May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 1 Interdisciplinarity of Gerontechnology 2008 International Master Class Nankai Institute of Technology Tsaotun, Nantou, Taiwan

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 2 Gerontechnology -To prevent disease & accidents -To maintain physical, mental and social health -To assist aspirations -To compensate for weakened functions -To support care and care organisation in order to add happiness, self-efficacy and independence to even the highest ages

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 3 Morbidity and Mortality 21 st Century gerontechnology engineer: –A major morbidity fighter –Gains for the older part of the population 20 th Century sanitary engineer: –A major mortality fighter –Gains for infants and children Combine mortality and morbidity fighting!

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 4 Gerontechnology … …. is about engineering

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 5 Gerontechnology … …. is about engineering, but it poses 3 peculiar problems to the engineer

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 6 Gerontechnology … …. is about engineering, but it poses 3 peculiar problems to the engineer: (i) motivation, (ii) designer / user, (iii) the 4 ages

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 7 Gerontechnology … …. is about engineering, but it poses 3 peculiar problems to the engineer: (i) motivation, (ii) designer / user, (iii) the 4 ages that requires an interdisciplinary approach

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 8 Defining Interdisciplinarity Each discipline takes responsibility for the whole Teams of professionals from both technology and gerontology (Multidisciplinarity: more than one discipline involved)

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 9 Interdisciplinary Cross- fertilization Technology  ‘Functionality’ Gerontology  ‘Usability’ Source: H. Bouma et al Gerontechnology in perspective. Gerontechnology 6(4):

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 10 Interdisciplinary Time Effects Elderly Health & Happiness requires Lifelong Health & Happiness (1. Youth, 2. Working age, 3. Active retirement, 4. Frail elderly)

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 11 The 4 Ages 1 st Age YouthEducation 2 nd AgeAdulthoodWork for income (young male engineer: layered software generation) 3 rd AgeOlder AdulthoodActive in retirement 4 th AgeElderlyFrailty (elderly women of the hierarchical / electro-mechanical generation)

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 12 A gerontechnology project A gerontechnology research, engineering or design project concerns –by definition- (i) An age group of technology users, and a (ii) life domain, and (iii) works towards its goal through a technological intervention that is supported by (iv) the knowledge base of a gerontology discipline

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 13 Focusing a gerontechnology project A gerontechnology research, engineering or design project concerns –by definition- a certain age and life domain, and works towards its goal through a technological intervention that is supported by the knowledge base of a gerontology discipline. InformationSummary Which age do you focus at? *Your project concerns 1 st Youth 2 nd Working phase 3 rd Active retirement 4 th Frailty the …. age, and Which life domain are you addressing? *the life domain of Health Self-esteem Housing Daily living Mobility Transport Communication Governance Work Leisure ; Which is the goal of your technological intervention? *It aims at Enhancement Satisfaction Prevention Engagement Compensation Assistance Care support Care organisation From which technology discipline originates the functionality in your study? *through Chemistry Biochemistry Architecture Building Information Communication Mechatronics Robotics Ergonomics Design Business management, From which gerontology discipline originates the usability of the technology? *supported by Physiology Nutrition Psychology Social psychology Sociology Demography Medicine Rehabilitation. * Choose only one cell as the main answer to each question Your project form

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 14 Interdisciplinary Life Domains 1. Health & Self-esteem 2. Housing & Daily living 3. Mobility & Transport 4. Communication & Governance 5. Work & Leisure

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 15 Interdisciplinary Engineering Goals 1. Enhancement & Satisfaction 2. Prevention & Engagement 3. Compensation & Assistance 4. Care support & Care organisation

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 16 Technology disciplines 1. Chemistry / Biochemistry 2. Architecture / Building 3. Information / Communication 4. Mechatronics / Robotics 5. Ergonomics / Design 6. Business management

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 17 Gerontology disciplines 1. Physiology / Nutrition 2. Psychology / Social psychology 3. Sociology / Demography 4. Medicine / Rehabilitation

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 18 After focussing Further decrease complexity of planning and evaluation by the use of theories / paradigms that are accepted in the different disciplines

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 19 Some technology examples Inclusive design with users as co-designers Targeted marketing differs with age and gender

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 20 Some gerontology examples Human motivation (Psychology) Technology Acceptance Model (Social psychology) Technology generation (Sociology) The 4 Ages (Social psychology)

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 21 Human motivation Abraham H. Maslow ( ) Guideline for Technology 4 Deficiency needs: (i) Physiological, (ii) Safety related, (iii) Social, (iv) Esteem related 1 Being need: (v) Self-fulfilment Source: A.H. Maslow A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review 50:

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 22 Technology Acceptance Model See: H. Bouma et al Gerontechnology in perspective. Gerontechnology 6(4): Social norms & habits Cognitive appraisal of effectiveness Perceived usefulness Perceived ease of use Behavioural intention to use Actual Use

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 23 Technology generation in the Industrial age (20 th & 21 st century) Born Mechanical / hierarchical towards better nutrition Born Electro-mechanical / hierarchical decreased mortality Born Software / Layered decrease of morbidity needed Born Computer game / Relational increase of wellness needed

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 24 Victory over Interdisciplinarity in your project (i) Focus for age, life domain, technological intervention, technology discipline and gerontology discipline (ii) Embrace a theory / paradigm from each of the monodisciplines

May 10, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 25 Thank you for your attention