  f or general  expenses  in ECUS 

1992 

1993 

199-

Administrative  546673 

411026 

Missions 

37369 

28485 

264672 

37430 

Total 

584042 

439511 

302102 

1992 

1993 

1994 

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' 

I 
150160 I  316301230000I 

142182  1 
142182 I 123324 I 100000 

Data  collection 

Production  -  CD ROM 
+ Mail System 

Documentation 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1992 

1993 

1994 

1992 

1993 

1994 

144000 I  255000 I 540000 I 

172793 I  25002 I 100000 

4164 1 

1592 1  10000 

d BF 

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 

e v a l u a t i on  of  t he  HANDYNET  s y s t em  by  t he  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 

• 

• 

• 

• 

26 July to  1 August  1992 

19 October  1992 

19 to  22 January  1993 

24 and 25 June  1993 

16 November  1993 

Luxembourg 

Ireland 

United  Kingdom 

Spain 

Denmark 

Portugal 

Germany 

Netherlands 

Greece 

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  T HE  E V A L U A T O RS  OF  T HE  H A N D Y N ET  S Y S T EM 

Country/ 
organisation 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Germany 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Ireland 

Italy 

Luxembourg 

Netherlands 

Portugal 

United Kingdom 

EBU 

CRECER 

(A) 

(B) 

(C) 

(D) 

(E)  TOTAL 

10 

30 

12 

1 

147 
23 
11 
18 
8 
5 
16 

45 

3 

3 
23 
5 

15 
30 
21 

5 
4 
19 

3 

12 

42 
3 

60 

17 

45 
225 
59 
41 
23 
20 
50 
51 

3 

12 

TOTAL 

123 

259 

93 

70 

61 

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  E V A L U A T I ON  M E T H O D O L O GY 

P a r t i c i p a n ts 

M i x ed  g r o u ps  c o m p o s ed  of: 

•  d i s a b l ed  p e o p le  a nd  their  families 

•  rehabilitation  specialists 

• 

i n f o r m a t i on  specialists 

•  administrations 

•  manufacturers  a nd  distributors  of  technical  aids 

S e l e c t i on  of  p a r t i c i p a n ts 

•  by  the  N a t i o n al  Data  C o l l e a i on  and  C o o r d i n a t i on  Centre  for  the  M e m b er  State  concerned 

Session  p r o g r a m me 

•  presentation  of  t he  objectives  of  evaluation 

•  presentation  of  H A N D Y N ET  to  all  t he  participants  at  the  session 

•  explanation  of  the  evaluation  sheet 

•  practical  w o rk  on  c o m p u t e rs  in  small  g r o u ps 

•  c o m p l e t i on  of  t he  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  E V A L U A T I O NS 

5.3.1  Distribution  of  t he  HANDYNET  system 

Actual  distribution  of  the  CD ROM No  6  (February  1994) 

Member  States  of the CD ROM 

Number  of copies 

Number  of copies 

Member  States  of the CD ROM 

Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 

7 
2 
55 
36 
46 
20 
7 

Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
United Kingdom 

39 
10 
25 
12 
21 

Total 

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 

Ease of  use of HANDYNET 

CD  ROM 

evaluators 

date 

Satisfied  Unsatisfied 

No opinion 

Total 

N'2 

N-3 

Italy 

August  and October  1992 

Belgium (FR) 

January  1993 

EBU 

N*4 

Luxembourg 

N*5 

Ireland 

Spain 

Crecer 

United  Kingdom 

France 

Germany 

Portugal 

April  1993 

June  1993 

June  1993 

November  1993 

November  1993 

October  1993 

December  1993 

January  1994 

April  1994 

28 

15 

2 

11 

28 

33 

10 

40 

182 

3 

40 

13 

26 

1 

12 

20 

12 

2 

11 

43 

12 

10 

19 

11 

Vo Total 

67% 

28% 

5Wo 

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: 

HANDYNET 
CD ROM 

Action 

Evaluation 

Criticism 
Report 

The  process  is  outlined  in  the  following  tabic  which  shows  the  comments  of  evaluators 

and the  steps consequently  taken. 

csm* 

E V A L U A T I ON  Or  TKf.  H A N O Y N ET  SYSTP.M  ilY  THE  USE«S 

Comments  made  bv evaluators 

Steps taken to  improve  HANDYNET 

Interrogation  procedure entailing 

Reorganisation of screens and listed criteria. 

too  many stages between the beginning 

and end of the search. 

Too  many functions  to be activated 

Removal of superfluous  functions. 

before reaching  the conclusion. 

