Gerontechnology for the complete person

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Gerontechnology for the complete person

• Herman Bouma
• heebouma_at_xs4all.nl
• 4th Eindhoven ISG Masterclass, 11 november
  2009

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Contents

• Definitions
• Ageing
• Ageing persons who are they?
• Average fallacy
• Generations the dynamics of ageing
• Aspects of good ageing
• Goals
• Health-related
• Top-goals
• Double hazard of disease
• Dynamics of technology
• Fun
• Impact matrix
• Cross-fertilization matrix
• Conclusion
• References

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Definitions

• Gerontechnology is
• the study of technology and aging
• for ensuring an optimal technological environment
  of all aging and old people
• up to a high age
• Complete person
• Individual in her/his environment
• as to physical, mental, and social aspects
• and their interrelations

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Ageing persons (1) 3rd and 4th age

• 3rd age (after retirement) active period
• following ambitions
• doing voluntary work in family and society
• live well despite effects of chronic diseases
• 4th age dependent period
• frailness,
• home bound,
• care dependent

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Ageing persons (2) Extensive diversity

• Gender (more women than men)
• Family composition
• Health
• Genetic disposition
• Long term physical environment
• Housing, living situation
• Mobility
• Character
• Education
• Work experience
• Income
• Cultural environment

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Average fallacy

• Products and services produced for the average
  person can satisfy nobody
• (the average person does not exist despite the
  confusing fact that the concept can be defined)
• Counterconcept Inclusive design (taking into
  account as broad a range of restrictions as
  feasible)

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Generations the dynamics of ageing

• Becoming demographically dominant
• Education level increasing
• Job experience increasing
• Life expectation steadily increasing
• Health improving (medical progress)
• Financial situation generally improving
• Better informed and more assertive
• More active

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Aspects of good ageing

• Healthy nutrition regular physical exercise
• Daily mental pursuits (any type)
• Active social communications (networks)
• Also positive interactions have been found

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Health-related goals of ageing persons

• Prevention and engagement proactive countering
  of likelihood of future disease nutrition,
  living/working environment, lifestyle
• Compensation and assistance counteracting
  restrictions by tools and environments
• Care support and organization effective and
  efficient care minimum privacy invasion

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Top-goals of ageing persons(1)

• Enhancement and satisfaction of lifeAutonomy and
  independence for following ambitions and doing
  whatever one chooses and finds useful and/or
  pleasant within the limits of ones options
• Among these having fun

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Top-goals of ageing persons(2)

• Why not reach for top-goals in case of disease
  and restrictions??
• Answer the double hazard of disease and
  restriction

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The double hazard of disease

• Age related health problems have two detrimental
  effects
• The specific problems, restrictions, by-effects,
  therapies, and overall time-consumption
• The extra attention to oneself as a patient that
  diverts from more fruitful pursuits
• Goal to counteract self-attention, self-pity, and
  over-attention by satisfying and motivating
  subject matter personal ambitions (top row
  impact matrix)

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Dynamics of technology(1)

• Internet services
• Online information nutrition, health and
  diseases, health services
• Online communication e-mail for advise and help,
  alarms, telecare
• Social networks prevention groups, risk groups,
  patient groups, chat groups, rumourgroups,
  friendsgroups
• Medical networks GP, specialist, pharmacy, care
  provider, telecare
• Alert on new options and new services

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Dynamics of technology (2)

• Ambient intelligence, monitoring, passive alarms
• Home automation healthy air, safety, security
• Communication tools Internet, cell phone,
  telecare.
• Flexible displays
• Identification chips (RFID)
• Navigation tools
• Compensation for bodily and mental restrictions
• Robots (butlers) e.g. for household work
• Alert on new products and new services

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Fun (1)

• Definition fun
• Momentaneous pleasure and satisfaction mediated
  by intrinsically motivating pursuits
• Fun technology tools for serving such pursuits
• Hazard addiction

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Fun (2)

• RD cf RDDD
• --pleasure, satisfaction, motivation, actions
  (psychology, physiology
• corresponding technological tools (design, user
  interface)

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• Gerontechnology cross-fertilization matrix

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Conclusion

• The complete ageing person is changing slowly
  over time (generations),
• The technical environment is changing more
  rapidly over time (innovation)
• Health-concerns to be topped by enhancement and
  satisfaction of life
• Gerontechnology directed at real, complete ageing
  persons

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I am thankful you for your attention

• References
• .Bouma H. Gerontechnology Making technology
  relevant for the elderly. In Bouma H, Graafmans
  JAM, editors. Gerontechnology. Amsterdam IOS
  Press 1992 pp 1-5
• Bouma H. Gerontechnology Emerging technologies
  and their impact on aging in society. In
  Graafmans J, Taipale V, Charness N, editors.
  Gerontechnology a sustainable investment in the
  future. Amsterdam IOS Press 1998 pp 93-104 
• Bouma H. Creating adaptive technological
  environments. Gerontechnology 20011(1)1-3 doi
  10.417/gt.2001.01.01.001.00
• Bouma H, Fozard JL, Bouwhuis DG, Taipale V.
  Gerontechnology in perspective. Gerontechnology
  20076(4)190-216 doi 10.417/gt.2007.06.04.003.0
  0
• Bouma H, Fozard JL, Bronswijk JEMH van.
  Gerontechnology as a field of endeavour.
  Gerontechnology 20098(2)68-75 doi
  10.417/gt.2009.08.02.004.00
• International Society for Gerontechnology
  www.gerontechnology.info
• Quarterly journal Gerontechnology
  www.gerontechnjournal