Collaborate to innovate: a project to improve connectivity in rural communities for health benefits

This presentation provides an example of how collaborative partnership working can deliver innovative and creative responses to contemporary challenges. It shows that accessing and sharing knowledge between practitioners, academics and businesses can result in the development of solutions that can be implemented to improve the lives of our customers. Loreburn Housing Association in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland, has worked with the University of Strathclyde to pilot a social tariff broadband service for its customers using TV White Space/Dynamic Spectrum technology proven by Mawingu Networks in Africa. Scotland in keeping with many parts of the United Kingdom and Western Europe is experiencing a rapidly aging population that is creating pressures on the housing, health and social care infrastructure. In a rural area provision of health and support services is challenging especially for elderly and vulnerable client groups. Harnessing technological advances has been identified by the Scottish Government as important to the development of support solutions. The process of collaborative working and collective learning are described together with the practical stages of the project