“Gerontechnology: A Class on Aging with Technology”
1
Proposal for a course of instruction in Gerontechnology within the
University of North Texas Gerontology Program:
“Gerontechnology: A Class on Aging with Technology”
David E. Comeau, A.A.S., B.A.A.S.
University of North Texas - School of Community Service
Center for Studies in Aging - Department of Applied Gerontology
Capstone: Proseminar on Applications in Practice
AGER5940 - Spring, 2005
Instructor: Susan Brown Eve, Ph.D., Professor of Applied Gerontology & Sociology
Capstone Faculty Mentor: Stanley R. Ingman, Ph.D., Professor of Gerontology
Master’s Degree Advisor: Keith W. Turner, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Gerontology
Capstone: David E. Comeau / AGER-5940, Spring, 2005
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Table of Contents
I.
ABSTRACT…..3
II.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM…...4
III.
GOALS OF THE PROJECT…..8
IV.
REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE…..9
V.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM…..20
- Target population:……………………..…..29
- The Program…………………………….…29
- Expected effects of the program:………....30
VI.
PROCESS EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM…..31
VII.
OUTCOME EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM...32
- Timeline ……………………………….…...32
- Budget ……….………………………….….33
VIII.
CONCLUSIONS…..35
IX.
REFERENCES …..38
Appendix A: Definition of Terms - Glossary p.41
Appendix B: RE: Human Subjects p.49
Appendix C: Capstone-Project-related-books p.50
Appendix D: Capstone Link Farm p.53
Appendix E: Case Studies p.57
Appendix F: Powerpoint Presentation p.63
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I. Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to propose a course of instruction in Gerontechnology within
the University of North Texas Gerontology Program. Research shows there is a gap separating
young designers and older users of products and services. Gerontechnology can bridge a
generational technological design/interface gap. Gerontechnology, where technology meets
gerontology, presents an interface of our future of meeting the needs and wants of our aging
population through technology.
Capstone: David E. Comeau / AGER-5940, Spring, 2005
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II. Statement of the problem
Research shows there is a gap separating young designers and older users of products and
services. A review of the literature informs us that gerontechnology can bridge a generational
technological design/interface gap (Bouma, 1999). This is accomplished by offering solutions to
problems affecting the overall quality of life and management of resources in all relevant life
domains of older people, including access to work, health, home and community health, safety,
security, mobility, communication, education, recreation, rehabilitation and caregiver support.
Gerontechnological solutions are, in their essence, interoperable, and adaptable to individuals
and situations including cultural distinctions and applications.
A bottom line assessment of many of the problems facing our aging population is
addressed by gerontechnology which is rooted in the demographics of our aging population, and
our society’s ability to meet their needs and wants. Gerontechnology provides a way to apply
gerontological theory and research to practice in every area of product and service delivery
design and manufacture which may lead us to a more productive, independent, healthier and
happier life course (Rietsema, 1998). Gerontechnology, where technology meets gerontology,
provides an interface of our future of meeting the needs and wants of our aging population
through technology. Gerontechnology is an emerging, multidisciplinary, and interdisciplinary
field. Engineers, architects, designers, communication and computer science professionals,
health practitioners, and many other areas, are targets for knowledge of gerontechnology.
Gerontechnology, and technologies like telemedicine, smart homes, personal area
networks and nanotechnology, are means to reduce, eliminate or mitigate most of the problems
facing our aging population all over the world, including reliance on nursing homes and the
perceived need for many hospitalizations of the elderly and disabled. This activity can increase
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the effectiveness and quality of caregiving in the home of choice of the elderly requiring various
levels of care at home, or in the workplace.
Demographic shifts and market forces are creating a need for gerontologist to reach out to
other disciplines seeking to serve the aging population with technological products and services
that meet their needs and wants. Some of the specifics relevant to research and education in
Gerontechnology include: The workplace, the home and independent living, health care and
home health care, and caregiver support.
This is a sampling of the interest/problem solving areas in Gerontechnology.
o The workplace: The proportion of older workers is increasing, along with the
importance of accessible and assistive technology solutions (Microsoft
Corporation [1] 2005). According to U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor
Statistics data, 20% of workers will be 55 years old or older by the year 2012,
compared with 14% in 2002 (Toossie, 2004). Technology can help older workers
stay employed longer by maintaining or upgrading skills, and applying adaptive
and assistive technology to meet job challenges due to an aging body and mind.
Technology can also help older workers in transition to retirement (Czaja, Moen,
2004). Accessible technology helps workers adapt their environment to meet
specific needs; employees of all ages and abilities can thus realize their full
potential (Mosner, 2003).
o The home and independent living: Smart homes incorporating low-cost
communication and monitoring technology, and user-centered design and
remodeling housing to fit the life-span can maintain a senior’s independence and
enhance access to the community. Simple application of positive research in
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areas such as fall prevention, cueing, design, and communication can significantly
reduce institutionalization and enhance quality of life.
o Health care and home health care: Advances in health care and home health care
technologies including Telemedicine applications are happening as fast as we can
write about them. It is not an understatement to write that the technological
revolution in health care will influence the need for out of home and community
normal health care. We are now to the point where we can eliminate nursing
homes and place those patients that need it into a pure hospital setting, setting the
rest of the people free to live in assisted living facilities or at home.
o Caregiver support: Caregivers are in need of much support, to care for the elderly
as well as free up time to work and play. Technology provides monitoring and
cueing, Assistive aids, and adapts environments to meet user needs.
Some of the learning research areas include:

