Ethical aspects in ICT research an development: The case of the CONFIDENCE project

Information and communication technology (ICT) developments are targeted as means to reduce the burdens associated with an ageing population. The project CONFIDENCE aims at extending the independence of older people beyond what would be possible without technological support. The goal of this paper is to present the ethical issues that appeared relevant at the concept development stage and during the project. One ethical dimension is directly associated with the technology and must support principles such as human rights, privacy, safety, and dignity. The other ethical dimension is the voluntary contribution of people as participants in research activities. Ethical review of research plans and informed consent of the participants must be observed in this domain. We conclude that observing ethical principles since the inception of concepts and during the development process can empower users to make informed decisions on the acceptance of ICT systems and services once these become available.