Mazadoo is one of the three winners of the “Loading the Future” trophies organized by the Media and Networks cluster at its General Assembly on April 12 held at the Champs Libres in Rennes.

Mazadoo, presented by Cecile Bothorel, a researcher in the Logic of uses, science and social information department and Jean-Yves Chalm representing the newspaper leTélégramme for the Mazadoo project, received 2nd prize, after 3Dlive, from Paul Friedel, Director of Telecom Bretagne, in the “Loading the future” trophies  organised by Images and networks (1).

Mazadoo restores social bonds for the elderly

The Mazadoo project, initiated by Télécom Bretagne, Alcatel-Lucent and other partners, aims to facilitate relations between the elderly who are often dependent, and their social networks. Through a technology platform that enables you to make a  personalized avaluation of social web technologies, Mazadoo aims to provide, through ICT, the means of regaining a social identity that they feel is unravgiving making them access to tools to support, enhance or even create social links.

Gateway to Facebook

Mazadoo gives seniors access to the social network most used on the web – 45% of French people have an account – but, as it is, not easily accessible to the elderly. With Mazadoo, there’s no need to learn to surf the Internet to access Facebook. Tested since last January, at the St. Anne care home in Lannion and soon to be tested at  Kerlévénez in Brest, Mazadoo provides access to Facebook via TV with a bespoke remote control. Elizabeth Nédélec, a sociologist at Telecom Bretagne, supports seniors in their learning of the device. She takes note of their reactions and suggests possible product improvements to scientists, both in content and in  the ease of access. This offer meets a real societal need. Dependent elderly people suffer from isolation. Ironically, these are the very people who most need access to information, trade and entertainment. Mazadoo, with its pluridisplinary approach, provides a concrete answer to this problem.