Assistive and adaptive technologies,

Universal and User-Centered Design,

Information and Communication,

Health monitoring and Home health care, and

Emerging technologies (Telemedicine, Nanotechnology, Personal
Networks, etc.)
Within a decade, 1 in 3 households are expected to have at least one family member with
a cognitive decline. At the same time, there will be a severe dip in the labor pool of people
willing to work as caregivers. Caregiver support, Smart Homes, Health monitoring and Cueing,
Universal Design, Assistive and Adaptive Technology, Accessibility issues and Telehealth are
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among the teaching area modules proposed for this class, all these areas intersect at providing the
best Independent living options for the elderly. Other topics include lifelong working, lifelong
learning, engineering, electronics, design, cognitive psychology, pharmacy related technologies,
communications, computer technology, nanotechnology, privacy, including HIPPA, and federal,
state and local policy and relevant laws.
Gerontology programs across the USA and around the world are embracing
Gerontechnology to better prepare their students in service to the elderly. Gerontology programs
that include Gerontechnology also involve other disciplines in learning about the needs, wants,
and abilities of the elderly, based on the theory and practice knowledge base of Gerontology.
Capstone: David E. Comeau / AGER-5940, Spring, 2005
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III. Goals of the project
1.
Develop a course of instruction in Gerontechnology to serve the Gerontology
curriculum of the University. Specifically, an online class or seminar with a name like, "Intro to
Gerontechnology: Aging with Technology." The online course will make full use of UNT’s
multimedia capabilities including streaming and on-demand video, live interactive discussion,
virtual tours of technology projects and videotaped guest speakers.
2.
Expose (Market) the new course to other university disciplines (Examples include
Anthropology, Communications, Economics, Engineering, Nursing, Occupational Therapy,
Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and etcetera.) for Undergraduate, Graduate and
Doctoral students who can benefit from the course and better serve the interest of the elderly
within their respective disciplines.
3.
Provide a means of introduction to gerontology to non-gerontology students who
may be interested in the technological applications associated with gerontechnology, while
providing technological tools and information to current and future Gerontology students.
4.
Review and catalog current products and projects of technology applications that
serve or can serve the elderly.
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IV. Review of the literature
Gerontechnology combines Aging with Technology and is descriptive of a new field of
research and learning which is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary technology oriented study
based on Gerontology (Bouma, Fozard, Harrington and Koster, 2000) Gerontechnology is a
descriptive name of a discipline that could easily be known as Gerotechnology, Aging and
Technology, Technology and Aging, or Technoaging.
Gerontechnology, as an extension of Gerontology, utilizes and depends on the knowledge
base of this discipline (Rietsema, 1998). One function of Gerontechnology is that it can serve as
a working chaotic nexus, a complex grid, overlaid, atop, beneath, around or intertwined with and
serving the Gerontology field in service to the aging population, using, creating, proposing and
researching technological solutions satisfying the needs and wants of the elderly (Bouma, 1997).
What is Gerontechnology, where did it come from, where is it going, who needs it and why study
anything about it now or in the future?
Gerontechnology is a consumer driven field that serves to bridge the gap between theory
and practice (Bouma, 1999). Founded in the Netherlands from 1989 to 1991, in 1994 the
Institute of Gerontechnology was established. The Second Conference of Gerontechnology held
in Helsinki in 1996 is credited by Prof. Dr. Richard Pieper, University of Bamberg, Germany, as
the birthplace of Gerontechnology as a "new discipline" serving aging and technology and also
marking the internationalization of Gerontechnology, with the formation of The International
Society for Gerontechnology (Pieper, 1999). The World Health Organization in the activities of
the United Nations “Year of Older Persons” supported the Third international conference of
Gerontechnology, held in Munich in 1999. The 2002 Fourth international conference of
Gerontechnology, held in Miami, was a success. There were representatives from Brazil,
Capstone: David E. Comeau / AGER-5940, Spring, 2005
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Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, South
Africa, Spain, Sweden, and 20 of the United States. Some of the topics discussed in the 2002
Miami meeting included Life-long Learning, Technology-Based Caregiver Intervention,
Mobility and Safety, The Older Worker, Assistive Technology for Older Users and Smart Home
Technology. The 2002 conference sponsors included the Human Factors and Ergonomics
Society, the Herman Bouma Foundation for Gerontechnology, notable among the sponsors were
the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Center for Research and Education on Aging and
Technology Enhancement (CREATE), which is funded partly by the National Institute on Aging,
part of the National Institutes of Health.
Regarding the future, as interest in Gerontechnology increases, it must be noted that
applied technologies are mostly consumer driven, the mother of invention and all. The future
direction of Gerontechnology is dependant on the consumer, including societal values and
priorities, public policy and legal barriers like privacy issues. Indeed, the very word
Gerontechnology can and probably will change, however, technology applied to the elderly will
never change as long as there are elderly and as long as there is technology.
Fozard, Rietsema, Bouma, Graafmans, (2000) describe some of the activities contributing
to the development of gerontechnology including a consumer-centered technological
infrastructure invested in the development and distribution of technology, knowledge transfer
and education, and the creation of professional organizations and publications. Consumer
centered means user centered and the impact of this means a fundamental shift in the way we
design and market products and services suggesting, “a salon rather than warehouse approach to
marketing may be more useful to older consumers trying to select technological products. Sales
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representative need to perform more of a counseling and teaching function than is usual.”
(Fozard, Rietsema, Bouma, Graafmans, 2000).
Describing what gerontechnology can do, Graafmans and Taipale (1998) suggest
technology can help prevent problems, enhance personal ability throughout our ever-changing
life course, and compensate for ability lost due to changes caused by age and sickness. We can
also enhance our ability to provide care, and influence research that includes technology in the
lives of the elderly. “These five things we call ‘Gerontechnology’s Five Ways’” (Graafmans
and Taipale, 1998).
Prof. Dr. Richard Pieper, University of Bamberg, Germany described three paradigms of
gerontechnology research (Pieper, 1999).
One: “Age as a life phase of increasing impairments, disabilities and diseases. More
recently, a perspective of public health is adopted.”
Two: "The paradigm of a barrier-free environment and design for all. ... Stressing the
importance of accessibility and social participation as a human right for all."
Three: "In the third paradigm, the elderly are seen as a sociocultural and socioeconomic
group of their own in society, they have evolved as a distinct age group (like the
children and youth culture before them) only recently in our society - at last in a
historical and socio-economic perspective.” (Pieper, 1999)
In paradigm one, technological goods and services flow from the young; abounding in
technology (Bouma, 1999), to the elderly disabled, as a way to mitigate cost of time and
resources for elderly care by the young. Paradigm one is like a compensation model which on
one hand makes use of developing technology while responding to acute care crises, but on the
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other hand serves only disabled elderly, ignoring the needs and wants of the majority normal
elderly, whose needs and wants should not be equated with those of the disabled.
Paradigm two, while promising and effective, but one which is not all encompassing, in
service to the elderly, there are many more dimensions. According to information from the The
Center for Universal Design, the barrier free movement in the 1950s led to universal design.
Universal Design allows people with disabilities to participate more fully in society. While
relying on Universal Design assumes a need for equality of young and old, often in areas in
which there will never be equality, universal design should be taught and learned in any
gerontechnology course. Universal design has deep societal roots and much to offer present and
future.
Paradigm three serves and supports the elderly in all their living choices, independent
living, active or not, it serves the individual and helps fulfill the needs and wants of that
individual, as a consumer. The ideal paradigm, is as practical as paradigm two, but relies more
on our laissez-faire, for-profit yet charity-minded, economic system with a not so appealing
record of accomplishment as the law-driven movement to universal design. The strength of
paradigm three is that it takes account of the needs and wants of healthy elderly and disabled
elderly on an individual level made possible by past, present, and future technological
applications.
Another reason gerontologists need to be more involved in the area of technology and
aging is to inform the designers (Bouma, 1997) and apply research to technological applications
(Östlund, 2003).
Lawton (1998) models the five uses of gerontechnology (see Fig. 1.) with a noticeable
stick figure of a consumer/user at the center. Lawton (p. 16, 1998) states that design expertise
Capstone: David E. Comeau / AGER-5940, Spring, 2005
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should be directed as much toward the enhancement of people’s potential and their enjoyment of
life just as much as toward compensation for functional deficits. Lawton also notes that all
people are future consumers of gerontechnology.
Figure 1: Five Uses of Gerontechnology
A barrier to more adoption of technology uses for the aging around the world is Lag;
described by Lawton (1998) as having two forms, Individual lag and Social-structural lag as well
as a third point of reference that is Lag equals none or “No lag.” The Individual and Socialstructural lags, caused by or because of the individual and or society/environment respectively,
represent the difference between the needs of the individual and the resources available to meet
them, technologically, including the ability and willingness of producers to meet the need. When
there is no lag, there is what Lawton calls person-environment congruence, and no need for a
gerontologist or gerontechnology. Lawton states forcefully why gerontechnology must pursue
Capstone: David E. Comeau / AGER-5940, Spring, 2005
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both forms of Lag, “The goal is to undermine the factors in society that fail to address individual
lag and that support social-structural lag” (p. 22, Lawton, 1998).
In areas Lawton calls domains of well-being most gerontologist recognize like health,
economics, employment and cognitive activity that also include the dimensions of function and
fun in connection with a position on an individual lag to social structural lag continuum, all in
connection with gerontechnology (p. 17, Lawton, 1998). Lawton’s function and fun dimensions
follow the enhancement and compensation boxes in his model of the Five Uses of
Gerontechnology, seen in figure one.
In the preface the first textbook in gerontechnology, Harrington and Harrington (2000)
state three concepts important to gerontechnology:
First: “The dynamics of society is driven by technological developments, in particular
related to information and communication technology. If older people are to remain
integrated into society, technology should explicitly be directed to the fast growing
segment of independent older citizens.”
Second: “Age-associated differences in ambitions and in functioning of men and women
can be met by improvements in the technological environment. Suitable information and
communication tools can for example serve an ambition. A task that may seem very
difficult to an older person in one situation may be easier to accomplish with suitable
environmental modifications. The very idea of age grading of ambitions and of abilities
cannot be considered independently of the technological environment.”
Third: “Older citizens should remain in control of their technological environment i.e.
they should be enabled to decide what they want to be done automatically or by robots.
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This refers to the concept of the user interface between older users and useful
technology.” (Harrington and Harrington, 2000).
Schools and organizations involved with or dedicated to gerontechnology are
increasing in numbers and influence throughout the world. It is a pleasure to report much
increased activity in the United States, in a number of disciplines, under a variety of names
for programs, but all serving the goals of Gerontechnology. U. S. Government agencies
funding has increased in many areas beyond health and telemedicine.
The Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST), the American Association of
Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) technology initiative, “Is a catalyst for innovation
and new technologies in aging services. A clearinghouse of information about emerging
technologies in aging services.” With content that, “Is submitted and regularly updated by
