CyberSightings

In the Spotlight

The European Union Directorate General, Information Society and Media is launching the “Future and Emerging Technologies Flagship Initiatives” (FET; see http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ict/programme/fet_en.html), a large-scale research program aimed at unprecedented scientific breakthroughs that will lead to future technological innovation. FET Flagships are expected to be goal-directed, visionary, and multidisciplinary; they are envisioned to run for at least 10 years, on a budget of around up to 100 million Euros per year per initiative. This ambitious objective will require a joint effort by the EU member states, funding agencies, global partners, and industry. The concept of FET Flagships has been defined in a report issued by the Information Society Technology Advisory Group (ISTAG) in mid 2009 (the full report can be downloaded at ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/ict/docs/fet-proactive/press-17_en.pdf). The document provides preliminary topics for potential FET flagships for 2020 and beyond, which are:

Understanding life through future ICT—diseases and bio-computation (hardware and software);

Although all these topics provide interesting research issues, the most relevant concept for cyberpsychology researchers is: “Understanding Life through future ICT.” The specific challenges to be addressed in this field include:

Personalized ICT for Health Challenge: Personalized dynamic linking to health and disease data and diagnostic centers to provide real-time, anywhere, and self-managed healthcare. It requires on- and in-body technologies, screening life data assets, simulation-based research, and ICT technologies for emulating life.

The first call for proposals is scheduled for publication in July/September 2010. Proposals will be evaluated by experts nominated by the EU according to four key criteria: ambition (the goal should be a breakthrough); expected impact (in terms of research, funding, and economic activity); integration (the multidisciplinary effort involved); and plausibility. The selection of flagships will occur in 2012, while the launch of (two or three) full initiatives is envisaged in 2013.

One of the most interesting innovations brought about by FET Flagship is that this program is directed toward entire scientific communities, under the assumption that real breakthroughs can only be achieved through the federated effort of multiple stakeholders. If this assumption is proven valid, then the FET Flagship model will become the de facto standard strategy for leveraging innovation. Within this perspective, FET Flagship provides a unique opportunity for the fast-growing cyberpsychology community to establish itself as a global scientific movement.

Internet Corner

In this issue, we feature the Web site of the International Association of CyberPsychology, Training, and Rehabilitation—iACToR (see http://iactor.ning.com/). Founded by some of the most eminent experts in the field, the goal of this international, non-profit organization is to foster the integration of virtual reality and other innovative technologies in existing therapy, training, education, and rehabilitation approaches. By bringing together researchers, decision makers, and clinicians, the iACToR aims at improving the quality, affordability, and availability of existing health care through advanced computer-based tools. Key challenges include the development of shared operating standards/platforms, the provision of training and education for health-care professionals, the enhancement of access to health-care treatment for all citizens, and the promotion of IT-enabled personalized health care.

The iACToR Web site allows iACToR members to share ideas, exchange materials, and discuss new trends in cyberpsychology; users can also upload posts and videos, and keep informed of the latest events. Created with the white-label application Ning, the iACToR Web site has a strong social-networking emphasis, allowing members to create their own profile, join special interest groups (i.e., anxiety disorder, PTSD, presence), and view other users' activities and announcements. In the Publications section, premium members can access cyberpsychology journals and stay updated with the latest developments. In this way, the Web site serves not only as an information provider but also as a “living lab,” where researchers and professionals can create new directions for research and establish common scientific interests.

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