1. Gerontechnology: past, present, future Herman Bouma

2. Gerontology and Technology The 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 & Development: Ergonomics/Human Factors and ageing Aids for the handicapped Professional tools (Care, Medicine)

5. Technology & Ageing 1990 (2) General beliefs and attitudes Aged as a category of people Aged associated with poor health, handicaps Aged people are afraid of technology Why bother aged people with technology

6. Technology & Ageing 1990 (3) Selection of available products Home: kitchen tools, safety illumination, active alarms, power tools, fixed telephone Mobility: rollator/walker; time table public transport Prevention: healthy diet, home trainer Care: powered lifting

7. Gerontechnology: developments 1990-present

8. Activities Gerontechnology International conferences: 1991 Eindhoven, 1996 Helsinki, 1999 Munich, 2002 Miami, 2005 Nagoya, 2008 Pisa International Society for Gerontechnology ISG (as from 1997) Quarterly journal Gerontechnology (as from 2001) Discussion website 2005 Regional ISG Chapters: Japan 2006, Netherlands/Flandres 2007 Master Classes Netherlands 2006,

9. Gerontology Demography:65+ increasing toward 25% Extensive diversity :( not averages but spread) Health: (e.g. serious restrictions) Family situation Financial situation General life experience (generation) Individual life experience (education, skills)

10. Technology Highly dynamic, largely uncontrolled Products, services, infrastructure Ongoing innovation Ongoing miniaturisation Embedded logic Mass production Mass distribution Globalization

11. Gerontology & Technology simultaneous, but disconnected Older people disregarding new technology (unnecessary, too complex) Technological innovations ignoring older people (functionality, user interface, design, marketing)

12. Why ageing people need technology innovations For supporting and extending independence For communicating with social environment\ For realising ambitions For compensating receding skills For effective care support

13. Gerontechnology: concerted action Two interwoven types of study: Ageing 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 environment for ageing people up to a high age

15. Disciplines of Gerontology Biology and Physiology Psychology and Social Psychology Sociology and Demography Medicine and Rehabilitation

16. Disciplines of Technology Architecture and Building Information and Communication Mechatronics and Robotics Industrial Design

17. 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

18. Gerontechnology interdisciplinary Research and development (R&D) of Gerontechnology is essentially interdisciplinary between any of the sciences of human aging (gerontology) and any of the sciences of technology

19. Successful ageing Healthy nutrition/diet Daily physical activity Regular mental activity Maintaining 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 Satisfaction Prevention and Engagement Compensation and Assistance Care Support and Organisation

22. Domains of daily life Health & Self-esteem Housing & Daily living Mobility & Transport Communication & Governance Work & Leisure

23. Gerontechnology Impact matrix Life Domain Health & Self- esteem Housing & Daily living Mobility & Transport Communication & Governance Work & Leisure Goal Enhancement & Satisfaction Prevention & Engagement. Compensation & Assistance Care support& Organisation

24. 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 toolsTimetablePower 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

25. 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

26. Gerontechnology: recent insights (1) Physiology: role of anti-oxydants in prevention Psychology: 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 generations Industrial Design: Inclusive Design, education

28. Gerontechnology: recent insights (3) Ageing: development process rather than aged as static category Ageing persons actors of their own lives rather than passive receivers of care and help Specific 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 prevention Distinction between ‘third age’ (independent) and ‘fourth age’(care dependent)

30. Gerontechnology: the future

31. The unknown future (1) Technology: expected innovations Ever more virtual worlds Robots for house and garden, Navigation tools for city walking Domotics (integrated solutions) Telecare, telemedicine New 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 Insights Physiology: Nutrients, disease agents Psychology: Dealing with virtual realities Social Psychology: virtual communities Sociology: New generation of ageing people (healthier, better educated, assertive, however: large spread continues) E-communication becoming the norm

33. Conclusion (1) The generations of ageing people deserve a share in technological innovations contributing to independence and quality of Life Technology 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