technologists, researchers, and aging service providers” (Center for Aging Services
Technologies [CAST] 2005).
In a 2003 White Paper report, one of the first CAST documents, titled, Progress and
Possibilities State of Technology and Aging Services, invites all to imagine a societal
transformation that will revolutionize our society in terms of the aging, even transforming it from
one serving up safety-net solutions to one that is proactively efficient. Suggesting the
collaboration of, technology companies, aging service providers, university researchers,
government representatives, and business interests has the potential, “To revolutionize the way
we care for our aging population.” CAST "Envisions technology solutions that will make aging
services more efficient, effective, wellness-oriented, and consumer-friendly” (CAST, 2003).
The National Academy of Sciences 2003 report Technology for Adaptive Aging
Executive Summary recommends support for collaboration between universities and industry,
Capstone: David E. Comeau / AGER-5940, Spring, 2005
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and suggest the National Institute on Aging support a multidisciplinary focus, to, “Ensure
development of technologies truly useful to the aging population.” (Pew, Van Hemel, 2004).
The Center for Research & Education on Aging & Technology Enhancement (CREATE)
funded by the National Institutes of Health, through the National Institute on Aging. CREATE is
a consortium of three universities: The University of Miami, Florida State University and
Georgia Institute of Technology. “This collaborative program includes three projects and a
student research program. Each of the three research sites is conducting separate projects that
focus on complementary aspects of human interaction with technology. The intent is to integrate
the expertise of the three groups into a cohesive program for enhancing the ability of older
people to use technologies” (Center For Research & Education on Aging & Technology
Enhancement [CREATE] 2005).
Universal Design is a major player in gerontechnology. The Center for Universal Design
statement understates its importance that it, “Is a national research, information, and technical
assistance center that evaluates, develops, and promotes universal design in housing, public and
commercial facilities, and related products” (Center for Universal Design 2005).
The first international scientific journal devoted to the domain of Gerontechnology
comes from the International Society for Gerontechnology, the ISG. The ISG’s Fifth
International Conference is set to occur in May 2005 in Japan (International Society for
Gerontechnology [ISG] 2005). The ISG has taken over the work of the Gerontechnology
Education Network in Europe, GENIE, in which over 40 European universities collaborated to
develop and harmonize their curriculum in Gerontechnology. GENIE, funded by the European
Commission, will continue as a standing committee of the International Society for
Gerontechnology. The three-year GENIE project, completed in 2001, left behind a network of
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educators and technologist resources spanning the globe in countries that include Japan and the
United States along with interest within the European Union (Gerontechnology Education
Network In Europe, [GENIE] 2005).
According to information found on the Gerontological Society of America Technology
and Aging, GSA-TAG, Website at http://www.gsa-tag.org/, The Gerontological Society of
America (GSA) designated the interest group Technology and Aging (TAG), formed in 1987 by
Dr. Gari Lesnoff-Caravaglia, as one of the Society's Formal interest groups in 1989. GSA-TAG
has as a mission statement, "Technology and Aging investigates possibilities for applying the
results of rapid advances in technology to better the lifestyles of the growing number of older
persons in a world-wide society." TAG has been active at GSA conventions, mostly holding
workshops on technology. At the next GSA Convention (2005 in New Orleans, LA) TAG
members will concentrate on the interdisciplinary theme of Technology and Aging called “The
Interdisciplinary Mandate.”
The GSA-TAG members are united in ideas but rely on list-serves and e-mails to
communicate. The GSA-TAG Webmaster reported in an e-mail discussion that his duties at his
university are demanding and maintaining the Website is burdensome. Projects, discussion
papers, and updated information are all difficult to get via this group. Group members are
mostly of professionals very busy in their respected domains, but from monitoring of the group’s
list-serve over the past year. I conclude they are dedicated to learning more about applications in
technology and aging and they may be better served seeking information and membership in the
International Society of Gerontechnology (ISG) or The Center for Aging Services Technologies
(CAST) or The Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement
(CREATE).
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Times are changing. The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, AGHE,
annual meeting titled “Careers in Aging” (31st Annual Meeting, February 24–27, 2005 in
Oklahoma City, OK) program brochure states,
We started in very traditional ways: training students to be researchers or
faculty, preparing social workers to assist older clients, teaching nurses
about older patients. Some of us are still offering many of the same
programs in many of the same ways. Yet, the demographic imperative of
aging is looming over us, and not all of our programs or all of our students
are prepared to meet it.
The program flyer goes on to state that,
The people providing hands-on care will be in the greatest demand yet
many of our resources go toward training researchers and future faculty.
Whom should we be training? Moreover, how will higher education, and
particularly universities, need to change to train the workforce of the
future?
Any organization should consider this good question on an ongoing basis. To expand on
the question may be helpful. What can we do and how can we do it and who are we going to do
it to, and why?
Technological solutions that serve to meet the needs and wants of the elderly are of great
interest to many researchers representing many disciplines, and work seems to be progressing
rapidly, but many are also noting barriers and potential barriers to these solutions showing up in
the marketplace. (Pew, Van Hemel, 2004) One important potential barrier is user acceptance,
best overcome by involving the user in each step of the design process. The people who study
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the users, including and especially gerontologists, should also be involved in each step of the
design process (Bouma, 1997). The ever-increasing numbers of seniors living longer and
healthier lives, nationally and internationally, and the need for individual life-long independence
and right to dignity, and our increasing ability to adapt to or reduce disability in elderly people
has created and fueled this new and expanding interest technological applications (Coulson,
2000).
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V. Description of the program
Gerontology is the multi-disciplinary study of aspects of aging that encompasses the
biological, psychological, sociological, health, economic, and applied research and analysis in
gerontology, including social policy, program development, and service delivery. Applied
Gerontology includes the identification, development, provision, and evaluation of products and
services responsive to the special needs of older people. A specialist in gerontology is a
gerontologist. Gerontologists are devoted to the health, safety, happiness, and well being of our
aging population. Gerontechnology is applying technology to aging based on a knowledge base
provided by Gerontological theory and practice.
Figure 2: Conceptual Model for a Course in Gerontechnology
The conceptual model for a course in gerontechnology, constructed with a
multidisciplinary and consumer directed soul, in a project oriented Block and Module format
(Rietsema, 1998), is a good beginning framework. It is adaptable to a variety of audience types,
flexible enough for a fast moving course, is easily adaptable to an online course framework, and
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is easier to update and keep up to date. While the number of blocks - four to start with - are
limited, the number of modules seems unlimited, and we could and should build between 10 and
20 to begin with. Over time, we will build up an inventory of teaching blocks with modules
relevant to both academic and industry goals. Gerontechnology applies to many areas requiring
study, the class, at least in its infancy, would be best served to focus on the major areas most
applicable in service to the elderly, now and near future.
Blocks build knowledge about gerontechnology one upon the next. Four Blocks are
suggested by Rietsema et al., 1994 and Rietsema et al., 1995 as cited by Rietsema (1998) in a
description of the design for the educational program on Gerontechnology at Eindhoven
University of Technology (TUE) started in 1994, and for a design for international courses
proposed by the Institute for Gerontechnology that began in 1993. The Blocks, as described by
Rietsema (1998) include:
Block 1: Basic concepts, describe elements of gerontechnology, history
and definitions, theoretical foundation, and objectives of
Gerontechnology.
Block 2: The people gerontechnology serves, their needs, interest,
abilities.
Block 3: Technology, what it is and what it can do for the elderly, and
what it cannot do, and why, and how. Block 3 includes
communication, transportation, work, housing, robotics, and
automation.
Block 4: Macro-Gerontechnology, including ethics, economics,
assessment and what user-centered or “consumer-oriented
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technology” means in gerontechnology. “The overall picture is
that there is a large, latent market for such technology and for
service providers who base their development on the real, every
day needs of seniors.” (Elderly People and Design Program, 2005)
Modules fit into one or more blocks. Modules include background information and
‘Cases” from real life. Project oriented class design will force students to collaborate, research
and report. As opposed to problem-based, project based methods are real life oriented and
suitable for a multidisciplinary course in Gerontechnology (Rietsema 1998).
Due to the need to control the size of this paper, but still offer a representation of the
proposal, five of these modularized areas are presented in this paper. At this time, in this paper,
modules are not assigned to blocks, needing a committee review. Keeping in mind that each of
these areas is worthy of a class by themselves, the Modules would fit into one or more of the
blocks. An appropriate amount of class time would be devoted to each. I feel compelled to note
here that this writer is somewhat biased towards certain topics, likely those most familiar, weaker
areas include the engineering, medical and psychology areas, which are just as important as
topics in Gerontechnology and Gerontology as any other.
Description of the five Modules described in this paper:
 Module 1: Introduction to Gerontechnology
 Module 2: Universal and Accessible Design
 Module 3: Assistive, Adaptive and Accessible Technology
 Module 4: Telehealth
 Module 5: Smart Homes
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Module 1: Introduction to Gerontechnology
Introduction to Gerontechnology, what it is why it is and what to do with it. Using
historical readings in the history of Gerontechnology as a beginning and moving rapidly to
current literature available in virtual formats, this module should have at least three versions, A,
B and C, adapted to professional, non-professional and technical audiences. This may also be a
great unit to introduce sensitivity training like proposed in Tenesha’s 2005 Capstone project
“Senior Sensitivity Training Program.” Senior sensitivity training encumbers those needing to
learn about conditions experienced by the elderly with devices that limit vision, hearing and
ability to touch and grasp objects, et cetera, to help us better understand the effects of aging and
disability.
One tool available for teaching this module is as accessible as the PBS (Public
Broadcasting Service) hosted Website called Freedom Machines. Freedom Machines "wants to
redefine society's traditional views of disability.” Stating, "Universal design and AT (Assistive
Technology) in the past have been stereotyped as concepts that only pertain to the disabled."
The Website contains content answering the question, "What is Assistive Technology?"
Common assistive technology products and devices are described and pictured. The seven
principles and goals of universal design and the Rehabilitation Act's Section 508 standards for
website accessibility are presented.
Module 2: Universal and Accessible Design
According to the Trace Research & Development Center (TRACE), Universal Design is
a “concept of customization in the sense that it specifies design requirements that allow
adjustment of information presentation and response modes to accommodate those with differing
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abilities and preferences.” (Pew, Van Hemel 2004). According to Universal Design Education
Online, (2005) teaching and learning Website, Universal design, "is an approach to the design of
all products and environments to be as usable as possible by as many people as possible
regardless of age, ability, or situation."
The Universal Design Education Online (2005) Website offers:
o Instructional materials including, course syllabi, course projects, units, lectures, sample
assignments, workshops, seminars, and evaluation methods.
o Content resources include computer renderings and photographs of excellent examples
of universal design.
o Full text of classic universal design writings.
o An annotated bibliography of other available materials, and
o Links to relevant resources from all over the world.
It may be helpful to review some laws relevant to Universal Design, they include:

