Challenges in Developing Applications for Aging Populations

Elderly individuals can greatly benefit from the use of computer applications, which can assist in monitoring health conditions, staying in contact with friends and family, and even learning new things. However, developing accessible applications for an elderly user can be a daunting task for developers. Since the advent of the personal computer, the benefits and challenges of developing applications for older adults have been a hot topic of discussion. In this chapter, the authors discuss the various challenges developers who wish to create applications for the elderly computer user face, including age-related impairments, generational differences in computer use, and the hardware constraints mobile devices pose for application developers. Although these challenges are concerning, each can be overcome after being properly identified

Fall Prediction and Prevention Systems: Recent Trends, Challenges, and Future Research Directions.

Fall prediction is a multifaceted problem that involves complex interactions between physiological, behavioral, and environmental factors. Existing fall detection and prediction systems mainly focus on physiological factors such as gait, vision, and cognition, and do not address the multifactorial nature of falls. In addition, these systems lack efficient user interfaces and feedback for preventing future falls. Recent advances in internet of things (IoT) and mobile technologies offer ample opportunities for integrating contextual information about patient behavior and environment along with physiological health data for predicting falls. This article reviews the state-of-the-art in fall detection and prediction systems. It also describes the challenges, limitations, and future directions in the design and implementation of effective fall prediction and prevention systems

SHELDON Smart habitat for the elderly.

An insightful document concerning active and assisted living under different perspectives: Furniture and habitat, ICT solutions and Healthcare

Transportation for an Aging Population: Promoting Mobility and Equity for Low-Income Seniors

This study explores the travel patterns, needs, and mobility problems faced by diverse low-income, inner-city older adults in Los Angeles in order to identify solutions to their mobility challenges. The study draws information from: (1) a systematic literature review of the travel patterns of older adults; (2) a review of municipal policies and services geared toward older adult mobility in six cities; (3) a quantitative analysis of the mobility patterns of older adults in California using the California Household Travel Survey; and (4) empirical work with 81 older adults residing in and around Los Angeles’ inner-city Westlake neighborhood, who participated in focus groups, interviews, and walkabouts around their neighborhood

Seniors and Information Technology: Are We Shrinking The Digital Divide?

The “digital divide” has been present in the field of information technology (IT) since the inception of the digital computer. Throughout the course of history, one group (or more) has had better access to computer and information technology than another faction. For example: rich versus poor, young versus old, advanced societies versus less developed countries, etc. This disparity has existed for a variety of reasons, among them political, cultural, economic and even class or socioeconomic in nature. This paper examines one particular component of this phenomenon, the “gray divide” pertaining to the use of IT by our elderly, or senior citizens. By utilizing census data and marketing research, we paint a portrait of a vastly underrepresented target market pertaining to IT and IT-related products: our seniors. While the elderly have more assets and disposable income than their younger counterparts, by and large the IT industry is aimed squarely away from this ever-increasing group of consumers. We offer insights into this trend and offer suggestions for future research

a narrative review

Active healthy ageing (AHA) is a goal that several world organisations promote and is essential for modern societies where the average age is increasing. Physical activity (PA), including exercise, is a central aspect of achieving this goal, even though a high percentage of the population has high levels of sedentariness and low levels of PA. Therefore, this narrative review aimed to summarise and critically evaluate the existing literature that investigates technology-induced changes in PA levels and the possibility that these may produce active lifestyles, promoting AHA; this is unclear in the apparently healthy older adult population. Training protocols delivered via a website, similar to mobile applications, seem capable of increasing not only physical fitness but also PA levels, at least in the short term. Wearable active tracker devices (WATs), alone or together with websites, can lead to an increase in step count and average daily moderate PA in outdoor environments, as well as in specifically designed applications. Technology that can offer virtual physical games is an effective strategy to promote PA by overcoming certain barriers that may limit its practice in apparently healthy older adults. Currently, information and communication technologies (ICTs), and more generally new digital technologies, show great potential in increasing PA levels and reducing sedentary levels, at least in the short term. The heterogeneity of the proposed interventions and the frequent lack of follow-ups do not allow us to evaluate the effectiveness in the long term, which is crucial for the AHA process.9E1A-F9DD-3EB8 | Filipe Manuel ClementeN/

Older adults internet use, outdoor activity, and the urban environment : empirical analysis

