Two mega-trends of modern culture, the rapid aging of the population and the inexorable advances in technology, have fueled the development of gerotechnology the use of technology to sustain individual autonomy to an advanced age. This expansive book encompasses state-of-the-art research in gerotechnology and promising new technologies, products, as well as services that can improve activities of daily living, general health, and wellbeing of older individuals. It addresses current and future applications in such crucial areas as mobility and transportation, assistive devices, smart homes for senior citizens, in-home technologies, safety and privacy, and research and development highlighting - among others - design.
Topics include, but are not limited to: virtual environments as a research tool, sensation, perception, and cognition research advancements, novel accessibility challenges to information and communication technology, as well as the evolving characteristics of the elderly. These are among the welcome developments addressed in the book. Contributors from around the globe, including the UK, Germany, Japan, Canada, the Netherlands, Korea, the US, and more, bring unprecedented cross-cultural insight to the intersections of aging phenomena and technology.
Key Features:
Disseminates empirically proven findings and evidence-based theories, models, and concepts
Written by world-recognized leaders in the field of technology and aging
Reflects the global usage of gerotechnological applications
Includes new technologies, research, and applications for virtual environments, smart homes, assistive technology care, and robotics
Discusses computer-assisted social engagement, technology-facilitated caregiving, business case examples, and more "