The Architectural Barriers Act of 1968

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

The Education for Handicapped Children Act of 1975

The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)

The Telecommunications Act of 1996
Module 3: Assistive, Adaptive and Accessible Technology
As defined in Public Law 100-407, an Assistive Technology Device is "any item, piece
of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off-the-shelf, modified, or
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customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals
with disabilities” (Project AGE, 2005).
Memory aids represent just one area of assistive technology design requiring study. As
the number of the elderly increase, the number of the elderly experiencing cognitive/functional
disabilities rise. Coupled with the increasing shortage of trained workers providing care, and the
increasing demand on family caregivers and their diminishing ability to meet that demand,
memory aids can effectively and economically decrease hospitalizations caused by missed
medication times, or taking the wrong medication. In many other ways, memory aids, properly
used, can delay the need for institutionalization and increase the quality of life. (CohenMansfield, Creedon, Malone, Kirkpatrick, Dutra, Herman, 2005). The assistive technology
needs of the elderly are required study for gerontologist.
Accessible technology includes such areas of Website design, closed captioning, talking
text browsers, for example. The Disabled use Accessible technology to cross and overcome
design barriers and disabilities. The extra wide wheelchair sized automatic pushbutton door is
accessible technology, along with the adaptable technology of the wheelchair ramp; barriers to
entering a building are removed. According to Microsoft (2005), Accessible Technology can
help aging workers retain high productivity, and thus has the potential to deflect the current
doom and gloom trend in the dependency ratio by addressing the need for more experienced
workers.
The National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification
(NRCSHHM) at the Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center at the University of Southern
California supports a resource Website called Homemods.org. The Center's mission, according
to the Website,
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…Is to make supportive housing and home modification an integral
component of successful aging, long-term care, preventive health, and the
development of elder-friendly communities. The Center offers a vision
for the future as well as practical strategies and materials for
policymakers, practitioners, consumers, manufacturers, suppliers, and
researchers.
The University of Southern California National Resource Center on Supportive Housing
and Home Modification offers a Safety Checklist and Assessment Instrument, resources for the
Safety Assessment of the Home, Home Modifications for Caregivers, Products, and a virtual
library with “Up-to-date information on all your health, home modification and consumer
needs.”
Universal design is now being recognized by the public as a concept that is for people of
all abilities. Lack of funding, policies, and public awareness are some of the issues discussed
that are hindering access to this technology.
This area is very important to gerontechnology and our economy as well.
Module 4: Telehealth
Module 4: We all want to reduce healthcare cost and increase healthcare productivity.
We all want to ensure and increase access to the "medically-underserved" areas and populations.
It is time for Gerontologist to be involved in the planning for the future applications of
Telemedicine which undoubtedly will involve senior health care in the very near future, not just
for profit, but as a practical alternative to a practice outdated.
According to the report, "Innovation, Demand and Investment in Telehealth" Telehealth,
Telemedicine, E-Health (whatever the name) sustainability investments depend on a positive
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cash flow like reported by only a few types of economic models including, teleradiology
services, mental health services, telepathology, teledermatology and some home healthcare
agencies. Like most things American, sustainability equals profit or profit equals sustainability.
Telehealth is a practical response to converging technologies that reduce cost and increase
productivity, and currently serving populations outside our normal healthcare system, in places
like Space Via NASA, remote battlefields Via Department of Defense and remote location
captured populations, for whom public funding for healthcare is always lacking, notably prisons,
schools, reservations, and "closed systems” like the Veterans Administration. (Brantley, LaneyCummings, Spivack 2004).
Now, telemedicine progress depends on its ability to be less costly and more
"sustainable" than current healthcare models without it, yet, rural healthcare and other future
captured populations like homebound seniors and assisted living facilities need access as well.
A 90-tear-old person in pain should not have to drive to the doctor to check to see if it is
OK for him to drive to the doctor when this chore could just as easily be accomplished via a
telehealth link. There is a savings in transportation, and emergency services if an accident
occurred but the profit of the transaction would be measured better by the fact that a telehealth
visit is preferred over the 90-year-old actually driving to Dallas, to learn if it's OK to continue
driving, even without all the what-ifs. Expanding telehealth options to seniors is an essential
element to the sustainability of the senior and that should take precedence over sustainability, as
profit, in other words, the senior's health security and happiness, is the profit we should be
reaping. This is why I believe it is so important for advocates of seniors (now and future)
especially gerontological and geriatric professionals to understand and be involved with this
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area, Tele-"everything" because dealing with "gaps" and barriers to access are what we can do
best, as educated advocates.
The report "Innovation, Demand and Investment in Telehealth" (Ch 2 p 22) identifies
barriers to innovation “that have impeded its potential." These barriers deny access to quality
and economical healthcare to many users and potential users and limit many healthcare
providers’ ability to meet their needs. (Brantley, Laney-Cummings, Spivack 2004). In home
health care, studies show no difference in quality of health care separating in-person and
telehealth care in all areas the two compete, further the telehealth option is higher in efficiency faster service, fewer mistakes - and is substantially more economical to both provider and
consumer. (Johnston, Wheeler, Deuser, Sousa, 2000)
Module 5: Smart Homes:
Module 5: Independent living advocates say, "There’s no place like home." “Age-smart
building” and retrofitting homes to maintain independent living and enhanced quality of life are
activities worthy of study requiring an understanding that success is dependant upon an
knowledge of the aging process, what the needs and preferences of the elderly are, and may be,
as well as being well-informed about current research and best practices that serve the interest of
an aging population.
Intelligent infrastructure systems research is an important area of gerontechnology,
especially in Smart Home development and generally to enhance the ability of the elderly to live
independently. An Intelligent Infrastructure System feedback that results in local automated
response is relevant and useful information to users.
The Foresight Intelligent Infrastructure Systems Project Website (2005), their project
began in September 2004, "To explore the implications of Science & Technology for future
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patterns of movement of people, information, goods and utilities." The project deals with
cognitive systems and explores areas that include systems modeling, control strategies, selfhealing networks, autonomous agents, and sensor technologies.
At the Purdue University College of Engineering, intelligent infrastructure systems
research extends to environmental, transportation and structural systems in one of its new
"signature" areas. A visit to https://engineering.purdue.edu/Engr/Signature/IIS/ reveals that
Perdue is investing $150 million to these areas, an additional $400 million compliments the
program, including the 2005 completion of building three of the five proposed new structures on
40-acres to handle the work along with 75 new tenure-track faculty positions. Note that Perdue
University is home to the Birck Nanotechnology Center. Gerontologist need to watch as Perdue
University takes a leadership role in areas that serve the elderly with technology. All this
intelligent infrastructure systems research is significant to the machine/human cognitive systems
that could greatly aid the elderly in independent living.
Target population:
Gerontology students, current, future, and potential. Students in any other disciplines
involved with or who otherwise should be involved in service to the elderly for now and in the
future. Non-Academic professionals involved in the design and or building of anything needed
or desired by the elderly, including, Health, Housing, Workplace, Transportation, and Public
Policy.
The Program:
An online media rich multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary program or set of classes in
Gerontechnology with a design of basic objective learning area Blocks containing specific
Modules of Project-Based instruction and actionable research from case studies. Some
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successful interventions by students and professionals are listed in “Case Studies” in Appendix 5.
There are, now, a good number of Gerontechnology related books, listed in Appendix 3,
“Capstone-Project-related-books,” which serve as valuable resources for classroom applications.
There are also many online resources, listed in “Link farm,” Appendix 4.
Expected effects of the program:

