Gerontechnology: past, present, future Herman Bouma

1
Gerontechnologypast, present, futureHerman
Bouma
2
Gerontology and TechnologyThe origin of
gerontechnology is in the demographic increase of
older people in many countries who have to live
in a society with ever new technological
innovations
3
Situation 1990 (past)(start of Gerontechnology)
4
Technology Ageing 1990 (1)Research
DevelopmentErgonomics/Human Factors and
ageingAids for the handicappedProfessional
tools (Care, Medicine)
5
Technology Ageing 1990 (2)General beliefs and
attitudesAged as a category of people Aged
associated with poor health, handicapsAged
people are afraid of technologyWhy bother aged
people with technology
6
Technology Ageing 1990 (3)Selection of
available productsHome kitchen tools, safety
illumination, active alarms, power tools, fixed
telephoneMobility rollator/walker time table
public transportPrevention healthy diet, home
trainer Care powered lifting
7
Gerontechnology developments 1990-present
8
Activities GerontechnologyInternational
conferences 1991 Eindhoven, 1996 Helsinki, 1999
Munich, 2002 Miami, 2005 Nagoya, 2008
PisaInternational Society for Gerontechnology
ISG (as from 1997)Quarterly journal
Gerontechnology (as from 2001)Discussion website
2005Regional ISG Chapters Japan 2006,
Netherlands/Flandres 2007Master Classes
Netherlands 2006,
9
GerontologyDemography65 increasing toward
25Extensive diversity(not averages but
spread)Health (e.g. serious restrictions)
Family situationFinancial situationGeneral
life experience (generation)Individual life
experience (education, skills)
10
TechnologyHighly dynamic, largely
uncontrolledProducts, services,
infrastructureOngoing innovation Ongoing
miniaturisationEmbedded logicMass production
Mass distributionGlobalization
11
Gerontology Technology simultaneous, but
disconnectedOlder people disregarding new
technology (unnecessary, too complex)Technologic
al innovations ignoring older people
(functionality, user interface, design,
marketing)
12
Why ageing people need technology
innovationsFor supporting and extending
independenceFor communicating with social
environment\For realising ambitions For
compensating receding skillsFor effective care
support
13
Gerontechnology concerted actionTwo
interwoven types of studyAgeing people are
studied as members of the dynamic technological
society (gerontology)Innovations are studied
for enriching the lives of ageing people
(technology)
14
Gerontechnology definition The study of
technology and ageing for ensuring an optimal
technological environmentfor ageing people up to
a high age
15
Disciplines of GerontologyBiology and
PhysiologyPsychology and Social
PsychologySociology and DemographyMedicine
and Rehabilitation
16
Disciplines of TechnologyArchitecture and
BuildingInformation and CommunicationMechatron
ics and RoboticsIndustrial Design
17
(No Transcript)
18
Gerontechnology interdisciplinaryResearch and
development (RD) of Gerontechnology is
essentially interdisciplinary between any of the
sciences of human aging (gerontology) and any of
the sciences of technology
19
Successful ageingHealthy nutrition/dietDaily
physical activityRegular mental
activityMaintaining social contacts
20
Goals of Gerontechnology(1)(Geron)technology
is not an independent goal as such
(Geron)technology is supportive of the goals of
ageing people
21
Goals of Gerontechnology (2)Enhancement and
SatisfactionPrevention and EngagementCompensat
ion and AssistanceCare Support and
Organisation

22
Domains of daily lifeHealth
Self-esteemHousing Daily livingMobility
TransportCommunication GovernanceWork
Leisure
23
(No Transcript)
24
(No Transcript)
25
(No Transcript)
26
Gerontechnology recent insights (1)Physiolog
y role of anti-oxydants in preventionPsychology
concept of situated learning logic of
temporal discounting
27
Gerontechnology recent insights (2) Social
Psychology focus on motivation concept of
intertemporal discounting Sociology concept of
technology generationsIndustrial Design
Inclusive Design, education
28
Gerontechnology recent insights (3) Ageing
development process rather than aged as static
categoryAgeing persons actors of their own lives
rather than passive receivers of care and
helpSpecific restrictions to be compensated
rather than the handicapped
29
Gerontechnology recent insights (4)Directed
toward fulfilling ambitions and needs Focus on
early measures of pro-active preventionDistinctio
n between third age (independent) and fourth
age(care dependent)
30
Gerontechnology the future
31
The unknown future (1)Technology expected
innovations Ever more virtual worldsRobots for
house and garden,Navigation tools for city
walking Domotics (integrated solutions)Telecare,
telemedicineNew materials (e.g. flexible
displays, LEDs)Embedded logic (smart
products)Innovative implants (limbs, hearing,
vision,)New memory supports.
32
The unknown future (2)Gerontology Expected
InsightsPhysiology Nutrients, disease
agentsPsychology Dealing with virtual
realitiesSocial Psychology virtual
communitiesSociology New generation of ageing
people (healthier, better educated, assertive,
however large spread continues) E-communicatio
n becoming the norm
33
Conclusion (1)The generations of ageing people
deserve a share in technological innovations
contributing to independence and quality of
LifeTechnology innovations (R,D, and D)have
started to take the market segment of ageing
people seriously
34
Conclusion (2) By professional,
interdisciplinary efforts Gerontechnology is
contributing to a full share of ageing citizens
in the technological society