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Gerontechnology in Perspective Herman Bouma Emeritus Professor Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, the Netherlands E: [email protected]

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Gerontechnology in Perspective Herman Bouma Emeritus Professor Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, the Netherlands E: Heebouma@Xs4all.Nl R e v i e w Gerontechnology in perspective Herman Bouma Emeritus professor Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, the Netherlands E: [email protected] James L. Fozard School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa. FL 33612, USA E: [email protected] Don G. Bouwhuis Faculty of Technology Innovation Management Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, the Netherlands E: [email protected] Vappu Taipale October 2007, Vol 6, No 4 Director-General National R&D Centre for Welfare & Health Stakes P.O.Box 220, 00531 Helsinki, Finland E: vappu.taipale @stakes.fi 190 H.Bouma, J.L.Fozard, D.G.Bouwhuis, V.Taipale. Gerontechnology in perspective. Gerontechnology 2007; 6(4):190-216. Gerontechnology is directed at harmoniz- ing two separate developments in present society: the increasing number of older persons, called the ageing society, and the technological innovation of products and services, called the digital era. Harmonization directs technological innova- tion to the ambitions, purposes, and needs of ageing persons. The knowledge ba- sis of gerontechnology is provided by combining insights into processes of ageing individuals and ageing societies on the one hand and insights into new techno- logical options on the other. The combination constitutes the field of gerontech- nology. The present paper reviews a number of developments since the 1990s in the fields of gerontology, technology, and within the interdiscipline of gerontech- nology itself. The cross-fertilization of gerontology and technology leads to a new matrix, in which progress, insights, and methodology specific to gerontechnology can be plotted. A selection of these is made on the grounds of their relevance to gerontechnology, irrespective of their initial scientific label. The review is not specifically directed at products and services suitable for older persons, although a few are mentioned in passing. The present knowledge base in gerontechnology is ready to be utilized for harmonizing demographic and technological develop- ments. www.gerontechjournal.net Keywords: gerontology, technology, ageing, matrix, review, innovation Gerontechnology studies the interaction simultaneously, their progress is mostly of two dynamic developments in soci- uncoordinated. Until now, technology ety occurring for the first time in history has largely ignored the ageing population and in many countries: (i) the increasing whereas quite a few members of the age- preponderance of older people, due to ing population had neither the desire nor increased longevity combined with a de- the skills to make use of the many new creased birth rate, and (ii) the dynamics facilities. Nevertheless, technology and of technology, globalisation, and the rapid demography are bound to interact. Facili- spread of a multitude of new mass-prod- tation of this uneasy encounter is the core ucts. While the two developments occur of gerontechnology1-3. G6(4)Review-Bouma-v2.indd 190 18-10-2007 16:15:27 Gerontechnology Let us first focus on the ageing popula- embedded logic, globalization in direct tion. In industrial countries, average life communication, mobility, and transport. expectancy has been increasing for over a Recently, the high pace of technological century, leading to a substantial increase change has accelerated further: the inter- in the 65+ population, now standing at net and evolving communication protocols roughly 15%. Together with the decrease invite the creation of ever more sophisti- in the number of children, the percentage cated networked applications7,8, mobile will rise to about 25% in the year 20254. phones with ever more functions, digital The older population will be in far better cameras, satellite TV, and widely available health than a few generations ago: substan- navigation systems; all these emerged in tial numbers will now reach 75-80 years of the last 15 years or so. Developments in age with minor inconveniences only, no- technology exert both positive and nega- tably restrictions in mobility. Governments tive influences on the living environment have recognized the trend toward an age- and on society, and substantial effort is be- ing society, but rather than welcoming and ing directed toward increasing advantages promoting the tremendous opportunities, and reducing dangers. Whatever the ad- including those offered by new technolog- vantages or disadvantages, what is relevant ical applications, the political response is here is that the developments appear to be to concentrate on expected problems such driven by autonomous forces outside the October 2007, Vol 6, No 4 as increased pension burdens and the fi- control of national and international gov- nancing of increased care provisions. This ernments, organizations, and business. may be an unhappy after-effect of the ear- lier prevailing sentiment that equated old The core of gerontechnology is to study 191 age with frailty and withdrawal. It