Students will learn about aging and how technology can be used to positively
effect the life course to enhance and promote independent living as long as
possible, and mitigate negative effects of caregiving on individuals and society by
promotion of user centered design, education and use technology to meet
demands and needs of consumers.

More non-gerontology students will learn about the elderly and gerontology.

Gerontologist will be most up to date on ways to affect societal changes to better
serve their discipline and the elderly.

Future society will be better positioned to mitigate the “Crisis” effect of a
demographic change, a crises due to failure of political leaders to act sooner on a
“crisis” gerontologist have been warning about, since before they called
themselves Gerontologist.

Reach project goals.

RE: Human Subjects please see Appendix 2.
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VI. Process evaluation of the program
The first duty of the process evaluation for this project will be to for a committee to form
that can review, formalize, and implement the program. This committee will be responsible for
working out the academic, political, and budget aspects of the proposal. The committee will
solicit feedback from relevant interested parties, the committee will recommend necessary and
desired changes to re-write and formalize the proposal.
The second duty of the committee is to develop and guide a formal proposal, oversee the
marketing, and control the budget to make this proposal a reality. A formal process evaluation
framework is possible at this time.
The third duty of this committee is to install a formal process evaluation framework, and
make recommendations concerning the content and goals of the formal program evaluation.
A fourth duty of the committee is to make recommendations to benefit the university and
future proposers of similar programs, that they may be more efficient and effective in their
process. Once the program is underway, members of the committee can represent the program,
in a public relations way.
The fifth (and, for now, last) committee responsibility is to review program evaluation
structure and content, and make recommendations. The question here is “Are the goals sound in
all the ways they should be?”
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VII. Outcome evaluation of the program
The use of pre and post course questionnaires (RE: Content and goals of the course),
feedback from guest speakers, content providers and questioning students about the relevance
and value (to them) the course was after taking it, in addition to regular UNT policy for
evaluation like class assessments and instructor evaluations, should all be aspects of the program
evaluation. Essentially, the question, “Did we meet our goals?” must be asked and answered,
upon which future recommendations are made.
Timeline for implementation
The time required to set up the course is less than three months, however, marketing the
course requires more like six months. While the actual work to set up the course is three months
or less, the set up part of the timeline should be six (6) months to allow for effective marketing.
A 6-month setup time will also allow UNT media and Distance Education departments to set up
and provide needed course materials. An ongoing Program and Process evaluation process is
essential. Future funding options and demand for course content should be under regular
actionable review.
By the end of Year 1, non-UNT professionals, businesses, and organizations should be
providing additional feedback to content evaluations and funding opportunities. By year two,
course students should be actively engaged in projects outside the campus, and marketing efforts
should be underway to institutionalize this process. Total project length equals two and one half
(2-1/2) years, after which, the program should be self sustaining, i.e. participating students
covering the cost of the course. One additional year is added to the budget, to allow for review
and the design of the next budget cycle. This “cost” can be paid for on behalf of students from
grants, and scholarships from interested businesses and organizations. Interested University
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Departments, businesses, and organizations can also provide course supplies, content and serve
as bases for student and professional projects.
Budget for implementation
Note: Course setup costs are contained in first year budget estimates.
Educational materials: The budget will have to include about $2,000.00 for set up of institutional
memberships in gerontechnology related organizations and online access to copywrited materials
available online in addition to plans for a future library of hardcopies of relevant materials to be
held under key in the Department of Aging, at an estimated cost of $1500.00. These costs will
be reduced after the first year, for years 2 and 3, to a maintenance cost estimated at $500.00 per
year. After 3-years the materials may be outdated for current research, but will still be of value
for research and hold historical value.
Educational materials: Year 1 @ $3,500.00, years 2 and 3 @ $500.00 each = $4,500.00 for 3years.
UNT Media: The UNT Media labs can supply necessary interactive content and live and ondemand content, but at a cost. As on-demand media is accumulated in the course library, cost of
production can be reduced.
UNT Media: Year 1 @ $2,000.00, years 2 and 3 @ $1,000.00 each = $4,000.00 for 3-years.
Marketing: Promotion to off-campus companies and organizations by letter and e-mail. Ads
within school publications, UNT radio, and visual media.
Marketing: $1,000.00 per year for 3-years = $3,000.00
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Wages: (I really am guessing on this.) One Instructor @ $2,000.00 plus one technical assistant
@ $1,000.00 per year each for 3-years = $9,000.00
Wages: $3,000.00 @ 3-years = $9,000.00.
Miscellany: $1000.00 per year for 3-years = $3,000.00
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Total
Educational materials: $3,500.00 $ 500.00 $ 500.00 $4,500.00
UNT Media:
$2,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $4,000.00
Marketing:
$1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $3,000.00
Wages:
$3,000.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $9,000.00
Miscellany:
$1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $3,000.00
_____________________________________
Total:
$10,500.00 $6,500.00 $6,500.00 $23,500.00
Per Semester* (/3)
$3500.00 $2167.00 $2167.00
$2612.00**
*Fall and Spring and Full Summer = 3-semesters per year for 3-years = 9-semesters.
** Dollar numbers rounded up.
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VIII. Conclusions
Since when the first of the Baby Boomers were born, the Social security Administration
began to rapidly adopt advanced technology to deal with the massive amounts of data coming in.
A half century ago, in 1956, Social Security installed an IBM 705 mainframe, and according to
the SSA Historian’s Office, in September 2003, the SSA, in the 1950’s and 1960’s, was an IBM
testing ground that led to further development of IBM business computers. Well here we are
today, surrounded by, and dependent on technology. Now that the Baby Boomers are coming of
age, new demands for technology are stated. Technology is created, as technology is demanded.
As Baby Boomers attempt to overwhelm our health care system stretching medical
professional’s services, we create robots, expand telemedicine technologies, and create virtual
on-demand information systems. Lifelong independent living in ones own home, the holy grail
in services to the aging, can now be realized, by design and through technology.
While it may be easy to demand technology, it’s another thing to meet that demand. The
technological demands of an aging population require that designers be adept at understanding
how the aging can and want to use it. The most effective technology applications for seniors are
focused on the individual needs and wants of each individual, as individual need and wants are
different. The wide range of applications applied to a vast audience of individuals is more than a
technological challenge, it is a design challenge requiring an understanding of human abilities
needs and wants, of the youngest young, the oldest old, and all in between. Designers, sellers,
and the users require education. In the “Definition of Terms - Glossary,” Appendix 1, many new
terms and concepts are described that apply to Gerontechnology. Gerontologist, geriatric
practitioners, and educators must understand these new terms and concepts, and provide this
education to others.
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Driven by demographics, more and more educational and senior oriented organizations
are joining the movement to adapt to and adopt technology in aging services. The American
Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) launched the Center for Aging
Services Technologies (CAST) a “major new initiative that brings together university research
programs, technology companies, facility administrators and government representatives. The
center is focusing on the application of technologies that will help identify potential solutions to
the aging-services challenges faced by the global community.” According to the AAHSA
website, CAST is rapidly increasing in relevance and importance to the area of Gerontechnology.
The Senior Corps Tech Center is a Web based resource "Helping Senior Corp programs
make meaningful and effective use of technology.” A service of the Corporation for National &
Community Service, The Senior Corps Tech Center, founded in 2001, is a training and technical
assistance program, complete with a reference library and on-line tools for application of
technology to senior programs.
MIT’s AGElab project to, "Develop new ideas to improve the quality of life for older
adults and those who care for them." AGElab offers our aging society, "The opportunity to
invent the future of healthy, active living.” AGElab and their partners are investigating areas
including, driving and personal mobility, wellness and self-empowered health, independent
living and caregiving, and business strategy and innovation.
The teaching and study of universal design is now available online thanks to the Center
for Universal Design at N.C. State University, the IDEA Center at the University at Buffalo, and
the Global Universal Design Educator's Network.
As the Case Studies (Appendix-5) reveal, Gerontechnology can have a positive effect on
meeting the needs and wants of the elderly now and future, thus a positive impact in all areas of
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society, the world over. Now is the time for the University of North Texas Center for Studies in
Aging to get involved. We need to connect technology with the needs and wants of the
population we are serving. We need to expand and enhance the Gerontological education of
designers and users with technology based on the solid foundation of Gerontology.
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IX. References
Bouma, H., Fozard, J.L., Harrington T.L., and Koster, W.G. (2000) Overview of the field. In Harrington, T. &
Harrington, M. (Eds.), Gerontechnology: Why and How (Ch. 1, pp.7-36). Eindhoven: Herman Bouma
Foundation for Gerontechnology.
Bouma, Herman. PhD. (1997). Gerontechnology: the uphill fight. Retrieved February 10, 2005, from
http://www.hql.or.jp/gpd/eng/www/index.html.
Bouma, Herman. PhD. (1999). Gerontechnology Unfolding. Retrieved January 18, 2005, from
http://www.gerontechnology.nl/valedictory_lecture.htm.
Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) (2003) Progress and Possibilities State of Technology and Aging
Services. Retrieved February 10, 2005, from
http://www.agingtech.org/documents/2003CAST_WhitePaper.pdf
Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) (2005). http://www.agingtech.org
Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology (CREATE) (2005).
http://www.psychology.gatech.edu/create/
Center for Universal Design (2005). http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/
Cohen-Mansfield, Jiska, Creedon, Michael A., Malone, Thomas B., Kirkpatrick III, Mark J., Dutra, Lisa A.,
Herman, Randy Perse. (2005). Electronic Memory Aids for Community-Dwelling Elderly Persons:
Attitudes, Preferences, and Potential Utilization. The Journal of Applied Gerontology, Vol. 24 No. 1,
February 2005 3-20.
Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) (2005). http://www.consort-statement.org
Coulson, Irene. (2000). Introduction: Technological Challenges for Gerontologist in the 21 st Century. Educational
Gerontology, June 2000, Vol. 26 Issue 4, p307, 9p.
Czaja, S. J. & Moen, P. (2004). Technology and employment. In R. Pew and S. Van Hamel (Eds.), Technology and
Adaptive Aging (pp. 150-178). Washington, D.C.: National Research Council.
Elderly People and Design program (2005). The Department of Design Sciences at Lund University’s Institute of
Technology (LTH) Retrieved on 2/18/2005 from
http://www.design.lth.se/aldreochdesign/elderlypeopleanddesign_screen.pdf 28 pages.
David E. Comeau UNT AGER-5940 Capstone Spring, 2005
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Foresight Intelligent Infrastructure Systems Project (2005)
http://www.foresight.gov.uk/Intelligent_Infrastructure_Systems/index.html
Fozard, James L., Rietsema, Jan, Bouma, Herman, Graafmans, J. A. M. (2000) Gerontechnology: Creating Enabling
Environments for the Challenges and Opportunities of Aging. Educational Gerontology, June 2000, Vol.
26 Issue 4, p331, 14p.
Gerontechnology Education Network in Europe (GENIE) (2005) http://www.gerontechnology.info/genie/index.htm
Graafmans, J., Taipale, V. (1998). Gerontechnology, A Sustainable Investment in the Future. In Graafmans, J.,
Taipale V., Charness, N., (Eds.), Gerontechnology A Sustainable Investment in the Future (pp. 3-6).
Amsterdam: IOS Press.
Harrington, Thomas L., and Harrington, Marcia K. (Eds.) (2000) Gerontechnology Why and How. (Preface).
Shaker Publishing B.V.: The Netherlands.
International Society for Gerontechnology (ISG) (2005) http://www.gerontechnology.info/
Johnston, B., Wheeler, L., Deuser, J., and Sousa, K.H. (2000). "Outcomes of the Kaiser Permanente tele-home
health research project” In: Archives of Family Medicine Vol. 8 No.1: pp. 40-45.
Lawton, M. Powell. (1998). Future Society and Aging. In Graafmans, J., Taipale V., Charness, N., (Eds.),
Gerontechnology A Sustainable Investment in the Future (pp. 12-22). Amsterdam: IOS Press.
Microsoft Corporation. (2005). Aging Workforce and Accessible Technology. Retrieved 3/4/2005 from
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/aging/workforce.aspx
Mosner, Ellen. (2003) The Convergence of the Aging Workforce and Accessible Technology. Retrieved 3/4/2005
from http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/2/3/d23515f3-2d73-49f4-b3b36fae6ac975ce/agingworkforce.doc.
National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification (NRCSHHM) (2005). Homemods.org
Website. Retrieved March 20, 2005, from http://www.homemods.org.
Östlund, Britt. Ph.D. (2003). Social Science Research on Technology and the Elderly Does it Exist? Retrieved
February 6, 2005, from http://www.certec.lth.se/britt.ostlund/SocialScience.pdf.
Pew, Richard W. and Van Hemel, Susan B. (Eds) (2004) Technology for Adaptive Aging. [Executive Summary]
Retrieved February 13, 2005, from http://books.nap.edu/books/0309091160/html/index.html.
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Pieper, Prof. Dr. Richard (1999). Leading the Way to Gerontechnology:
The Central Role of Herman Bouma in the Genesis of a New Discipline. Retrieved February 6, 2005, from
http://www.gerontechnologie.nl/pieper.htm.
Project AGE. (2005) "Understanding Assistive Technology" Focus area 2 in "Infusing Gerontology into your
Curriculum: A Guide for the Health and Human Services Professional" written and published on the
Western Michigan University Project AGE website. http://www.wmich.edu/hhs/ProjectAGE/index.html
Focus Area 2 - Assistive Technology (pdf) http://www.wmich.edu/hhs/ProjectAGE/Focus%202.pdf
retrieved 2/11/05.
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). (2005). Freedom Machines. Retrieved March 20, 2005, from
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2004/freedommachines/index.html.
Rietsema, Jan (1998). Gerontechnology in Higher Engineering Education. In Graafmans, J., Taipale V., Charness,
N., (Eds.), Gerontechnology A Sustainable Investment in the Future (pp. 385-389). Amsterdam: IOS Press.
Toossi, Mitra. (2004). Labor force projections to 2012: the graying of the U.S. workforce. Monthly Labor Review
February 2004, Vol. 127, No. 2. Retrieved online from http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2004/02/art3exc.htm
