1 Basics of Gerontechnology Herman Bouma

2 Overview GT Basics Definition Interdisciplinary: Gerontology & Technology Demography: spread, not average Inclusive design; normalisation Learning; situated learning; motivation Generations; technology generation Succesful ageing; 3rd age & 4th age; restrictions GT Impact Matrix: Impacts & domains of life Matrix cells; recent technology GT History; Literature Conclusions for phd research

3 Gerontechnology: definition the study of technology and aging for ensuring an optimal technological environment of all aging and old people up to a high age

4 GT: Interdiscipline Gerontechnology is interdisciplinary between gerontology disciplines and technology disciplines Methods are often discipline-specific Few professionals are knowledgeable in both fields: collaboration

5 Technology Disciplines Gerontology Disciplines Architecture & Building Information & Communication Mechatronics & Robotics Industrial Design ….…. Biology Physiology Psychology Social Psychology Sociology Demography Medicine Rehabilitation Gerontechnology Interdiscipline Matrix

6 Why GT? Gerontechnology has emerged because of the combination of: demographic increase of aging people rapid evolution of technological environments

7 GT: Demography Above 65 yrs rising to 25% of population Balance women and men (age dependent) Diversity of people increases with age: health (level, restrictions, depression,..) family (single, spouse, children,..) finances (rich, moderate pension, poor) housing (suitability, neighbours,…) skills (working experience, computer,.)

8 Average Fallacy (ergonomics) If one designs for ‘the average person’ characterized by averages of different variables, one designs for nobody. (‘the average person does not exist’) Rather, spread (s.d.) should guide the design.

9 Inclusive design Design of products or services that includes as many users as possible: directed at the weaker users. User participation essential. (design for all, universal design)

10 Normalisation/Standardisation Normalisation: products of different brands and products of different functionality share certain relevant properties (e.g. user interface); standardisation makes this mandatory within defined limits (international standardization committees) This is of great value for all users and for all ageing users in particular, because of generalisation of usage.

11 Learning Learning is life-long (unless disease) types of learning are age-dependent Situated learning is learning while doing aided by suitable on-line instruction requires ‘smart’ instruction. suitable for ageing people Unlearning is impossible (unlike forgetting)

12 Motivation for using/not-using technology Insight in functionality (impact matrix) Balance of benefits and costs Following friends and relatives (mimicry) External persuasion (media) For unfamiliar technology: –Inclination for exploration –Restrain and uncertainty of control

13 ) Generation (sociology) Birth cohorts of consecutive years that have lived through the same important life experiences in society (e.g. economic depression, presence of computers,… ……….) In particular the years until the age of 30 are decisive (formative years)

14 Technology generation Generation that has grown up in a certain important technological environment (unable to forget) (best example: 3 types of user interface: mechanical up to 1950, electro-mechanical up to 1985, layered menu now)

15 Successful aging Maintain physical, cognitive, and social activities Live an independent life of one’s own choice Quality of Life (QoL): healthy, daily joy, dignity, autonomy, participation in family and in society

16 Third age and Fourth age Third age of ageing people is defined as period with only minor physical and psychological restrictions and living an independent life Fourth age of ageing people is defined as period of frailty and largely dependent on care

17 Physical and Psychological restrictions Mobility: walking; equilibrium Sensory: vision (acuity, field of view) hearing (noisy environments, speech; directional hearing) Motor: trembling (writing; fine motor skills) declining force Memory: short term-, working-, prospective-, long term-) Multiple tasks: changing more difficult

18 GT: Five domains of daily life Health and Self-esteem Housing and Daily living Mobility and Transport Communication and Information Work and Leisure

19 GT: Four goals Enhancement and Satisfaction Prevention and Engagement Compensation and Assistance Care Support and Organisation

20 Gerontechnology (GT) Impact Matrix Taxonomy of what goals to be served by technology for the main life domains of aging people

21 Gerontechnology Impact matrix Life Domain Health & Self-esteem Housing & Daily living Mobility & Transport Communication & Governance Work & Leisure Goal Enhancement & Satisfaction Telemedicine Internet Wireless/remote (e.g.phone) GPS navigation Info publ.transp Mobile phone Internet Digital. camera Internet Prevention & Engagement Healthy diet Home trainer Smart ventil. Safety illumin. Car automation Traffic info Video LinksFocussed lighting Compensation & Assistance Passive alarms Smart IADLRollator/walker Battery wheelchair Hearing AidsPower tools Robot pet Care support& Organisation Smart intake Control-PDA Electronic keysPowered liftingCare Networks Video links Robots

22 Recent Technology and its infrastructure Internet: e.g. ; search machines; weblogs Mobile phone; sms Digital camera, digital photography Navigation tools (GSM) Games Robots Smart products and systems (adaptive)

23 Brief history of Gerontechnology Before 1990: Technology and ageing (ergonomics; aids for the handicapped) International congresses 1991 Eindhoven; 1996 Helsinki;1999 Munich; 2002 Miami; 2005 Nagoya; 2008 Pisa International Society for Gerontechnology Gerontechnology quarterly journal ISG discussion site Masterclasses 2006 Eindhoven, 2007?, 2008 Pisa Regional chapters Japan; Netherlands /Flandres

24 GT Community and its literature International Society for Gerontechnology (ISG) Discussion site: from Lawrence Normie Its literature: Bouma, Graafmans (eds). Gerontechnology (1992) Graafmans, Taipale, Charness (eds): Gerontechnology: A sustainable Investment in the Future (1998) Harrington, Harrington (eds) Gerontechnology: Why and How (2000) Pieper, Vaarama, Fozard(eds)Gerontechnology:3rd Millennium(2002) GERONTECHNOLOGY Quarterly Journal (Since 2001/2002) Presently: volume 6 (2007) Website

25 Conclusion for phd research Check GT Basics regularly Make GT goals explicit Collaborate with other disciplines Situate results in real environment Become fluent in English Keep digesting relevant literature Be part of GT community