Promoting ICT innovations for the ageing population in Japan

ObjectiveThe paper aims to explore effective measures and strategies for the promotion of ICT-enabled innovations for the elderly and people with special needs.MethodsThe paper begins by reviewing current government initiatives in the field of e-health and accessibility that are addressing challenges faced by Japan's rapidly ageing society. It then evaluates the results of Japanese government efforts in the promotion of ICT solutions for its older population against the availability of special infrastructure, device interfaces, and services and applications that meet five essential needs of the elderly with regard to quality of life in highly developed countries.Results and conclusionThe results of the study suggest that more efforts are needed to exploit ICT to transform all domains of society in order to meet the challenges produced by a rapidly ageing population. For that purpose the paper proposes 12 main areas in which to facilitate ICT innovations for an ageing population. It then outlines a number of strategic directions for the formulation of specific measures that will place Japan in the forefront of societal transformation.

► Government policy was beneficial for several fields, remaining unexploited in others.
► Very few of the silver innovations were to experience a commercial success.
► 12 main areas in which silver innovations should be facilitated are proposed.
► Strategic directions under which specific measures should be formulated are proposed.