ISG Gerontechnology 2010: Conference Notes

ISG = International Society of Gerontechnology; May 27-30, 2010, Marriott Pinnacle Hotel, Vancouver BC

Dr. A. Sixsmith, Dr. G. Gutman (editors); Opening address: Franco A. (ISG President)

Keynotes

[Dishman]

Dishman E. Changing practices: Home and community based care technologies for independent living. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):64; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.003.00 Keywords: independent living, health innovation, aging services

• intel health
  • http://intel.com/healthcare
• Intel ageing experience study - ethnographic approach
• past research: Paul Allen (MS): nursing home of the future (~20 years ago)
• shifting left on cost vs. quality of life scale, moving from clinical to community to home-based care
• TRiL centre (Ireland), affiliated organisation - ethnographic research - Building Bridges study
• Case study: Virtual ride sharing (kiosk implementation)
• cognitive assistance - dementia/MCI - fear of social interaction (answering the door/phone)
• OrcaTech: observing gameplay (i.e. Solitaire / matching games) - # games played, time taken/# turns, # wins/losses
• prompting: data visualisation to track/promote social interaction
• TRiL - gait/fall analysis, magic carpets for fall detection

[Beard]

Beard J. Innovative approaches to dealing with population ageing. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):64; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.002.00 Keywords: ageing, technology, frailty, social integration

• WHO panel on ageing
• fastest ageing in less-developed countries (i.e. Brazil);
  • "rich countries have grown rich before growing old; poor countries will grow old before growing rich";
  • universal health care, government pensions, care dependencies - issues
• age-friendly cities initiative (i.e. NYC); remaining engaged physically, socially, economically
• re-thinking ageing - opportunity to work until 100 y.o.;
  • the 1000-hour work year as a viable alternative to the 40-hour work week
  • solution for all working age people? opting in and out?
• goal: convergence of every-day technology
• genetic screening for those at risk of hereditary disease - insurance risk?
• goal: data infrastructure: linkage and internet health care
• 1.6 billion > 60 y.o. in developed world - what to do?

[Tinker]

Tinker A. What is the contribution of technology to ageing in place? Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):65; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.005.00 Keywords: ageing in place, technology, frailty, integration of services

• U of King's College, London
• comparative cost of ageing in place vs. moving into a care facility?
• REKI research, home remodelling - adapting existing homes - we must be realistic about remodelling budgets
• viable option for the rich: move into a hotel / cruise ship
• terminology for gerontechnology / assistive technology / aids, adaptations, home improvement
• ref: Charness 08
• ref: use of computers/internet - european senior watch survey 2000 survey (2000)
  • types of older technology users: digitally challenged / technological open-minded / perpetual first-timers / technological front-runners
  • 53% keen to learn about new technology (over 70)
• addressed ambient assisted living (AAL), reablement; telemedicine / embedded systems in clothing / implants
• are we to do away with terminology / tech jargon?
• surveillance in the home rather than restraints
• ref: Charness + Cjaza '05 - SPARC initiative , KT-equal initiative
• ref: Cambridge U press - '_Technology and Ageing_' in 'Introduction to Gerontology' (in press)

[Fernie]

Fernie G.R. Technologies for caregivers of frail elders. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):65; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.004.00 Keywords: caregivers, carers, technology, design, commercialisation

• Toronto rehab institute - moving people back home
• family CGs are major CG population
• reality check: no new homes / major renovations to existing homes
• CGs are stressed physically (heavy lifting), mentally (excessive monitoring)
  • CGs unable to live their own life
• alleviating the stress on CGs - evidence of accessible homes
• the environment is an 'evidence-free zone'
• TRI's Challenging Environment Assessment Lab (CEAL)
  • simulating dangerous environments (winter streets on incline, bus stops, earthquakes, simulating falls, etc.)
• toilets and stairwells are more difficult and challenging than computers and phones; critiquing the ISG's bias towards the latter
• MGMT of multi-sensory input (driving and cell phone ~ walking and talking)
• FICCDAT 2011 - June, Tour of CEAL - festival of international conferences on caregiving, disability, ageing and technology (http://ficcdat.ca)

Keynote Panel: GT around the world

[Cornet] (France)

• Britt Ostlund (Lund U) - human factors => human actors
• economical / sustainable model needed for GT
• stresses need for mobility and miniaturisation
• a need for a data bank of GT innovations / products available
  • http://cnsa.fr - a public organisation - what products work?
• technology to support/complement human / CG presence

[Sanford] (USA)

• lacking policies in the US to drive GT research
• current state of research focuses on prosthetics and therapeutics - immediate to health; reimbursed for GT for medical conditions only
• promotion of ADLs in communities
• a need for design of tech independent of context, establishment of research on activity monitoring, assistive technology, standalone services
  • current tech is non-residential, stigma attached => high tech abandonment, clutter
• trying to lobby/adopt WHO's ICF - int'l classification of functioning
• a need to adopt UD as intervention strategy for participation of all people, less tech abandonment - UD: activity and participation, eliminate need for individual assistive devises
• NCSU (97) principles of UD:
  • equitable use / avoid segregating users
  • flexibility of use (choice in methods, R/L options)
  • simple and intuitive use (consistent w/ expectations)
  • perceptible information, multimodal and redundant
  • tolerance for errors
  • low physical effort- minimise repetitive actions, sustained effort
  • size and space for approach + use, clear line of sight to important elements, reachable components
• US policy does not yet support UD

