Intergenerational connections through technology: Insights from the Technology Use in Later Life multi-site study

Abstract With enhanced challenges to maintain social connections especially during times of social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for technology solutions grow. Technologies have become interwoven into the daily lives for many older adults. The Technology Use in Later Life (TILL) study investigated how the perceptions and use of technology both can foster new and leverage existing intergenerational relationships. Through a mixed methods study engaging older adults aged 70 years of age and greater across rural and urban sites in Canada and the UK (N=37), participants described how the interconnection between technology and intergenerational relationships was an integral component to social connectedness with others. Through a qualitative descriptive approach, it was noted that older adults leveraged intergenerational relationships with family and friends to adjust to new technologies and to remain connected to adult children and grandchildren especially when there is high geographic separation between them. Especially during times of COVID-19, younger family members can play an important role to introduce and teach older adults how to use, technologies such as digital devices, computers, and social networking sites. Participants emphasized the benefits of intergenerational connections to adopt and use technology in later life noting flexibility and willingness to overcome barriers to technology adoption and remain connected across the generations. The adoption and uptake of technologies may continue as viable options during times of social distancing to support older persons to remain independent, age in place, in both age-friendly cities and across rural geographies during and post COVID-19

Intergenerational Effects on the Impacts of Technology Use in Later Life: Insights from an International, Multi-Site Study

As the use of technology becomes further integrated into the daily lives of all persons, including older adults, it is important to investigate how the perceptions and use of technology intersect with intergenerational relationships. Based on the international multi-centered study Technology In Later Life (TILL), this paper emphasizes the perceptions of older adults and the interconnection between technology and intergenerational relationships are integral to social connectedness with others. Participants from rural and urban sites in Canada and the UK (n = 37) completed an online survey and attended a focus group. Descriptive and thematic analyses suggest that older adults are not technologically adverse and leverage intergenerational relationships with family and friends to adjust to new technologies and to remain connected to adult children and grandchildren, especially when there is high geographic separation between them. Participants referenced younger family members as having introduced them to, and having taught them how to use, technologies such as digital devices, computers, and social networking sites. The intergenerational support in the adoption of new technologies has important implications for helping older persons to remain independent and to age in place, in both age-friendly cities and in rural communities. The findings contribute to the growing literature in the fields of gerontology and gerontechnology on intergenerational influences and the impacts of technology use in later life and suggest the flexibility and willingness of older persons to adopt to new technologies as well as the value of intergenerational relationships for overcoming barriers to technology adoption

Museum activities in dementia care: using visual analog scales to measure subjective wellbeing

Introduction: Previous research has shown that people with dementia and caregivers derive wellbeing-related benefits from viewing art in a group, and that facilitated museum object handling is effective in increasing subjective wellbeing for people with a range of health conditions. The present study quantitatively compared the impact of two museum-based activities and a social activity on the subjective wellbeing of people with dementia and their caregivers. Methods: A quasi-experimental crossover design was used. People with early to middle stage dementia and caregivers (N = 66) participated in museum object handling, a refreshment break and art-viewing in small groups. Visual analogue scales were used to rate subjective wellbeing pre and post each activity. Results: Mixed-design ANOVAs indicated wellbeing significantly increased during the session, irrespective of the order in which the activities were presented. Wellbeing significantly increased from object-handling and art-viewing for those with dementia and caregivers across pooled orders, but did not in the social activity of a refreshment break. An end-of-intervention questionnaire indicated that experiences of the session were positive. Conclusion: Results provide a rationale for considering museum activities as part of a broader psychosocial, relational approach to dementia care and support the use of easy to administer visual analogue scales as a quantitative outcome measure. Further partnership working is also supported between museums and healthcare professionals in the development of non-clinical, community-based programmes for this population

An embedded interfacial network stabilizes inorganic CsPbI₃ perovskite thin films

The black perovskite phase of CsPbI(3) is promising for optoelectronic applications; however, it is unstable under ambient conditions, transforming within minutes into an optically inactive yellow phase, a fact that has so far prevented its widespread adoption. Here we use coarse photolithography to embed a PbI(2)-based interfacial microstructure into otherwise-unstable CsPbI(3) perovskite thin films and devices. Films fitted with a tessellating microgrid are rendered resistant to moisture-triggered decay and exhibit enhanced long-term stability of the black phase (beyond 2.5 years in a dry environment), due to increasing the phase transition energy barrier and limiting the spread of potential yellow phase formation to structurally isolated domains of the grid. This stabilizing effect is readily achieved at the device level, where unencapsulated CsPbI(3) perovskite photodetectors display ambient-stable operation. These findings provide insights into the nature of phase destabilization in emerging CsPbI(3) perovskite devices and demonstrate an effective stabilization procedure which is entirely orthogonal to existing approaches

