The Open Source Observatory brings news, studies and best practices on the use of free and open source software solutions in public services.

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Policy Brief on loneliness and social isolation amongst older adults

Document

• Loneliness and social isolation in rural districts is a key concern for older adults. • Loneliness has long-term social, health and financial impacts. • Information and communication technology…

Mobile Age project, eGovernment, eInclusion, loneliness, social isolation, older adults, digital services
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Policy Brief on the GDPR and the market for service providers, especially European SMEs, to deliver innovations to older adults

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• The GDPR introduces new requirements on how to collect and process personal data. • Informed consent can be hard to achieve for users in general and even harder for older adults with cognitive…

GDPR, SMEs, eGovernment, public services, older adults, Mobile Age project, personal data
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Policy Brief on privacy implications of technologies to address older adults' social isolation

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Older adults are increasingly reliant on digital technology. The privacy needs and data protection vulnerabilities of this demographic are different to the general public. We believe that these…

data protection, eGovernment, older adults, digital services, Mobile Age project
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Policy Brief on e-inclusion of Europe’s older adults

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• One reason for the low take-up of digital eGovernment / public services is a lack of users´ perceived benefits and user centricity, especially for older persons. • The best way to develop user…

eGovernment, eInclusion, open government, Mobile Age project, co-creation
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Short case study: The Value of Open Source – an NHS Perspective

General case study

Abstract: The Open Source electronic observation system known as Open-eObs allows clinicians to record observations of in- patients at their bedsides using hand-held devices. The system then…

open source software, open source, FOSS
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An Open Digital Approach for the NHS Part one – Policies, Principles & Practices

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Abstract: This report presents published policies and intent supportive of an open approach published by the UK Government, Department of Health, NHS Digital and Apperta as well as in the EU, Asia and…

ehealth, opensource, open data
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'Buy from startups' strategy pays off for City of Antwerp

Open source case study

Abstract A new administrative coalition has forced Digipolis Antwerp to rethink its procurement policy. In 2015 the City of Antwerp reorganised its ICT architecture from silo-based systems dependent…

"case studies"
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A perfect feedback loop

Open source case study

Berlin Technical University and Nextcloud: showing public services how to interact with open source projects QED. Public services commonly wonder how to interact with fluid communities of open source…

case studies
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Open Government Partnership National Action Plan of the Slovak Republic 2017 – 2019

Document

Open Government Partnership National Action Plan of the Slovak Republic 2017 – 2019 (English version) Adopted by the Government Resolution No. 104/2017 In Bratislava, March 1st 2017 Below is the text…

document

Open source makes Dutch government cloud a reality

Open source case study

Data centre services scales services, not costs The Dutch government’s data centre in Groningen (ODC-Noord) is becoming the benchmark for all of the government’s cloud services. ODC-Noord combines the…

eGovernment, eGoverment, case studies
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Vitalinux - Aragon’s school Linux distribution

Open source case study

Ease of use and political support are boosting uptake In Spain’s autonomous community of Aragon a fast growing number of schools are using Vitalinux. This tailored distribution of free and open source…

Education, Science and Research, eGovernment, eGoverment
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The economic and social impact of software & services on competitiveness and innovation

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The study provides market figures (volume and growth) for the European software and software-based services (SSBS) market (EU28 as a whole, as well as the key countries France, Germany, UK and Italy)…

Innovation, information technology, report
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