Projekt TAO Third Age Online

Welcome to the Official Website of the Project TAO

“TAO” stands for the Chinese character meaning “way”, “method” as well as for “Third Age Online”. The main target of our research and development project is to highlight the ways in which the access of older persons to the opportunities offered by online communities can be facilitated.

Learn more about the project TAO…

20. December 2013

TAO lives on as Network of Practice

In the growing “silver (surfer) market” there is the potential for the TAO practice partners to continue to put their expertise into practice beyond the end of the project. The TAO network of practice connects background expertise with the real world experience of communities for seniors. Continue reading →

2. October 2013

Project over? No, just a milestone

Even though the project is officially coming to an end, TAO contributors have already come up with several practical ideas to build upon the solid foundations and contacts established throughout the course of the project. These ideas will allow TAO’s success to continue beyond the end of the project. Continue reading →

27. September 2013

Getting Seniors onto the Internet

How do older people get onto the Internet? How do they benefit from it? These questions were answered at a symposium in Bern which wrapped up the Third Age Online (TAO project). The project has shown us that over 60’s can benefit when they seize the opportunities offered by the Internet. Continue reading →

20. September 2013

SeniorWeb and TAO win the ‘Learn for Life Encouragement Award 2013’

Our partner SeniorWeb (Netherlands) has won the “Learn for Life Encouragement Award 2013” for its TAO-activities. This Dutch Award is annually given during the ‘Learning Festival’, which aims to encourage people to further develop their knowledge and skills. Continue reading →

Pavel Richter, executive director, Wikimedia Germany

„The growing number of active older persons, their life experience and their knowledge are a potential that the online encyclopedia Wikipedia should make better use of.“ Pavel Richter, executive director, Wikimedia Germany

Hans Rudolf Schelling, executive director, Centre for Gerontology, University of Zurich

„Approximately one half of Swiss citizens above the age of 65 believe that the internet would be used more frequently by older persons if it was more age-appropriate.“ Hans Rudolf Schelling, executive director, Centre for Gerontology, University of Zurich

Markus Marquard, research associate, Centre for General Scientific Continuing Education (ZAWiW), University of Ulm

„Together with older persons we want to find out how the internet can open an additional window to the world and how it can help to retain freedom and independence in older age.“ Markus Marquard, research associate, Centre for General Scientific Continuing Education (ZAWiW), University of Ulm

The project TAO is managed by the Bern University of Applied Sciences and is co-funded under the Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) Joint Programme by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and the European Commission.

See also: Partners and sponsors

Logos of the Bern University of Applied Sciences, the Ambient Assisted Living (AAL), the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and the European Commission