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Defining Gerontechnology for R&D Purposes University of South Florida Scholar Commons Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Faculty Publications 2009 Defining Gerontechnology for R&D Purposes Johanna E.M.H. Bronswijk Eindhoven University of Technology Herman Bouma Eindhoven University of Technology James L. Fozard University of South Florida, [email protected] William D. Kearns University of South Florida, [email protected] Gerald C. Davison University of Southern California See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/mhs_facpub Scholar Commons Citation Bronswijk, Johanna E.M.H.; Bouma, Herman; Fozard, James L.; Kearns, William D.; Davison, Gerald C.; and Tuan, Pan-Chio, "Defining Gerontechnology for R&D Purposes" (2009). Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Faculty Publications. 31. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/mhs_facpub/31 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Authors Johanna E.M.H. Bronswijk, Herman Bouma, James L. Fozard, William D. Kearns, Gerald C. Davison, and Pan-Chio Tuan This article is available at Scholar Commons: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/mhs_facpub/31 R e v i e w Defining gerontechnology for R&D purposes Johanna E.M.H. van Bronswijk PhD Department of Architecture, Building and Planning, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands E: [email protected] Herman Bouma PhD Emeritus-professor at Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven, the Netherlands E: [email protected] James L. Fozard PhD School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33260, USA E: [email protected] William D. Kearns PhD Department of Aging and Mental Health, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA E: [email protected] Gerald C. Davison PhD Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0191, USA E: [email protected] Pan-Chio Tuan PhD Graduate School of Gerontic Technology and Service Management Nai Kai University of Technology, Nantou, Taiwan E: [email protected] J.E.M.H. van Bronswijk, H. Bouma, J.L. Fozard, W.D. Kearns, G.C. Davison, P-C. Tuan. Defining gerontechnology for R&D purposes. Gerontechnology 2009; 8(1):3-10; doi: 10.4017/gt.2009.08.01.002.00. Gerontechnology is an interdisciplinary field that links existing and developing technologies to the aspirations and needs of ag- ing and aged adults. It helps support ‘successful aging’, is organized according to the WHO definition of health, and is a response to the combination of the aging of society and rapidly emerging new technologies. Distinguishing it from other technology approaches is its focus on the total human life-span, its recognition of different technology generations, its cross-fertilization of specific technology and gerontology disciplines, its public health goals and the encompassing of all domains of human activity. An enhanced quality of life in older adults is the ulti- mate goal of gerontechnology. Keywords: technology generation, gerontology, quality of life, inclusive design Winter 2009 3 Vol. 8, No 1 G8(1)Review-Bronswijk-v4.indd 3 11-3-2009 18:48:25 Defining gerontechnology Gerontechnology is a technology domain well as sports, and (v) preferably no physical that links existing and developing technolo- restrictions as rated by a physician6. Since re- gies to the aspirations and needs of aging strictions will eventually occur, Havighurst5 and aged adults. This makes gerontechnol- postulates that old people have to adapt to ogy a key factor in social sustainability as physiological and psychological changes in it is concerned with technologically-based order to experience satisfaction in life and products, services, and environments that to age successfully. improve the functioning and quality of life1. This approach addresses all technology that AIM & METHOD is useful for daily activities of all phases of In this contribution we will further charac- the full human life span. However, we con- terize the domain of gerontechnology and sider this technology to belong to gerontech- present its essential features. The analysis we nology only if it is targeted at a high quality offer is based mainly on the development of of life of older persons. As to medical geron- the domain as shown in the ‘International tology and geriatrics, the needs have been Journal of Technology & Aging’ (1988-1992), formulated recently2. ‘Gerontechnology’ (2001-present), and the abstracts and proceedings of the inter- One of the consequences of effective geron- national gerontechnology conferences in technology is a major reduction in morbid- Eindhoven (1991), Helsinki (1996), Munich ity from chronic conditions since geron- (1999), Miami (2002), Nagoya (2005) and technology interventions can remove the Pisa (2008)7-10. determinants of such conditions from cra- dle to grave, or can decrease their effects. HISTORY Think of coaching-services for a suitable Gerontechnology began in the 1990s as a life style, or optimal indoor environmental response to two separate 20th century trends control to prevent allergies and hypersensi- that are continuing into the 21st century. tivities. In this way the building, civil, sani- First is the relative and absolute increase tary, mechanical, electrical and agriculture in the older segment of society. Second is engineer, as well as the designer of assistive a man-made technological environment technologies of the early 21st century, will that is changing fast, especially in the com- inevitably become a gerontechnologist, a munication domain. Significant engineered major morbidity fighter for the older seg- products since about 1990 include the in- ment of the population, to complement the ternet, e-mail, search engines on the web, successes of the early 20th century engineer, mobile phones, GPS (Global Positioning who protected the young against the ravag- System) and navigation tools, digital camer- ing effects of infant and child mortality due as, e-games, robots, menu-driven washing to infections. For the Dutch situation medi- machines, and other systems, services and cal researchers calculated that medical care products to make life easier and work more contributed at the most to only 20% of the efficient, and to improve social, mental and decrease in mortality in the 20th century3. physical well-being. Gerontechnology’s ultimate goal is the im- Gerontechnology does not pursue a com- plementation of ‘successful aging’4,5, which pletely new goal or approach. The 1946 In- includes (i) a sustained good subjective ternational Health Conference of the United health assessment, (ii) continued good men- Nations approved the preamble of the Con- tal health, (iii) social support, (iv) self-rated stitution of the World Health Organization life satisfaction in eight domains, including: of 1948 that stated: ‘’Health is a state of com- income-related work, children, friendship plete physical, mental and social well-being and social contacts, hobbies, community and not merely the absence of disease or in- service activities, religion and recreation as firmity. The enjoyment of the highest attain- Winter 2009 4 Vol. 8, No 1 G8(1)Review-Bronswijk-v4.indd 4 11-3-2009 18:48:25 Defining gerontechnology able standard of health is one of the funda- (ii) systematically evaluate technology’s age- mental rights of every human being without specific goals for health, housing, transpor- distinction of race, religion, political belief, tation, communication and work and leisure, economic or social condition”11. It is this (iii) study how to utilize the motivating prop- high standard of social, mental and physical erties of technology, and (iv) address policy health of aged persons that gerontechnolo- issues related to technology applications, gy tries to realize. In a later document WHO such as ethics and public financing14. Dif- identified investment in people’s health and ferent professional groups have addressed their environment as a prerequisite for sus- age differences in the use of technology. tainable development12. To reach complete The American Human Factors and Ergo- health an individual or a group must be able nomics Society created a technical inter- to (i) identify aspirations, (ii) realize aspira- est group for aging in 197915. Architectural tions, (iii) satisfy needs, and (iv) change or groups and industrial designers developed cope with their environment13. Gerontech- the concept of Universal Design or Inclusive nology is a major means to achieve sustain- Design from the late 80s on16-18. Finally in able development and social sustainability. the 1990s scientists of various disciplines established an interdisciplinary field called In the 1970s, engineers, industrial designers gerontechnology19. and gerontologists recognized the need for a conceptual framework targeting people of A SYSTEMS APPROACH different ages and generations in order to (i) People and their environments are to be involve them in the planning, development, treated as a system to better predict the re- distribution and dispersion of technology, sults of technological interventions. Changes Table 1.
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