Gerontechnology
Gerontechnology, also called gerotechnology, is an inter- and multidisciplinary academic and professional field combining
Description
Gerontechnology is considered an adjunct to the promotion of human
The overall framework of gerontechnology may be seen as a matrix of domains of human activity: (1) health & self-esteem, housing &
Gerontechnology has much in common with other interdisciplinary domains, such as
Gerontological design
Gerontological design focuses on providing effective solutions to improve the way of life for ageing people, through gerontological knowledge and design research methods to obtain a better understanding of individuals' preferences and requirements.
Gerontological design also refers specifically to the study and practice of building design methods that support elderly users in the built environment. Some universities host professors, commonly in architecture or interior design departments, that specialize in the study and teaching of this design specialization. Not only does this include the examination of building design characteristics that impact older adults' physiological well-being, but it can also include the investigation of building design characteristics that impact informational needs (i.e. finding one's way around in a space) or social interaction needs (Campbell, 2012).
Between 2008 and 2030,
Publications
An international academic journal with delayed open-access, Gerontechnology [1], is published by the International Society for Gerontechnology (ISG) [2].
A comprehensive volume titled Gerontechnology [3] edited by Sunkyo Kwon has been published in 2016/2017.
Applications
Age technology (AgeTech) has been used to enhance aspects of insurance, domiciliary care, residential and nursing homes, health care, and risk management. The services may originate from various independent service providers or the interconnection of devices and services enabled through open APIs. Commercial businesses with an ageing component including the opportunities around the “Silver Economy” – providing services for the ‘wants’ of the older demographic, supporting independent living – addressing the ‘needs’ of the older demographic, longevity – extending healthy lifespan and geroscience.
In the US, startup Aging2.0 launched in 2015 and has since organized 170 meet-up events, opened volunteer chapters in 30 countries and signed up 30 companies for its own accelerator program. Amongst these, SingFit “makes it easy for everyone to become a music therapist”, WalkJoy is a wearable sensor that measures a person’s gait and alerts caregivers when someone could be about to fall. Active Protective is a personal airbag that inflates to stop someone breaking their hip. And Vynca records a person’s dying wishes, so families aren’t unsure when the time comes. The company Honor, which connects seniors, caregivers and their families, recently raised $20 million, the biggest funding in the emerging category so far. In Europe, London-based AgeTech startup Birdie secured a €7 million Series A to help elderly adults live independently while independent living system Kraydel has raised over £1m in innovation and public sector grants to develop its smart device which sits on top of the TV, linking elderly people to their carers or family members, through their TV screens.
Education
The first ISG Masterclass [4] for PhD students in 2006 produced a scheme to support gerontechnological research.
See also
- Gero-Informatics
- Gerontology
- Biomechatronics
References
- ^ Ministry of Community Development, Committee on Ageing Issues (2006). "Report on the Ageing population. Demographic Realities: Opportunities and Challenges" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 28, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
- ^ U.S. Census Bureau (March 2004). "Global population at a glance: 2002 and beyond. International Brief (Report No. WP/02-1)" (PDF). Washington, DC. Retrieved July 31, 2008.
External links
- The International Society for Gerontechnology (ISG)
- The official LinkedIn discussion group of ISG
- Gero-tech
- Aging and Accessible Technology
- MIT AgeLab
- Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST)
- IMIA Working Group on Smart Homes and Ambient Assisted Living
- Gerontological Society of America: Formal Interest Group on Technology & Aging
- Active and Assisted Living Programme
- 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.