appears the interaction of the two developments. that this erroneous viewpoint persists de- Ageing people are studied from the view- spite the rising influence of ageing people point of their living amidst a dynamic in society in the years to come5. The reality technological society. For them, technol- is that the majority of 65+ people will be ogy is not an end in itself but a means to in good or excellent health, called ‘3rd age’, a better life. Technology is studied from and a far smaller number of older people the viewpoint of its potential to improve in moderate or frail health, called the ‘4th the life of ageing people and to facilitate age’ 6, particularly in the final years of their their participation as full citizens in their life. Demographic projections indicate that own society9-12. in industrialized as well as most industrial- izing societies, both categories will grow DEVELOPMENTS SINCE 1990 substantially for many years to come. In The subject matter of technology and age- the 75+ age category there are twice as ing has been on the research agenda for many women as men. This is relevant to quite some time. Before 1990 or so, the attitudes concerning technology innova- combined consideration of technology tions. In most non-industrialized countries and ageing focused largely on ergonomics, www.gerontechjournal.net on the other hand, young people tend to or human factors, for ageing persons and be demographically dominant. on assistive technology for people with physical restrictions13-15. This reflected the Our second focus is technology. Arguably, general feeling at that time that the aged the secular changes in industrial society and the handicapped could be viewed as over the last 150 years have been driven a single category of people dependent on by developments in technology, such as help and care. new products, new services and their in- frastructure, mass production and mass dis- From the early nineties, the scope wid- tribution, new materials and ever present ened substantially, witness the emerging G6(4)Review-Bouma-v2.indd 191 18-10-2007 16:15:27 Gerontechnology concept of successful aging16,17 and the de- chain already well established in business velopment of gerontechnology1,9,18-24. The and industry. original themes stayed in focus, but the goals were set at a higher level. The term The interdisciplinary infrastructure sub- ‘the handicapped’ was replaced by the serving the field has been extended as term: ‘people with a certain restriction’, to well, both as special compartments of indicate that it is not the particular restric- existing organizations in human factors tion that defines preferences, ambitions, and in gerontechnology itself. This is also and identity of a person, whether young reflected in the relevant handbooks27,28. or old25. As for those restrictions, we now A new journal appeared on technology want to concentrate on the extent to which and ageing29. The newly named field these can be levelled or compensated for of gerontechnology gave rise to inter- by specific technologies, just as specta- national congresses: Eindhoven 199119, cles compensate for poor eye sight, for ex- Helsinki 199621, Munich 199922, Miami ample. Ergonomics or human factors for 200230, Nagoya 200531, Pisa 2008; to ageing individuals stayed on as well, but the European projects COST A5 and the got to a higher level of development by educational GENIE project32 followed by recognizing the dynamic and widely vary- a textbook9, to the establishments of the October 2007, Vol ing6, No 4 nature of the ageing process and de- International Society of Gerontechnology veloping methodologies in which ageing in 1997, the quarterly journal Gerontech- persons played an active part. The main nology as from 2001, the gerontechnology achievement of gerontechnology and re- discussion website33, master classes since 192 lated fields such as in human engineering 2006, and many regional initiatives and was the insight that the ageing persons workshops. themselves come first and that their am- bitions and needs should define the R&D SYSTEM APPROACH AND AN IMPACT MATRIX agenda. If they wish to be independent The environment in which the young and and autonomous, let us elaborate what the old live has been immersed in technol- this means for the home environment. If ogy for well over a century. It follows that they wish to communicate, let us see what old people are quite at ease with techno- internet, the web, and the mobile phone logical commodities as such. It is the high can contribute. If they wish to travel, let pace of technological innovations that us work on easy public and private means poses difficulty to many ageing people, of transport and the entire infrastructure who have to adapt to the ever dynamic that comes with it. If they wish to learn environment. To the extent that technol- to use new technology, let us develop ef- ogy is functional to meet human purposes, fective learning methods that will enable the functional result can be portrayed as a them to do so. Technology developments systems outcome, where the system repre- will teach us the domains where innova- sents the total of the human user and his/ www.gerontechjournal.nettive products and services are entering the her technological environment (Figure 1).
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