In an ageing society, information technology (IT) can be a powerful tool to support older adults in staying physically, mentally, and socially active. A growing number of studies show positive effects of Internet use on active ageing. Specifically, understanding the relationship between older adults Internet use and their participation in outdoor activity has gained attention. However, little is known about the role of specific online activities, as previous research mainly considered general Internet use, e.g., writing emails and browsing the Web, which does not provide a rationale for increased outdoor activity. Another important factor affecting outdoor activity is the urban environment in which older adults live, especially as the environment can either motivate or hinder participation in outdoor activity. Against this backdrop, the aim of this thesis is to get a better understanding of the association between Internet use, the urban environment, and participation in outdoor activity. By adopting an ecological perspective, this dissertation is first in comprehensively assessing this association. Three studies provide empirical insights into patterns of factors and contribute an enhanced understanding of the association between older adults Internet use, the urban environment, and outdoor activity. In summary, this thesis contributes to a relevant growth of knowledge on older adults Internet use and outdoor activity. The approach in this thesis uncovered important differences in the roles of individual factors as well as environmental factors in explaining older adults outdoor activity. Based on this contributions, important implications for research can be identified. For instance, future research can use the conceptual framework as a basis to investigate further types of outdoor activities and further types of online activities, such as social networks and messaging services which attain increasing relevance for the group of older adults. Further, this dissertation also has some practical implications, for example, as all three studies showed that socio-demographic predictors play important different roles, the findings are specifically relevant to identify specific groups of older adults. For instance, developers and providers can tailor their services to the needs of older adults, e.g., by designing responsive and barrier-free interfaces that adapt to individual capabilities in cognition, vision, and motor function. Concluding, older adults should be encouraged to go online because the Internet increasingly provides information about opportunities and offerings in the city. The findings of this dissertation provide a rationale for the development of online services that offer neighborhood information and ultimately support older adults to be active outdoors.In einer alternden Gesellschaft kann Informationstechnologie (IT) ein wirksames Instrument sein, um ältere Menschen dabei zu unterstützen, körperlich, geistig und sozial aktiv zu bleiben. Eine zunehmende Anzahl von Studien zeigt positive Auswirkungen der Internetnutzung auf das aktive Altern. Insbesondere das Verständnis der Beziehung zwischen Internetnutzung älterer Menschen und ihrer Teilnahme an außerhäuslichen Aktivitäten hat Aufmerksamkeit erregt. Über die Rolle spezifischer Online-Aktivitäten ist jedoch wenig bekannt, da frühere Untersuchungen hauptsächlich die allgemeine Internetnutzung in Betracht zogen, z. B. das Schreiben von E-Mails und das Surfen im Internet, was keine Begründung für vermehrte außerhäusliche Aktivitäten liefert. Ein weiterer wichtiger Faktor, der außerhäusliche Aktivitäten beeinflusst, ist die städtische Umgebung, in der ältere Menschen leben. Insbesondere, da die städtische Umgebung die Teilnahme an außerhäuslichen Aktivitäten entweder fördern oder behindern kann. Vor diesem Hintergrund ist es das Ziel dieser Arbeit, den Zusammenhang zwischen Internetnutzung, städtischer Umgebung und Teilnahme an außerhäuslichen Aktivitäten besser zu verstehen. Durch die Übernahme einer ökologischen Perspektive geht es in dieser Dissertation zunächst darum, diesen Zusammenhang umfassend zu bewerten. Drei Studien liefern empirische Einblicke in Faktorenmuster und führen zu einem besseren Verständnis des Zusammenhangs zwischen der Internetnutzung älterer Menschen, der städtischen Umgebung und außerhäuslichen Aktivitäten. Zusammenfassend trägt diese Arbeit zu einem relevanten Wissenszuwachs über die Internetnutzung und außerhäuslichen Aktivität älterer Menschen bei. Der Ansatz in dieser Arbeit deckt wichtige Unterschiede in der Rolle individueller Faktoren sowie Umgebungsfaktoren bei der Erklärung der außerhäuslichen Aktivitäten älterer Menschen auf. Basierend auf diesen Beiträgen können wichtige Implikationen für die Forschung identifiziert werden. Beispielsweise kann die zukünftige Forschung den konzeptionellen Rahmen als Grundlage verwenden, um weitere Arten von außerhäuslichen Aktivitäten und weitere Arten von Online-Aktivitäten wie soziale Netzwerke und Messaging-Dienste zu untersuchen, die für ältere Menschen zunehmend an Bedeutung gewinnen. Darüber hinaus hat diese Dissertation auch einige praktische Auswirkungen, da beispielsweise alle drei Studien zeigten, dass soziodemografische Prädiktoren wichtige unterschiedliche Rollen spielen. Die Ergebnisse sind speziell relevant, um bestimmte Gruppen älterer Menschen zu identifizieren. Beispielsweise können Entwickler und Anbieter ihre Dienste auf die Bedürfnisse älterer Menschen zuschneiden, z.B. indem sie reaktionsschnelle und barrierefreie Schnittstellen entwerfen, die sich an die individuellen Fähigkeiten in Bezug auf Kognition, Vision und Motorik anpassen. Zusammenfassend sollten ältere Menschen motiviert werden, online zu gehen, da das Internet zunehmend Informationen über Möglichkeiten und Angebote in der Stadt bietet. Diese Dissertation hat erstmalig die spezifische Internetnutzung für Angebote und Möglichkeiten in der Nachbarschaft untersucht um außerhäusliche Aktivitäten älterer Menschen zu erklären. Die Ergebnisse liefern eine Begründung für die Entwicklung von Online-Diensten, die Nachbarschaftsinformationen anbieten (z.B. digitale Quartiersplattformen) und schließlich ältere Menschen dabei unterstützen, außerhäuslich aktiv zu sein

Bridging the digital divide for hard-to-reach groups

Boeltzig and Pilling identified specific groups of people who typically are not connected to the Internet and examined the circumstances of each - rural, poor, disabled, seniors, and ethnic minorities. They focused on how these groups of people, such as homebound individuals, could benefit most from using online government services. They also identified technical as well as social barriers that limit access. Their recommendations are aimed at both increasing access for these targeted groups and increasing use by individuals in the targeted groups. They also provide valuable recommendations aimed at service or application providers who have a major role in increasing both access and accessibility. The case studies resulted in insights and lessons that are broadly applicable. Based on the case studies, the authors offer recommendations that are practical and serve as useful guides to practitioners and policy makers at all levels of government