Difficult  to  mix interrogation criteria. 

Organisation of interrogation  logic  with  removal of 

non-essential mixed criteria. 

No stored pattern of questions 

Possibility of storing interrogation strategies. 

or interrogation strategies. 

Help function  inadequate and not  linked 

Help function linked to the stages of interrogation. 

to the interrogation  context. 

Preparation of teaching software  to be incorporated 

into the program (September  1994).. 

Difficulty  in using listed criteria organised 

Criteria accessible alphabetically  in the nine languages. 

on a hierarchical basis. 

Inability to  understand  the  terminology 

Introduction of a multilingual  thesaurus containing 

used in some parts of  the database. 

definitions  of  the "terminology  used and equivalent 

terms (1995). 

Inconsistencies in the use 

Reduction in. the number of  function keys; greater 

of function keys. 

consistency sought. 

Lack of interrogation by key words. 

Work in progress on the multilingual  thesaurus which 

will allow interrogation  using the textual descriptions 

in the nine languages. 

Search time too slow. 

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. 

Poor quality of voice synthesis. 

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. 

5.3.3  Content  of  the  database 

b;; 

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  t ie  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 

100% 

Presence of functional description in English 

53.16% 

Presence of  technical and numeric  information 

Presence of price indication 

32.01% 

7 4 . 0 1% 

€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. 

C U BS 

«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  I M P A CT  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. 

C S X E 2P 

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  w i th  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. 

C U E® 

EVALUATION  OF THE  HANOYNET  SYSTEM 8Y  SHE USERS 

c o o p e r a t i on  w i th  Community  i n i t i a t i v es 

H O R I Z O N,  T I D E,  COST  2 1 9,  RACE 

Cooperation  between  HANDYNET  and  the  above  Community  initiatives  is  direaed  to 

wards three  specific areas: 

•  t he  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  ( I N T E R N A T I O N AL  STANDARDS  O R G A N I S A T I O N) 

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. 

C E i E £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  A ND  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  H A N D Y N ET  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  I N V E N T O RY  OF RESEARCH  A ND  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 

I N F O R M A T I ON  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. 

C H ER 

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  T E C H N I C AL  AIDS  M O D U L E:  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  t he  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: 

i 

r- 
Employment  - Training 

.  T  •  • 

Technical  Aids 

V 

Accessibility 

Adaptation  of 

y 

workplaces 

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 

1988 

1989 

1990 

1991 

1992 

1993 

Total  Budget 1994 

383678 

383678 

1719 

4164 

1592 

7475 

10000 ! 

Documentation 

ESA activities 

ESA missions 

ESA management 

42000 

266000 

154500 

75000 

197000 

97000 

76000 

150912 

234259 

183994 

37746 

40060 

58770 

52966 

28383 

35425 

495500 

370000 

42000 

569165 

77806 

111736 

63808 

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 

37220 

50425 

15973 

103618 

21472 

53364 

15657 

90493 

27358 

10789 

9636 

15321 

20261 

20000 

253523 

38147 

24957 

20261 

20000 

253523 

34000 

34000 

8500 

76500 

26000 

31222 

15078 

29697 

40677 

57222 

44775 

40667 

40668 

287710 

328378 

10000 

5000 

5000 

38000 

38000 

121664 

121664 

66323 

66323 

15518 

24000 

120000 

57001 

95000 

160000 

72519 

119000 

280000 

50000 

50000 

240000 

240000 

172793 

25002 

197795 

60000 

50000 

80000 

50000 

60000 

40000 

50000 

SUB-TOTAL 

383678 1 752428 1 607168 1 801347 

774944 I 800455 I 4120020 

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 

34326 

38411 

39806 

37369 

28485 

196511 

Administrative 

296278 

343911 

256246 

439384 

546673 

411026 

2293518 

Total 

314392 

378237 

294657 

479190 

584042 

439511 

2490029 

37430 

264672 

302102 

è 7 

annex  3 

List  of  National  Collection  and  Coordination  Centres 

ITALY 
Fondazione  Pro Juventute 
Don Gnocchi: S.I.V.A. 
Via Capecelatro  66 
1-20148 Milano 

FRANCE 
HANDYNET  France: 
c/o  C.N.F.L.R.H. 

Boulevard Raspail 38 
F-75007  Paris 

Ing. ANDRICK 

Mme  J. ROUX 

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 

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  K I N G D OM 
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 

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 

D E N M A RK 
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 

G E R M A NY 
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 

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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