on 3/3/05.
Trace Research & Development Center (TRACE) (2005) http://trace.wisc.edu/
Universal Design Education Online (2005). http://www.udeducation.org/index.asp.
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Appendix A. Glossary - Definition of Terms
Accessible Design Interior and exterior design that meets prescribed requirements for people with
disabilities. Guidelines and laws related to accessible design include such issues as standard dimensions
and features such as door widths, clear space for wheelchair mobility, countertop heights, audible and
visual signals, switch and outlet height, and more. www.furniturequest.com/Furniture_aGlossary.htm
Adaptive Technology Adaptive technology describes the use of hardware and software to assist
individuals who have difficulty accessing information systems using conventional methods. For
example, people with a small range of hand movement can use mini keyboards, and people who are blind
can use screen readers. section508.nasa.gov/glossary.htm
Applied Gerontology: "Applied gerontology involves the application of knowledge from the field of
gerontology to the identification, development, provision and evaluation of products and services
responsive to the special needs of older people. All students in the doctoral program master the
gerontological theories, knowledge and research techniques needed both to make policies consistent with
such applications and to be advocates for these policies." According to the University of North Texas,
Department of Applied Gerontology statement in the 2004/05 Graduate Catalog description of the Doctor
of Philosophy in Applied Gerontology degree. http://www.unt.edu/catalogs/2004-05/gappliedgerontology.html
Assessment Any systematic method of obtaining evidence from tests, examinations, questionnaires, surveys,
and collateral sources used to draw inferences about characteristics of people, objects, or programs for a
specific purpose. www.questionmark.com/uk/glossary.htm
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Assisted Living Assisted living is an industry term for multifamily housing with congregate and personal care
services. Assisted living goes by many names, including personal care, residential care, and congregate care and
in some areas, board and care. The services offered vary widely, but frequently include as core services, meals,
housekeeping and transportation and often some assistance with laundry, grooming, medication management, and
other functions of daily living. Special care units in some facilities care for individuals with cognitive
impairment and respiratory assistance needs. www.co.fairfax.va.us/dpz/comprehensiveplan/glossary/
Assistive Devices: "Assistive devices are items or pieces of equipment that can help you carry out daily
activities. Examples of assistive devices include raised toilet seats, reachers, and walkers.” Sourced:
Administration on Aging Fact Sheet Last Updated: 11/01/04
Assistive Technology Any item, piece of equipment, or system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or
customized, that is commonly used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals
with disabilities.
www.cio.noaa.gov/itmanagement/508_Glossary.html
Barrier-Free Movement in the 1950s led to universal design.
Caregiver The primary person in charge of caring for an individual with Alzheimer’s disease, usually a family
member or a designated health care professional.
www.alz.org/Resources/Glossary.asp
Case Studies Case studies involve a particular method of research. Rather than using large samples and
following a rigid protocol to examine a limited number of variables, case study methods involve an indepth, longitudinal examination of a single instance or event: a case. They provide a systematic way of
looking at events, collecting data, analyzing information, and reporting the results. As a result, the
researcher may gain a sharpened understanding of why the instance happened as it did, and what might
become important to look at more extensively in future research. Case studies lend themselves especially
to generating (rather than testing) hypotheses.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_studies.
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Chaotic Nexus A system that is deterministic but is in a regime such that its state is not predictable.
etnhum.etn.lu.se/~fg/Kurs/Definitions.html a
link: the means of connection between things linked in series, a
connected series, or group www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn
Cognitive Systems "Cognitive systems are natural or artificial information processing systems, including
those responsible for perception, learning, reasoning, decision-making, communication and action”
http://www.foresight.gov.uk/Cognitive_Systems/Defining_the_Project/Cognitive_Systems__A_Summary.html
Consumer A person or organization that purchases or uses a product or service.
www.nmlites.org/standards/socialstudies/glossary.html
Consumer-Centered See user centered.
Cueing The process of providing cues, prompts, hints, and other meaningful information, direction, or
instruction to aid a person who is experiencing memory difficulties.
www.alz.org/Resources/Glossary.asp
Demographics Data related to population size, components of change, and characteristics (eg age, education,
etc.). www.qualityinfo.org/olmisj/glossary.jsp
Disabled Of or relating to persons who have physical or mental impairments/challenges, whether temporary or
permanent, due to conditions that are congenital or acquired by heredity, accident, injury, advanced age or illness.
www.umes.edu/police/CrimeDefs.html
Elderly A person 55 years of age or older as defined by the New York State Human Rights Law, Section 296 of
the Executive Law. www.dhcr.state.ny.us/ocd/pubs/html/cpm04-gloss.htm
Ergonomics The science of fitting the workplace to the worker, not the worker to the workplace; concerned
with the design of working systems in which human beings interact with machines and workplace tasks.
www.ergoinnovations.com/glossary.htm
Gerontechnology refers to technology that fulfills the need of an aging society, i.e. research, development,
and design in the engineering disciplines based on scientific knowledge about the aging process.
Therefore, it is technology in direct contact with insights into ambitions and needs of aging people in
their environment and the aging process itself. “More formally, gerontechnology is defined as the study
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of technology and aging for ensuring good health, full social participation, and independent living
throughout the entire life span, however much it may lengthen.” http://www.gerontechnology.nl
Gerontology is the multi-disciplinary study of aspects of aging that encompasses the biological,
psychological, sociological, health, economic, and applied research and analysis in gerontology,
including social policy, program development, and service delivery. A specialist in gerontology is a
Gerontologist. http://orgs.unt.edu/gsa/gsa-about.html
Gerontologist A specialist in gerontology devoted to the health, safety, happiness, and well being of our
aging population.
Home Health Care A broad spectrum of services (physical health, psycho-social, and environmental
support) provided to persons living at home for the purpose of promoting, maintaining, or restoring
health; or minimizing the effects of illness and disability. Services are delivered by a variety of
professional and non-professional personnel, generally through a provider agency that may be voluntary
(non-profit) or proprietary (for profit); or through the efforts of an assessment and coordinating program
or group. www.dph.state.ct.us/OPPE/sha99/glossary.htm
Home modifications: " Home modifications are changes to the home. Refers to converting or adapting the
environment to make tasks easier, reduce accidents, and support independent living. They provide
comfort and safety. Examples of home modifications include grab bars, handrails, ramps, curbless
showers, stair lifts, and wider doorways.” Sourced: Administration on Aging Fact Sheet Last Updated:
11/01/04 via http://www.usc.edu/dept/gero/nrcshhm/aboutus/
Human Factors Human capabilities and limitations to the design and organization of the work environment.
Primarily attributed to errors, but also a consideration in the design of workflow and processes. The
study of human factors can help identify operations susceptible to human error and improve working
conditions to reduce fatigue and inattention. www.onesixsigma.com/tools_resources/glossary/glossary_h.php (also
known as ergonomics)
Human Subjects Human subjects are individuals whose physiologic or behavioral characteristics and
responses is the object of study in a research project. Under federal regulations, human subjects are defined as:
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living individual(s) about whom an investigator conducting research obtains: (1) data through intervention or
interaction with the individual or (2) identifiable private information. research.uiowa.edu/dsp/main/
Independent Living A well-organized movement among people with disabilities to enhance self-esteem and
self-determination, as well as the socio-economic resources available to choose and maintain individual,
independent lifestyles. www.ric.org/community/glossary.php
Institutionalization is a term used to describe both the treatment of, and damage caused to, vulnerable human
beings by the oppressive or corrupt application of inflexible systems of social, medical, or legal controls by
publicly owned or not-for-profit organizations originally created for beneficial purposes and intents.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institutionalization
Interdisciplinary Designating a combination of subject matter from two or more disciplines within a course
or program. www.gvsu.edu/prevcat/catalog98-99/gv065gls.html
Interface A shared boundary between various systems or programs. An interface is also the equipment or
device that makes it possible to interoperate two systems. For example, it is common to interface the 911telephone system with a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system. Both hardware and software are needed
to provide that interface. tsc.wes.army.mil/gps/glossary.htm
Intelligent Infrastructure Systems Intelligent Infrastructure Systems: - Are aware of their environment,
responsive and adaptive. - Collect and transmit relevant data to and from intelligent nodes to provide
some or all of: critical information to responsible operator(s); feedback that results in local automated
response; relevant & useful information to users.
http://www.foresight.gov.uk/Intelligent_Infrastructure_Systems/index.html
Interoperable able to exchange and use information www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn
Lag Individual lag and Social-structural lag as well as a third point of reference that is Lag equals none or “No
lag.” The Individual and Social-structural lags, caused by or because of the individual and or
society/environment respectively, represent the difference between the needs of the individual and the
resources available to meet them, technologically, including the ability and willingness of producers to
meet the need. When there is no lag, there is what Lawton calls person environment congruence. Lawton, M.
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Powell. (1998). Future Society and Aging. In Graafmans, J., Taipale V., Charness, N., (Eds.), Gerontechnology A Sustainable
Investment in the Future (pp. 12-22). Amsterdam: IOS Press.
Life Domains The WHO QOL concept covers six domains, namely in the areas of physical health,
psychological, level of independence, social relations, environment and spirituality/religion/personal
beliefs. World Health Organisation Quality of Life Domains (WHO QOL)
http://www.ncss.org.sg/ncss/social_services/core.html
Link Farm A collection of WWW links, usually related in subject area.
Life-long Learning The activity of seeking out new knowledge or developing a skill, and participating in
educational activities over the course of a person’s entire life. www.sustainable-city.org/Plan/Parks/defs.htm
Market Forces refer to supply and demand, which determine the allocation of resources and the relative
prices of goods, services, and assets in a market economy. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fabric/gloss.htm
Multidisciplinary Several branches of medicine, science, or other professions working together toward
common goals. naam-mens-cancer.lle.org/glossary.htm
Nanotechnology While many definitions for nanotechnology exist, the NNI (National Nanotechnology
Initiative) calls it "nanotechnology" only if it involves all of the following: 1. Research and technology
development at the atomic, molecular, or macromolecular levels, in the length scale of approximately 1 - 100
nanometer range. 2. Creating and using structures, devices and systems that have novel properties and
functions because of their small and/or intermediate size. 3. Ability to control or manipulate on the atomic
scale. http://nano.gov/
Outcome Evaluation investigate whether the program or technology caused demonstrable effects on
specifically defined target outcomes http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/intreval.htm
Paradigm An example that serves as pattern or model. An acquired way of thinking about something that
shapes thought and action in ways that is both conscious and unconscious. Paradigms are essential because they
provide a culturally shared model for how to think and act, but they can present major obstacles to adopting
newer, better approaches. www.medinfo.rochester.edu/hl7/v3.0/mdf_08.htm
Paradigm Shift In 1962, Thomas Kuhn wrote The Structure of Scientific Revolution, and fathered, defined
and popularized the concept of "paradigm shift" (p.10). Kuhn argues that scientific advancement is not
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evolutionary, but rather is a "series of peaceful interludes punctuated by intellectually violent revolutions,” and
in those revolutions, "one conceptual world view is replaced by another.” http://www.taketheleap.com/define.html
Personal Area Network (PAN) A personal area network (PAN) is a computer network used for
communication among computer devices (including telephones and personal digital assistants) close to one
person. The devices may or may not belong to the person in question. The reach of a PAN is typically a few
meters. PANs can be used for communication among the personal devices themselves (intrapersonal
communication), or for connecting to a higher-level network and the Internet (an uplink).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_area_network
Process Evaluation investigates the process of delivering the program or technology, including alternative
delivery procedure http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/intreval.htm
Supportive Housing refers to both service programs and housing settings that target semi-independent
elderly who need assistance with daily activities. http://www.usc.edu/dept/gero/nrcshhm/aboutus/
Technology is 1. Human innovation in action that involves the generation of knowledge and processes to
develop systems that solve problems and extend human capabilities. 2. The innovation, change, or
modification of the natural environment to satisfy perceived human needs and wants.
www.iteawww.org/TAA/Glossary.htm
Telemedicine or Telehealth So, which is it?
Telemedicine or telehealth? The term "telehealth" was originally used to
describe administrative or educational functions related to telemedicine. However, as of early 2002, with physicians using
email to communicate with patients, and drug prescriptions and other health services offered on the Web, telehealth is
generally used as an umbrella term to describe all the possible variations of healthcare services using telecommunications.
The term "telemedicine" more appropriately describes the direct provision of clinical care via telecommunications-diagnosing, treating, or following up with a patient at a distance. However, stay tuned. The terminology used to describe
healthcare at a distance will likely change as fast as the technology used to perform it. Telemedicine typically
involves physicians using interactive video and/or store-and-forward consultations to treat patients.
Interactive video allows medical specialists to directly communicate with their patients who are in
another location, using television monitors and specially adapted equipment. Store-and-Forward
techniques include physicians sending pictures, x-rays, and other patient information directly to the
computer of a specialist. Recently, the term telehealth has risen as a favorable expansion upon the word
