1. 1 Gerontechnology: Enhancement and satisfaction of life Herman Bouma

2. 2 Contents Enhancement and Satisfaction: focus since 1991 Examples early and recent Interdisciplinary R&D Indispensable Methodology Four literature studies to be discussed

3. 3 Early goals of technology and ageing (before 1990 and still relevant) Compensation and Assistance Care and Care support

4. 4 Ageing is not equivalent with increasingly poor health and physical or psychological restrictions The majority of ageing people has no serious chronic restrictions or health problems Even if they suffer from these, they may cherish ambitions and interests similar to their healthy peers

5. 5 Enhancement and satisfaction Aging is not synonymous with decline (“….for the aged and handicapped”) Despite decline, aging can be made a very satisfying experience Notion basic in GT from the beginning (1991), elaborated in 1996 (Helsinki)

6. 6 The elderly citizens… are our fundamental concern… We have to learn more about… their objectives, tasks and preferences, what they want to do and wished to be helped with. (H. Bouma Gerontechnology: making technology relevant for the elderly. Proceedings 1st international GT congress,Eindhoven 1991)

7. 7 Four GT goals Enhancement and satisfaction Prevention and engagement Compensation and Assistance Care and Care support

8. 8 Enhancement and Satisfaction In GT, Enhancement is the added value to life experienced by ageing persons and mediated by technological products or services In GT, Satisfaction is the positive feeling of ageing people as mediated by the presence or use of technological products and services Their opposites are irritation/frustration and dissatisfaction as mediated by technology

9. 9 Technology for the ageing population Technical innovations (products & services) should be targeted at the ageing population just as well. Although this may sound self-evident, in our real world this goal is still far from being reached

10. 10 Gerontechnology Interdiscipline Matrix Technology Disciplines Gerontology Disciplines Architecture & Building Information & Communicat- ion Mechatronics & Robotics Industrial Design ….…. Biology Physiology Psychology Social Psychology Sociology Demography Medicine Rehabilitation

11. 11 Gerontechnology Impact matrix Selection of Potential Applications 1990 Life Domain Health & Self- esteem Housing & Daily living Mobility & Transport Communication & Governance Work & Leisure Goal Enhancement & Satisfaction Kitchen toolsTimetable Car Fixed telephoneWashing machine Power tools Prevention & Engagement Healthy Diet Home trainer Safety illumination Fixed telephoneFocused lighting Compensation & Assistance Active alarms ADL/IADLRollator/WalkerHearing aidsPower tools Care support& Organisation Powered lifting

12. 12 Gerontechnology Impact matrix Selection of potential applications 1990+, 2000+ Life domain Health Self-esteem Housing Daily living Mobility Transport Communication & Governance Work Leisure Goal Enhancement Satisfaction Telemedicine Internet/www Kitchen tools Wireless/remote Timetable GPS navigation Info publ.transp Mobile phone E-mail, www Digital camera www Prevention Engagement Healthy diet Home trainer Safety illumin Smart ventil.. Car automation Dynamic Traffic info Fixed telephone Video Links (webcam) Focussed lighting Compensation Assistance Active alarms Passive alarms ADL/IADL Smart IADL Rollator/walker Battery- wheelchair Hearing Aids Directional hearing aids Power tools Robot pet Care support Organisation Smart intake Control-PDA Telecare Electronic keysPowered liftingCare Networks Video links

13. 13 Domains of dailylife Gains (Vision) Mobility Transport Information Communication Enhancement Satisfaction Electronic keys Street illumination GPS/Radar navigation Mobile phone Spoken books Text-to speech Prevention Engagement UV protection Healthy nutrients Large, dark peak (cap) >letter size High contrast lettering Focussed task illumin. Compensation Assistance Radar/Ultrasound Telescopes Retinal Implants Optical magnifiers Electronic magnifiers Speech-to-text Care support Infrastructure Low Vision simulator UFOV test Glare meter Training environment

14. 14 Methodology Enhancement and Satisfaction The goals are in the realm of social psychology, so we have to look to that discipline for methodological issues. Most important: what precise problem is to be solved If your skill is in technology, find a colleague in social psychology (interdisciplinary collaboration)

15. 15 Indispensable methodology (1): Make operational definition of Enhancement and Satisfaction Define relevant domain of daily life Define technology- based intervention Find representative subjects (education, men/women, family, life experiences, interests, activities, health,…..) Define a proper control group

16. 16 Indispensable Methodology (2) Consider ethical issues (privacy, informed consent) Consider statistical aspects before and after intervention Prepare in-depth interviews, partly open Carry out pilot experiment(s)

17. 17 General requirements Work with colleague in other discipline Study the literature Learn proper English (reading, speaking, listening, writing)

18. 18 Selection of relevant literature to be studied M. Docampo Rama et al. Technology generation and age in using layered user interfaces Gerontechnology 2001, 1(1) 25-40 A.S. Melenhorst et al. When do older adults consider the Internet? An exploratory study of benefit perception. Gerontechnology 2004;3(2): 89-101 Y.de Kort et al. Persuasive Technology. Gerontechnology 2005;4(3):123-127 A.Newell. Older people as a focus for inclusive design Gerontechnology 2006;4(4):190-199