May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 1 Basics of Gerontechnology 2008 International Conference on Gerontic Technology and Service Management Nankai Institute of Technology Tsaotun, Nantou, Taiwan

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 2 Gerontechnology … …. is about engineering

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 3 Gerontechnology … …. is about engineering, but it poses 3 peculiar problems to the engineer

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 4 Gerontechnology … …. is about engineering, but it poses 3 peculiar problems to the engineer: (i) motivation, (ii) designer / user, (iii) the 4 ages

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 5 Definition by the World Health Organization since 1946 Aim: Health & Happiness

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 6 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 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 7 Delaying chronic disease

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 8 Problem 1: Human motivation for Health and Happiness 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 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 9 Problem 2: In the past … …. newly engineered products and services were developed by young male engineers to be used by the younger half of the male society

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 10 Current innovation … …. newly engineered products and services are developed by young male engineers to be used by the older half of the female society

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 11 Towards the female society Source:

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 12 Aging in the World Source:

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 13 Problem 3: Technology generations in the Industrial age (20 th & 21 st century) Born Mechanical / hierarchical: increased urbanisation, towards more income for food Born Electro-mechanical / hierarchical: decreased mortality Born Software / Layered: decrease of morbidity needed Born Computer game / Relational: increase of wellness needed

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 14 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) Change technology users into co-designers

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 15 The 4 Ages, Maslow & Technology Technology for:1 st Age2 nd Age3 rd Age4 th Age Highest aspirationSelf-fulfillment±+++ Esteem++++ Social++++ Safety++++ Most basic needPhysiological The nature of physiological needs differ among the 4 ages

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 16 The 3 classifications of a Gerontechnology project (i) Age aimed at (ii) Cross-fertilization matrix (iii) The functional matrix

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 17 (i) Age aimed at 1 st Age YouthEducation 2 nd AgeAdulthoodWork for income 3 rd AgeOlder AdulthoodActive in retirement 4 th AgeElderlyFrailty Change technology users into co-designers

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 18 (ii) Gerontechnology cross-fertilization matrix Gerontologydiscipline Technology discipline Chemistry Biochemistry Architecture Building Information Communication Mechatronics Robotics Ergonomics Design Business management PhysiologyNutrition Psychology Social Psychology SociologyDemography MedicineRehabilitation Take at least one gerontology and one technology discipline into account

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 19 (iii) Gerontechnology functional matrix Goal / Technological intervention Life domain / Domain of human activity Health & Self-esteem Housing & Daily living Mobility & Transport Communication & Governance Work & Leisure Enhancement & Satisfaction Prevention & Engagement Compensation & Assistance Care support & organisation Aim at one cell at a time

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 20 Gerontechnology: some examples Gerontechnology: some examples (Bouma et al. Gerontechnology 2007;6(4): ) GERONTOLOGY discipline TECHNOLOGY discipline Chemistry Biochemistry Architecture Building Information Communication Mechatronics Robotics Ergonomics Design Business management Physiology Nutrition Preventive nutrition Experimental houses Healthy indoor environment TelecareBiorobotics Resource sharing (man-vehicle) Individual differences User participation Inclusive design Standardisation Care management innovation Psychology Social psychology Experimental houses Domotics Situated learning Temporal discount & benefits Technology acceptance Persuasive technology Domotics Navigation tools Individual differences User participation Inclusive design Standardisation Technology acceptance Persuasive technology Targeted marketing Sociology Demography Technology generation (protocols) Technology generation (user interface) Targeted marketing Medicine Rehabilitation Preventive drugs Perceptual implants (materials) Healthy indoor environment Perceptual implants (signal processing) Modelling restrictions Telecare Biorobotics Resource sharing (man-vehicle) Self medication Telecare Care management innovation

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 21 Basic to Gerontechnology engineering is … (i) Fulfill all needs starting with the basic ones (ii) Accept users as co-designers to reach ‘Inclusive Design’ (iii) Include all 4 ages in gerontechnology programs

May 9, 2008JEMH van Bronswijk, Eindhoven University of Technology 22 Thank you for your attention