Gerontechnology
Encyclopedia
Gerontechnology is an interdisciplinary academic and professional field combining gerontology
and technology
. Sustainability of an ageing society depends upon our effectiveness in creating technological environments, including assistive technology
and inclusive design, for innovative and independent living and social participation of older adults in good health, comfort and safety. In short, gerontechnology concerns matching technological environments to health
, housing
, mobility, communication
, leisure
and work of older people. Research outcomes form the basis for designers, builders, engineers, manufacturers, and those in the health professions (nursing
, medicine
, gerontology
, geriatrics
, environmental psychology
, developmental psychology
, etc.), to provide an optimum living environment for the widest range of ages.
Gerontechnology is considered an adjunct to the promotion of human health
and well-being. It pertains both to human development and ageing and aims at compressing morbidity and increasing vitality
in the life-span and quality of life
. It creates solutions to extend the working phase in society by maximizing the vital and productive years in the life span, consequently reducing cost of care in later life.
The overall framework of gerontechnology may be seen as a matrix of domains of human activity: health & self-esteem, housing & activities of daily living
, communication & governance, mobility & transport, work & leisure, and technology interventions or impact levels (enhancement & satisfaction, prevention & engagement, compensation & assistance, care and care organisation). Underpinning all these elements are generic and applied evidence-based research. Such research supports the development of products and services.
Gerontechnology has much in common with other interdisciplinary domains, such as Assistive Technology
(for the compensation & assistance and the care support & care organisation rows of the matrix), and Universal Design
for the development of all products and services pertaining to gerontechnology.
The first ISG Masterclass http://www.phe.bwk.tue.nl/ISGMasterClass/Main_mclass.htm for PhD students in 2006 produced a scheme to support gerontechnological research.
Gerontology
Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging...
and technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
. Sustainability of an ageing society depends upon our effectiveness in creating technological environments, including assistive technology
Assistive technology
Assistive technology or adaptive technology is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them...
and inclusive design, for innovative and independent living and social participation of older adults in good health, comfort and safety. In short, gerontechnology concerns matching technological environments to health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
, housing
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
, mobility, communication
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
, leisure
Leisure
Leisure, or free time, is time spent away from business, work, and domestic chores. It is also the periods of time before or after necessary activities such as eating, sleeping and, where it is compulsory, education....
and work of older people. Research outcomes form the basis for designers, builders, engineers, manufacturers, and those in the health professions (nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
, medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, gerontology
Gerontology
Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging...
, geriatrics
Geriatrics
Geriatrics is a sub-specialty of internal medicine and family medicine that focuses on health care of elderly people. It aims to promote health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in older adults. There is no set age at which patients may be under the care of a geriatrician, or...
, environmental psychology
Environmental psychology
Environmental psychology is an interdisciplinary field focused on the interplay between humans and their surroundings. The field defines the term environment broadly, encompassing natural environments, social settings, built environments, learning environments, and informational environments...
, developmental psychology
Developmental psychology
Developmental psychology, also known as human development, is the scientific study of systematic psychological changes, emotional changes, and perception changes that occur in human beings over the course of their life span. Originally concerned with infants and children, the field has expanded to...
, etc.), to provide an optimum living environment for the widest range of ages.
Gerontechnology is considered an adjunct to the promotion of human health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
and well-being. It pertains both to human development and ageing and aims at compressing morbidity and increasing vitality
Vitality
-Vitality:Etymology: From Latin vita , which means life.Outside of its own existence or source, life is only recognized through some form of expression or dynamic...
in the life-span and quality of life
Quality of life
The term quality of life is used to evaluate the general well-being of individuals and societies. The term is used in a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, and politics. Quality of life should not be confused with the concept of standard of...
. It creates solutions to extend the working phase in society by maximizing the vital and productive years in the life span, consequently reducing cost of care in later life.
The overall framework of gerontechnology may be seen as a matrix of domains of human activity: health & self-esteem, housing & activities of daily living
Activities of daily living
Activities of Daily Living is a term used in healthcare to refer to daily self-care activities within an individual's place of residence, in outdoor environments, or both...
, communication & governance, mobility & transport, work & leisure, and technology interventions or impact levels (enhancement & satisfaction, prevention & engagement, compensation & assistance, care and care organisation). Underpinning all these elements are generic and applied evidence-based research. Such research supports the development of products and services.
Gerontechnology has much in common with other interdisciplinary domains, such as Assistive Technology
Assistive technology
Assistive technology or adaptive technology is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them...
(for the compensation & assistance and the care support & care organisation rows of the matrix), and Universal Design
Universal design
Universal design refers to broad-spectrum ideas meant to produce buildings, products and environments that are inherently accessible to both people without disabilities and people with disabilities....
for the development of all products and services pertaining to gerontechnology.
Publications
An international academic journal with delayed open-access, Gerontechnology http://www.gerontechjournal.net, is published by the International Society for Gerontechnology (ISG) http://www.gerontechnology.org.Education
The first ISG Masterclass http://www.phe.bwk.tue.nl/ISGMasterClass/Main_mclass.htm for PhD students in 2006 produced a scheme to support gerontechnological research.External links
- Gero-tech
- Aging and Accessible Technology
- MIT AgeLab
- Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST)
- IMIA Working Group on Smart Homes and Ambient Assisted Living
- ISG Discussion Forum
- Formal Interest Group on Technology & Aging
- Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) for the Ageing Society
- GeronTech - The Israeli Center for Assistive Technology & Aging
- Indiana University Gero-informatics Program
- GGT Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Gerontotechnik - GGT German Society of Gerontechnology
- FIK research program implemented by Tecnalia Research & Innovation
- Technical Research Centre for Dependency Care and Autonomous Living (CETpD) created by the UPC and Fundació Hospital Comarcal Sant Antoni Abat.
- Gerontechnologie.net The french web portal about Gerontechnology.