Physically Active Leisure and the Transition to Retirement: The Value of Context

The purpose of this paper is to explore the everyday experiences of physically active leisure during the transition to retirement. Twenty-five adults aged 47–66 who were recently retired or nearing retirement blogged during three different two-week sessions over one year and participated in follow up focus groups. Data were analysed using initial, focused, and selective coding. Findings provided insights into participants’ experiences of physically active leisure in the context of their everyday lives. First, increased freedom in daily schedules led to both appreciation for spontaneity and a desire for structure. Second, participants experienced new constraints related to the loss of social networks and work-related physical activity. Finally, participants described physically active leisure as being connected to meaningful outcomes such as enjoying the outdoors, stress-relief, or socializing with family and friends. Physically active leisure was described as one health priority among many and one of several healthy leisure alternatives

Blogging into Retirement: Using Online Research Methods to Understand Leisure among Baby Boomers

Leisure scholars have argued that Internet research can be used to reach a broader audience, particularly as seniors use the Internet to have fun (e.g., playing games, sharing stories). In this paper, we explore the challenges and opportunities afforded by online qualitative data collection to study leisure among baby boomers who participated in a multi-author blog. We review insights gained regarding participants' positive and negative experiences with blogging as part of a research project, the process of negotiating the researchers' roles in terms of participating in and managing the blog, and strengths and limitations of the process in generating quality data (e.g., varying levels of engagement and reflection). Recommendations regarding online qualitative research with older adults are also discussed

CMOS receiver array with 100 channels on 1 mm(2) chip area based on self-calibrating self-regenerative sense-amplifiers operating at 200 Mbit/s/channel

Parallel optical interconnects may become the communication method of choice to achieve future high bandwidth data transfer between chips or MCM's. For this purpose, an integrated CMOS detector approach is favorable at the light-reception side, so Flip-chip of detectors is no longer required. In this paper we present an integrated differential CMOS detector layout which gives a flat frequency response of 0.1A/W with a -3dB bit rate over 450Mbit/s/ch (wavelength of 860nm) in standard 0.6 mu technology. The detector works following the Spatially Modulated Light detector (SML-detector) principle. Based on this SML-detector we fabricated a dense detector/receiver array consisting of 100 channels on one square mm Si area in 0.6 mu standard CMOS. The detector area is 50x50 mu(2). The detector signal is amplified and latched by a self-regenerative sense-amplifier, which is self-calibrating for increased array homogeneity and receiver yield. The power consumption per receiver channel is as low as 1.1mW and the received light power at 200Mbit/s is 25.1 mu W (at a BER<1e(-12)). Measured standard deviation on the output jitter is 96ps and the measured worst case channel to channel output delay variation is 200ps. Future CMOS technology will improve the maximum detector/receiver bit-rate as well as the attainable sensitivity.status: publishe

CuTCNQ resistive nonvolatile memories with a noble metal bottom electrode

Resistive electrical switching of the organic semiconductor Cu-tetracyanoquinodimethane (CuTCNQ) was investigated between gold bottom and aluminum top contacts. Corresponding Au/CuTCNQ/Al crossbar memories achieved several thousand write/erase cycles. The switching process was further studied by current-time measurements, and temperature-dependent measurements of the on state conductivity. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.status: publishe

Mushroom microlenses: Optimized microlenses by reflow of multiple layers of photoresist

A novel type of photoresist microlenses is conceived. The characteristic of these lenses is their mushroom shape: the lens dome is located at a certain controllable distance from the substrate, and the curvature of the lens is larger than that of traditional truncated-sphere lenses. These mushroom microlenses are equilibrium-state, stable products of reflow that are obtained when starting from a multilayer photoresist stack. Integration on light-emitting diodes results in enhanced output efficiency and directivity: a vertical-to-surface emission enhancement of up to a factor of 8 has been achieved.status: publishe