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telemedicine; telehealth includes non-clinical services such as medical education or research.
http://www.atsp.org/telemedicine/homepage.asp
Tweaking To change slightly a signal in a circuit to compensate for some variation due to component or system
inaccuracies. This is often done to finalize a system's settings in order to optimize its operation.
www.latticesemi.com/support/glossary/index.cfm
User interface design A User interface is a point of connection between two systems, networks, or
devices. Gerontechnologist encourages and informs designers of User interfaces to work enhance to
quality of life of older and disabled people.
Universal Design The concept or philosophy for designing and delivering products and services that is usable
by people with the widest possible range of functional capabilities. This includes products and services that are
directly usable (without requiring assistive technologies) and those that are made compatible with assistive
technologies. section508.nasa.gov/glossary.htm
END Appendix A. Glossary
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Appendix B - RE: Human Subjects:
The ethical issues involved in my project are a combination of those held by university
policy and current teaching/practices, plus the ethical dimensions of gerontology and technology.
We know that technology can be harmful or beneficial. The study of gerontechnology is a study
centered on the need and wants of the user. The “Do no harm…” doctrine comes to mind.
Health care ethics and the surrounding debates about what is and is not ethical are applicable and
should be reviewed and discussed.
Regarding Informed Consent for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT), the International
Society of Gerontechnology (ISG) suggests a CONSORT statement (Consolidated Standards of
Reporting Trials). "In other relevant cases, informed consent should be obtained and indicated in
the manuscript."
The CONSORT statement is an important research tool that takes an evidence-based approach to improve
the quality of reports of randomized trials. The statement is available in several languages and has been
endorsed by prominent medical journals such as The Lancet, Annals of Internal Medicine, and the Journal
of the American Medical Association. Its critical value to researchers, health care providers, peer
reviewers, and journal editors, and health policy makers is the guarantee of integrity in the reported results
of research. CONSORT comprises a checklist and flow diagram to help improve the quality of reports of
randomized controlled trials. It offers a standard way for researchers to report trials. The checklist
includes items, based on evidence, that need to be addressed in the report; the flow diagram provides
readers with a clear picture of the progress of all participants in the trial, from the time they are randomized
until the end of their involvement. The intent is to make the experimental process more clear, flawed or
not, so that users of the data can more appropriately evaluate its validity for their purposes.
(Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials [CONSORT] 2005).
END APPENDIX B
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APPENDIX C. CAPSTONE PROJECT RELATED BOOKS (11) JOURNAL (1)
1. 1997 Designing for an Aging Population: Ten Years of Human Factors/ Ergonomics
Research. Rogers, W. A. (1997).
Santa Monica, CA: HFES. Buy this book from the HFES Store
http://www.hfes.org/
2.
1997 Handbook
A.
of Human Factors and the older adult. Fisk, A. D., and Rogers, W.
San Diego, CA: Academic Press. Buy this book from Academic Press http://books.elsevier.com
3. 1998 Gerontechnology, A Sustainable Investment in the Future. Graafmans, J., Taipale V.,
Charness, N., (Eds.), Amsterdam: IOS Press. The second conference organized by the ISG in Finland in
early 1997 published conference proceedings. The first part of the book is a collection of papers describing
the background for and the conditions under which the emerging field of gerontechnology can be
developed further. The second part describes 80 case studies. The editors are Jan Graafmans, Vappu
Taipale and Neil Charness and the publisher is IOS Press, Amsterdam (ISBN 90 5199 367 6), price
US$108.
4. 2000 "Gerontechnology: why and how?" by Harrington and Harrington produced by
Herman Bouma Foundation for Gerontechnology (2000) is the first textbook on theory and practice of this
rapidly developing interdiscipline. Using insight and experience from many different scientific domains as well as from older people
themselves, the way is paved towards a longer healthy and independent life of humans in our dynamic society full of information and
communication networks. The book is intended for university education and for workshops in the field of technology and aging. It
has been structured for fulfilling the needs of GENIE, the Gerontechnology Education Network in Europe. GENIE is a project funded
by the European Union and concerns the cooperation between 40 universities from 17 European countries. For increased educational
effectively, boxes have been added describing relevant projects in Europe, Japan, and the USA and Canada. The book is published by
Shaker Publishing BV, PO Box 3030, NL-6202 NA Maastricht, The Netherlands Phone: + 31 43 350 0424, Fax: +31 43 325 5090
URL: http://www.shaker.nl The book can be ordered online or by e-mail to info@shaker.nl. Gerontechnology Why and How, 230
pages, 2000, Euro 36,= The textbook and the table of contents of the book are also available through the Internet. Info via
http://www.gerontechnology.nl/textbook.htm
5. 2001 Human factors interventions for the health care of older adults. Rogers, W. A.,
and Fisk, A. D.
Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. Buy this book from Erlbaum http://www.erlbaum.com/
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6. 2003 Impact of Technology on Successful Aging By K. Warner Schaie / October
2003 /Hardcover / 336 Pages / Springer Pub Co 0826124038 List Price $49.95 /
7. 2004 Designing for older adults: Principles and creative human factors approaches.
By Fisk, A. D., Rogers, W. A., Czaja, S. J., Charness, N. and Sharit, J. (CRC Press,
2004).
Arthur Fisk Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA - Wendy A Rogers Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta,
USA - Neil Charness Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA - Sara J Czaja University of Miami, Florida, USA - Joseph Sharit
University of Miami, Florida, USA Hardcover / 192 Pages / CRC Pr I Llc / March 2004 / 0415286115 Presents the
development of comprehensive guidelines for the design of existing and emerging technologies for older
adults  Provides a practical introduction to human factors and older adults  Translates the large
academic literature on age-related changes in ability, learning, and performance into guidelines for design.
As life expectancy increases, older workers and the retired form a large and growing proportion of the
world's population. Professionals working to develop systems and environments need to better
accommodate the user needs of the older adult. This new guide provides a practical introduction to
human factors and the older adult. It considers the subject primarily from an engineering psychology
perspective, heavily grounded in today's scientific knowledge. The authors show how current
understanding of age-related issues of perception, cognition, and movement control can be applied in
practice. They also provide a reference source with guidelines and advice for design issues ranging from
lighting, computer input device selection, and web site design, to training program development and work
task design. The text draws on research-oriented work and presents this in a form that can be used by
the broad audience of product designers, health care practitioners, managers, and others who need
answers to problems and require sound recommendations for design. Buy this book from CRC Press
http://www.crcpress.com/ List Price: $59.95 Cat. #: TF1537 ISBN: 0415286115 Publication Date: 1/14/2004
Number of Pages: 176 Availability: In Stock.
8.
2004 Gerotechnology:
Research And Practice In Technology And Aging by David C.
Burdick, PhD & Sunkyo Kwon, PhD, (Hardcover - October 1, 2004) Dipl-Psych Two "megatrends" of modern
culture are rapid population aging and the inexorable advances in various technologies encountered by the population at large. This
comprehensive volume explores the intersections of technology with aging and serves as both a primer and reference for educators,
students, researchers, and practitioners. It includes concepts from the basics of gerotechnology—person-environment fit—to the core
activity fields—computer and assistive devices and their practical applications—to models, or prototypes for technical development
and its application to everyday life. Thought-provoking concluding chapters address ethical concerns for the future as well as offer
new perspectives or context to ideas and innovations explored earlier. Burdick / Kwon Gerotechnology: Research and Practice in
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Gerontechnology: A Class on Aging with Technology
Technology and Aging 2004 320pp 0-8261-2516-6 hardcover $48.95 (outside US $53.80)
http://www.springerpub.com/books/gerontology/pub_2516_6.html
9. 2004 Gerotechnology: Research And Practice In Technology And Aging by David C.
Burdick, Ph.D. & Sunkyo Kwon, Ph.D. (October 1, 2004) List Price: $48.95 Amazon Editorial Reviews From
Book News, Inc. ”Twenty-seven international academics and researchers contribute 16 chapters to a primer and reference for
educators, students, researchers, and practitioners addressing issues in the new field of gerontechnology/gerotechnology. Coverage
includes fundamental aspects of gerotechnology; issues and possibilities pertaining to computers, the Internet, and older adults;
computer tools for caregivers; assistive technology to help older adults overcome impairments; broad areas, models, and prototypes
for the development and application of technology to everyday life, including health care and driver safety; and ethical cautions.”
Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Product Details Hardcover: 288 pages Publisher: Springer Publishing Company
ISBN: 0826125166
10.
2005 Smart
Technology for Aging, Disability and Independence: The State of the
Science by William C. Mann (Hardcover - July 8, 2005) not yet released.
List Price: $84.95
Amazon Product Description: “The book is a thorough introduction to the technologies promoting independence for older and
disabled persons as they face age related declines and age related chronic conditions. The chapters will cover such topics as device
and computer accessibility, home automation to support independence, assistive robotics, smart environments, and emerging standards
in and the future of elder care, all written by experts in their respective fields. The book's chapters will be based on presentations at
three conferences on aging and independence: 1. The International Conference on Aging, Disability and Independence (ICADI); 2. A
Pre-ICADI conference, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the European Engineering and Physical Sciences Research
Council 3. A Post-ICADI conference, to be held at the International Symposium on Applications and the Internet (SAINT)
conference. Product Details: Hardcover: 440 pages Publisher: Wiley-Interscience (July 8, 2005) ISBN: 0471696943 “
11. 2005 Technology For Adaptive Aging by Richard W. Pew, et al (Paperback - January 1, 2005)
12. 2005 and back Gerontechnology journal The International Society for Gerontechnology
(http://www.gerontechnology.info/) encourages the development of gerontechnology. (ISSN 1569 -1101, ISSN 1569 -111X )
published quarterly.
END Appendix C
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Appendix D: Capstone Link farm
Age Concern is the UK's largest organization working with and for older people. http://www.eurolinkage.org/
Aging and Accessible Technology. How Accessible Technology Can Help Aging Workers Retain High
Productivity http://www.microsoft.com/enable/aging/default.aspx
Aging, Technology and Universal Home Design the time that an aging individual can reside in ... satisfy the next
level of psychological needs. Aging, Technology and http://www.asce.org/pdf/aei_team_fall01.pdf
Alliance for Aging Research health education campaign on Depression and the elderly. http://www.agingresearch.org/
Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) http://www.ataccess.org/ network of community-based Resource Centers,
Developers, Vendors and Associates dedicated to providing information and support services to children
and adults with disabilities, and increasing their use of standard, assistive, and information technologies.
ATA Members can be found all across the country. We hope that this web site will let you get to know us
a little better, make use of our resources, contact one of our members and perhaps consider joining us in
achieving our mission of "connecting children and adults with disabilities to technology tools."
American Society on Aging ASA has widely used community events calendar. Awards Programs recognizing
excellence in the field of aging http://www.asaging.org/
Assistive Technology and Aging links:
AAATE - Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology
http://139.91.151.134/index.asp?auto-redirect=true&accept-initial-profile=standard
ARATA - Australian Rehabilitation & Assistive Technology Association. http://www.arata.org.au
CSUN - Center on Disabilities Technology Conference, California State University, Northridge. http://www.csun.edu/cod/
CORDIS - Community Research and Development Information Service. http://www.cordis.lu/en/home.html
RESNA - Rehabilitation Engineering and assistive technology Society of North America. http://www.resna.org/
COST219 - Telecommunications: Access for disabled people and elderly. http://www.stakes.fi/cost219/
IOS Press - Assistive Technology Research Series. http://www.iospress.nl/
FAST - Foundation for Assistive Technology. http://www.fastuk.org/
EDEAN - European Design for all e-Accessibility Network http://www.eaccessibility.org
ISAAC - International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication http://www.isaac-online.org
RESJA - Rehabilitation Engineering Society of Japan http://www.resja.gr.jp
EASTIN - European Assistive Technology Information Network http://www.eastin.info
Assistive Technology and Aging. A Handbook for Virginians who are aging ... Introduction to Aging and
Assistive Technology. http://www.aging.state.va.us/Assistive Technology & Aging - All. Pdf
http://www.vats.org/aging.htm
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Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) http://www.agingtech.org/index.aspx
Center for Research & Education on Aging & Technology Enhancement Director: Sara Czaja, Ph.D. University of
Miami/ School of Medicine. 1695 NW 9th Ave., Suite #3204. Miami, FL 33136
http://www.med.miami.edu/psychiatry/create.html
CENTER FOR STUDIES OF BEHAVIOR AND DEVELOPMENT http://www7.nationalacademies.org/bcsse/
Eldercare www.eldercare.gov
European health for all database http://hfadb.who.dk/hfa/
Family Caregiver Alliance (1-800-445-8106; www.caregiver.org)
FREEDOM MACHINES: http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2004/freedommachines/index.html
GENIE is the Gerontechnology Education Network in Europe with 45 partners from 18 European countries.
GENIE was coordinated by the Delft University of Technology TUD in the Netherlands. The GENIE
project ended in 2001 however their website still contains much useful information RE gerontechnology
and any ongoing work maintained via the International Society of Gerontechnology (ISG) -see link.
http://www.gerontechnology.info/ “Designing
technology and environment for independent living and social
participation of older persons in good health, comfort and safety.”
Gerontechnology Education Network in Europe http://www.gerontechnology.info/genie/
Gerontological Society of America is a non-profit professional organization with more than 5000 members in the
field of aging. GSA provides researchers, educators, practitioners, and policy makers with opportunities to
understand, advance, integrate, and use basic and applied research on aging to improve the quality of life as
one ages. http://www.geron.org/ GSA-TAG at: http://www.gsa-tag.org/
HHS - Aging Resources for Caregivers (Administration on Aging) Guide for Caregivers (Administration on
Aging) Support Programs for Caregivers http://www.hhs.gov/aging/index.shtml
Homemod.org http://www.homemods.org/index.html
Human Factors and Aging Laboratory (At Georgia Tech) “The Human Factors and Aging Laboratory is
