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Basics of Gerontechnology

Herman Bouma

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Overview GT BasicsDefinitionInterdisciplinary: Gerontology & TechnologyDemography: spread, not averageInclusive design; normalisationLearning; situated learning; motivation

Generations; technology generationSuccesful ageing; 3rd age & 4th age; restrictionsGT Impact Matrix: Impacts & domains of lifeMatrix cells; recent technologyGT History; Literature

Conclusions for phd research

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Gerontechnology: definition

the study of technology and agingfor ensuring an optimal technological

environment of all aging and old people

up to a high age

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GT: Interdiscipline

Gerontechnology is interdisciplinary between gerontology disciplines and technology disciplines

Methods are often discipline-specific

Few professionals are knowledgeable in both fields: collaboration

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Technology Disciplines

Gerontology

Disciplines

Architecture

& Building

Information & Communication

Mechatronics& Robotics

Industrial Design

….

Biology

Physiology

Psychology

Social Psychology

Sociology

Demography

Medicine

Rehabilitation

Gerontechnology Interdiscipline Matrix

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Why GT?

Gerontechnology has emerged because of the combination of: demographic increase of aging peoplerapid evolution of technological environments

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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,.)

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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.

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Inclusive designDesign of products or services thatincludes as many users as possible:directed at the weaker users.User participation essential.

(design for all, universal design)

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Normalisation/StandardisationNormalisation: 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.

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LearningLearning is life-long (unless disease)

types of learning are age-dependentSituated learning is learning while doing

aided by suitable on-line instructionrequires ‘smart’ instruction.suitable for ageing people

Unlearning is impossible (unlike forgetting)

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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

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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)

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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)

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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

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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

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Physical and Psychological restrictionsMobility: walking; equilibriumSensory: 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

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GT: Five domains of daily life

• Health and Self-esteem

• Housing and Daily living

• Mobility and Transport

• Communication and Information

• Work and Leisure

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GT: Four goals

• Enhancement and Satisfaction

• Prevention and Engagement

• Compensation and Assistance

• Care Support and Organisation

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Gerontechnology (GT) Impact Matrix

Taxonomy of what goals to be served by technology for the main life

domains of aging people

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Gerontechnology Impact matrix

Life DomainHealth &

Self-esteem

Housing &

Daily living

Mobility &

Transport

Communication & Governance

Work &

Leisure

GoalEnhancement

& 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 Links Focussed

lighting

Compensation

& Assistance

Passive

alarms

Smart IADL Rollator/walker

Battery wheelchair

Hearing Aids Power tools

Robot pet

Care support& Organisation

Smart intake

Control-PDA

Electronic keys Powered lifting Care Networks

Video links

Robots

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Recent Technology and its infrastructure

• Internet: e.g. e-mail; search machines; weblogs• Mobile phone; sms• Digital camera, digital photography• Navigation tools (GSM)• Games• Robots• Smart products and systems (adaptive)

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Brief history of GerontechnologyBefore 1990: Technology and ageing (ergonomics; aids for the handicapped)International congresses 1991 Eindhoven; 1996 Helsinki;1999 Munich; 2002 Miami; 2005 Nagoya; 2008 PisaInternational Society for Gerontechnology 1997+Gerontechnology quarterly journal 2001+ISG discussion site 2004+Masterclasses 2006 Eindhoven, 2007?, 2008 PisaRegional chapters 2006+ Japan; 2007+ Netherlands

/Flandres

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GT Community and its literature

• International Society for Gerontechnology (ISG) www.gerontechnology.info

• Discussion site: isg_discussion-bounces@jdc.org.il from Lawrence Normie [LRNormie@jdc.org.il]

• 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 www.gerontechjournal.net

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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