Researchers from the Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal, Spain and Sweden have developed a solution to give elderly and disabled people easier control over the various electronic appliances and services in their homes using their mobile phone or other devices. The "I2HOME" project, funded by the EU with 2.7 million Euro, has developed a personalised and simplified Universal Remote Console interface based on existing and evolving open standards.

Researchers at universities, institutes and companies in the Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal, Spain and Sweden have aligned access technology such as remote controls to the needs of blind people, people with cognitive impairments, Alzheimer patients and the elderly. For instance, the technology helps people with cognitive disabilities to be more independent by making it simpler to perform tasks like changing the TV channel or getting reminders about daily activities, including when they are travelling or visiting family. For people with poor sight, visual control menus are replaced by a speech interface.

The interface developed by the EU funded "I2HOME" Intuitive Interaction for Everyone with Home Appliances based on Industry Standards project which can be applied to many personal and household appliances, can also be applied outside the home. Harnessing information and communications technologies to support dignified and high quality independent living for the elderly, visually impaired or people with cognitive disabilities is one of the key objectives of the Digital Agenda for Europe, as well as the European Commission's disability strategy adopted in November 2010.

As highlighted by European Commission Vice President for the Digital Agenda said Neelie Kroes, “EU-funded research projects like I2HOME can harness information technologies to make life simpler for all EU citizens, including the elderly, disabled and visually impaired."

I2HOME, which has been funded by the EU's Sixth Framework Programme for research with 2.7 million Euro, has been tested in day-care centres and home settings in 4 pilot sites in the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain and Sweden and more than 100 organisations and companies in Europe already use or work with I2HOME technology. Its technology has also been applied to energy saving with projects like Smart Energy for All (SEFA), which aims to reduce the energy footprint of companies and citizens by providing a console that allows the central monitoring and control of all aspects of energy and water consumption.