specifically oriented toward developing a fundamental understanding of aging, cognition, and attention.
The Human Factors and Aging Laboratory is also committed to bringing that fundamental basic knowledge
to bear on design issues important to the quality and safety of activities of daily living encountered by older
adults. http://www.psychology.gatech.edu/hfa/
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International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing (IAHSA) http://www.iahsa.net/index.cfm
Local Center for Independent Living (look up in your local telephone directory, or click on
www.virtualcil.net/cils/ or www.bcm.tmc.edu/ilru/jump1.htm)
Local durable medical equipment store (A directory of suppliers that provide durable medical equipment products
under the Medicare program is available at: www.medicare.gov/Supplier/Home.asp)
National Council on the Aging, promoting the dignity, self-determination, well being and continuing contributions
of older persons through education http://www.ncoa.org/
National Family Caregiver Support Program, U.S. Administration on Aging
(www.aoa.gov/prof/aoaprog/caregiver/caregiver.asp)
National Institute on Aging LEADING THE FEDERAL EFFORT ON AGING RESEARCH via the US
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH. http://www.nia.nih.gov/
National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification National Resource Center on Supportive Housing
and Home Modification
National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification (A National Directory of Home
Modification Resources is available at www.homemods.org)
Resources in Social Gerontology SOCIAL GERONTOLOGY & THE AGING REVOLUTION. It is the meaning
that men attribute to their life; it is their entire system of values that define the meaning and value of old
age. ... Demographic phenomenon see the Census Bureau & National Institute of Aging's An Aging
World: 2001 (pdf format, 190 pp) http://www.trinity.edu/~mkearl/geron.html
Technocapitalism “New economic activities are emerging that are representative of technocapitalism.
Biotechnology, nanotechnology, bioinformatics, software design, genomics, molecular computing and
biorobotics, for example, are likely to be hallmarks of the twenty-first century, as electronics and aerospace
were in the twentieth. This new ecology of activities and sectors is more reliant on creativity and
knowledge than any of the old industries of industrial capitalism.” http://www.technocapitalism.com/
Technology for Adaptive Aging (2004) Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences and Education
(BCSSE) http://books.nap.edu/books/0309091160/html/index.html
Telemedicine and Telehealth Links TIE http://tie.telemed.org/links/government.asp
TRACE Center http://trace.wisc.edu/
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Universal Design. The Center for Universal Design. History and background.
http://www.design.ncsu.edu:8120/cud/univ_design/udhistory.htm
Universal Design / Disability Access Program (http://trace.wisc.edu/world/udda/ )- part of the National Computational
Science Alliance (NCSA http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Projects/Alliance/ ) (funded by the National Science
Foundation). The Alliance is involved in the development of supercomputing systems and applications
(including future internet), and it is Trace's role to help ensure that they are built in a manner that makes
them more accessible for people with disabilities.
Universal Design Education Online http://www.udeducation.org/index.asp
Universal Design Research Project (http://trace.wisc.edu/docs/univ_design_res_proj/udrp.htm)- a three-year study (funded
by the U.S. Dept. of Education National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research). This project
was designed to gain an understanding of why and how companies adopt universal design, and what factors
are the most important in making this decision. In addition, factors that discourage or impede the adoption
and successful practice of universal design are also being identified. A second objective is to determine
what those outside of companies can do to support universal design within the companies.
US Administration on Aging (AoA) The US Administration on Aging is an agency in the US Department of
Health and Human Services, is one of the nation's largest providers of home- and community
http://www.aoa.gov/
US Senate Special Committee on Aging G31 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: 202224-5364 Fax: 202-224-8660 mailbox http://aging.senate.gov/
END Appendix D
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Appendix E - Case Studies
Appendix E - Case Studies Below ALL Quoted from GENIE Learning Map:
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/index.html
“The case studies are examples of services, products and research projects that have
considered the issues of gerontechnology. “
“Why Case Studies?
The aim of the Library is to provide case studies, examples, and references to enhance the learning packages
provided in the other regions of the GENIE Learning Map. As the aim of the Learning Map is to enable students of
all disciplines to acquire an understanding of the needs and aspirations of the ageing population, the Library reflects
this by offering a wide-ranging collection of projects and information.”
“What Sort of Case Studies?
The case studies provide examples of work at a variety of levels: student projects, research studies, professional
concept work, commercial products, and services. They have been grouped under broad category headings.
Examples have been included from as many EU countries as possible in order to illustrate the wealth and diversity
of work being undertaken in gerontechnology throughout Europe. Gerontechnology benefits from a holistic
approach and understanding. Thus case studies which examine social issues relating to ageing (such as age diversity
in the work place) have been included in order not only to provide background material but to encourage and
stimulate ideas around the possibilities for technological or design intervention. Intervention that will improve life
and make certain aspects easier. GENIE partners have supplied some of the material - sometimes it is work with
which they themselves or colleagues have been involved. This selection is just a beginning in what could be an
enormous richness of best practice and innovation.”
“How do they Work?
Each case study contains a pectoral record of the project and an explanatory text detailing key features and elements
of the project development. The level of the project is indicated at the top of each case study. Also included is a
'Further Information' section, which provides contact details, and additional references including relevant web
addresses. These websites may be directly connected with the project or offer new sources of information.”
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Source: http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/
Case Studies Library - Internet Links via
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/
Gerontechnology Education Network in Europe (GENIE), in which over 40 European universities collaborate to
develop and harmonize their curriculum in Gerontechnology. GENIE was funded by the European Commission and
will be continued as a standing committee of the International Society for Gerontechnology. The three-year GENIE
project was completed in 2001, leaving behind a network of educators and technologist resources spanning the globe
in countries that include Japan and the United States along with interest within the European Union.
The GENIE Project ultimately lead to a standing working group (Education and Training) within the International
Society for Gerontechnology http://www.gerontechnology.info/.
The following projects are available online at:
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/index.html
--- Ageing Process & Users:
 Third Age Simulation Suit Professional / Research Project
Developed to assist engineers and designers when developing new products this suit simulates reduced joint
mobility and vision. http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page2.html
 AgeTree Website Professional / Research Project http://www.d-sciencelab.com/agetree/
A web based resource for designers which includes details of age related physical changes and strategies for
designing for older users http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page4.html
 Age Diversity in the Workplace Professional / Research Project
Age Diversity in the Workplace - Some UK Case-Studies
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page5.html
 Campaign to Highlight Failing Design Student Project
The campaign aims is to highlight accessibility issues and lobby manufacturers and designers by identifying
and recording bad designs http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page7.html
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 Advertising Campaign Student Project
A poster campaign to dispel negative stereotypes and to raise awareness of the active life many older people
enjoy http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page8.html
--- Environments / Leisure:
 Smart Homes Professional / Research Project - New generation e-homes
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page9.html
 Telecare Professional / Research Project
Using Telecare - Exploring Technologies for Independent Living for Older People
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page11.html
 Tate Stool Student Project
A versatile, stackable stool designed for a wide range of users
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page12.html
 Nordic Museums for All Professional Project
The 'Nordic Museums for All' project aims to improve accessibility to buildings and exhibitions and to
provide good examples of accessibility http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page13.html
 Mobile Theatre Student Project
The design aims to create an environment that invites the widest possible range of users to enjoy the theatre
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page14.html
 Theatre Foyer Student Project
The design uses technology and careful layout to provide an accessible welcome to all visitors to the theatre
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page16.html
--- Travel / Leisure / Mobility:
 Independence iBOT™ Mobility System Professional Concept http://www.indetech.com/ibot/
An all terrain wheelchair that can climb stairs giving users maximum autonomy
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page18.html
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 Care-o-bot Professional / Research Project http://www.morpha.de/php_e/index.php3
A multi-functional home assistant for elderly people to enable longer independent living
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page19.html
 London Taxi TX1 Professional / Commercial Project
A new vehicle designed with accessibility as a key consideration
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page20.html
 Scalamobil Professional / Commercial Project
The Scalamobil is a lightweight, compact stair climbing device for wheelchairs
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page21.html
 Collapsible Golf Buggy Student Project
A versatile golf buggy for people with slight mobility impairment
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page22.html
 Independent Car Boot Loading System Student Project
An aid for loading and unloading a car boot, reducing the possibility of back injury
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page23.html
 Walk-mate Student Project
Through the use of combined technologies Walk-mate enables blind people to navigate safely in unfamiliar
environments http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page24.html
--- Living & Working:
 POPSOC Student Project
A safe and easy to use electrical socket http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page25.html
 Egg Plug Student Project
A safe and easy to use electric plug incorporating a large, illuminated, on/off switch
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page26.html
 Wibble Radio Student Project
The Wibble radio eliminates and replaces fiddly dials and buttons
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page27.html
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 Induction Mug Student Project
Ergonomically designed mug that boils water, quickly and safely by induction. The design won the Concept
2001 award at the Ideal Home Show http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page28.html
 Memories Student Project
An aid to writing a life story http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page30.html
 T-Bag teapot Student Project
The T-Bag makes carrying and pouring tea safer and easier. This product won the Master's Medal in the 2000
RSA Student Design awards, and Living etc. Bright New Things awards 2000 - 1st prize
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page31.html
 Printed Sound Student Project
A hand-held device capable of translating printed symbols into sound
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/page33.html
The rest of the list includes areas:
 Healthcare & Medicine
 Communications / ICT
 Fashion / Textiles / Style and
 Product Packaging
http://www.io.tudelft.nl/research/ergonomics/genie/map/reference/cases/index.html
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The above model “Goals Matrix” can help to keep student projects focused on the
multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary goals of gerontechnology.
END Appendix E. Case Studies
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Appendix F
(Powerpoint)
Gerontechnology: A Class on Aging with Technology
To propose a course of instruction in Gerontechnology within the University of North
Texas Gerontology Program.
GERONTECHNOLOGY
“Gerontologist tweaking the aging with technology.”
Slide 1 --- Welcome
Slide 3 --- II. The Problem
Slide 4 --- III. Goals
Slide 2 --- I. Purpose of this paper
Slide 5 --- IV. The Literature
“The notion ‘Gero(n)technology’ appeared as a
shorthand or framework on technology and aging in 1992, and at
first also aimed at improving daily functioning of the elderly.
Society changed at a rising pace powered by ICT applications that
democratized knowledge. “We are becoming a risk society with
expanding civil liabilities and individual rights (Post-Industrial
Society).”
“Universal Design became a hot topic within the
European Union. The gerontechnology concept followed, and by
2000, it had expanded to a discipline for a favorable technological
environment for individual healthy maturing and long-term
vitality; a new branch of the ancient discipline of public health
engineering. This trend could lead to a new civic right: Healthy
aging for all through dedicated gerontechnological applications.”
“Gerontechnology is based on the notion
that the elderly can only be full participants in our
society if technology is made relevant to their lives.”
(Bouma-1997)
Figure 1: Lawton (1998) models the “five uses of
gerontechnology” (see Fig. 1.) with a noticeable stick figure of a
consumer/user at the center and states, “Our design expertise needs
to be directed toward the enhancement of people’s potential and
their enjoyment of life as much as toward compensation for
functional deficits and the accompanying negative feelings
associated with failed function.” (p. 16, Lawton, 1998).
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Slide 9 --- Four “Blocks”
Lawton also notes that all people are future
consumers of gerontechnology.
Slide 6 --- V. Program Description
Slide 10 -- Modules
Slide 7 --- --- Conceptual Model
Slide 11 -- Module 1: Introduction to
Gerontechnology
Slide 8 -- Blocks, Modules & Projects
Slide 12 -- Module 2: Universal and
Accessible Design
Slide 13 -- Module 3: Assistive, Adaptive and
Accessible Technology
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Gerontechnology: A Class on Aging with Technology
Slide 14 -- Module 4: Telehealth
Slide 18 -- VII. Outcome evaluation of the
program
Slide 15 -- Module 5: Smart Homes:
Slide 19 -- VIII. Conclusions
Slide 16 -- Projects (Case Studies)
Slide 17 --- VI. Process evaluation of the program
David E. Comeau UNT AGER-5940 Capstone Spring, 2005
END Appendix F
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Gerontechnology: A Class on Aging with Technology
End of Paper
Thank you all very much.
David E. Comeau decomeau@unt.edu
http://comeauzone.org/
Link to HTML Version of this paper
http://comeauzone.org/capstone/Gerontechnology.html
Gerontechnology.html
Link to my Website hosting this project
(Copy & Paste the URL)
http://comeauzone.org/capstone/capstone.html
Link to my Gerontechnology Website
http://gero-tech.net/
David E. Comeau
David E. Comeau UNT AGER-5940 Capstone Spring, 2005