[Wang] (Taiwan)

• Nan Kan U of Taiwan - industrial design background
• GT has been in Taiwan as an industry for 6 years
• smart home lab pilot project
• wheelchair-car integrations - allow wheelchair driver to drive the car
• some silly videos

Symposia

Intelligent systems for assessment of aging changes (ISAAC): Deploying unobtrusive home-based technology

Kaye J. Intelligent systems for assessment of aging changes (ISAAC): Deploying unobtrusive home-based technology. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):121; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.107.00 Keywords: dementia, mild cognitive impairment, in-home assessment

[Kaye]

Kaye J. Overview of the intelligent systems for assessment of aging changes (ISAAC) study. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):122; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.108.00 Keywords: dementia, mild cognitive impairment, in-home assessment, technology and ageing

• deploying unobtrusive home-based technology
• ambient assessment, real-time, motor, cognitive
• Oregon Health & Science University
• PoCL lab (Point of Care Lab), living lab

[Hayes]

Hayes T. Unobtrusive assessment of activity patterns associated with mild cognitive impairment. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):122-123; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.109.00 Keywords: dementia, mild cognitive impairment, cognitive aging, in-home assessment

• longitudinal data for cognitive decline
• variance in ADLs greater in those w/ MCI vs. healthy subsets, also in walking speeds (using wavelets)
• 1 x 10^6, walks over 33 Mo, 113 subjects
  • MCI subjects most likely to have high variability in walking speeds
  • sleeping patterns - aMCI - less hours in bed, compared to healthy subjects and non-aMCI - less restless at night compared to healthy norms

[Jimison 1]

Jimison H. Home-based monitoring of computer use to detect aging change. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):123-124; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.110.00 Keywords: home monitoring, computer interactions, cognitive monitoring

• unobtrusive monitoring - mouse, keyboard speed, embedded cognitive metrics within adaptive games
  • 9 games test memory. divided attention, verbal fluency, planning - also monitors activity, speed, cog. metrics - a fusion of metrics for detection combined with other sensors
    • games analogous to neuropsychological tests: trail-making, digit span, digit-symbol matching
  • 80 weeks / computer use

[Pavel]

Pavel M. Fusion algorithms for home-based technology development. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):124; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.111.00 Keywords: ubiquitous computing, algorithms, data fusion, dementia, in-home assessment

• fusing of sensors - use of machine learning / state-transition models
• analysis done to relate speed of walking to cognitive function
  • i.e. abrupt change in distribution of walking speeds => stroke, gradual change => degenerative dementia
  • normal ageing and loss of working memory over time

[Wild]

Wild K. Unobtrusive in-home monitoring of cognitive and physical health: Reactions and perceptions of older adults. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):124-125; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.112.00 Keywords: attitudes, focus groups, elderly independence, in-home assessment

• 6 focus groups, 3 elders, 3 primary care contacts
• investigated data presentation - how to relate findings?
• privacy concerns change over time, more accepting

Canada-UK initiative on technology and dementia

Adlam T., Mihailidis A. Canada-UK initiative on technology and dementia. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):68; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.048.00 Keywords: dementia, assistive technology, implementation, UK, Canada

• AM: U of T, AT: BIME, U of Bath, UK
• sandpit methodology for addressing issues
• open-ended 'wish' question on interviews/surveys are difficult - a library of potential solutions unknown to PwDs/CGs
• use a variety of communication tactics and aids necessary for speaking w/ older users w/ dementia
  • examine body language, facial expression, poise
• OshKosh enjoyment scale - verbal and nonverbal behaviour, interacting w/ oneself

[Astell 1]

Astell A., Parsons M.S. CIRCA: Technology to prompt reminiscing and conversation between residents in care homes and care staff. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):68-69; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.049.00 Keywords: dementia, technology, reminiscence

• U of St. Andrews, UK - collaboration w/ UBC
• no practice-training - touch-screens only
• provided a live demo - audio/video/pictures - popular media, local media, generating conversation
• sanctuary care - not just novelty - but is this real work? whose duty?

[Mountain]

Mountain G., Craig C. What do people really want? Meeting the needs of people with early dementia and their carers through technology. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):69-70; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.050.00 Keywords: self-management, consultation, technologies

• Sheffiled Hallam U, UK
• what do people want? post-diagnosis?
• ref: Topo, P (2007) - patients vs. CGs: journal of applied gerontology 28(17) - (lit review)
• 12 dimensions of self-mgmt - being able to set their own agenda
• do not focus solely on self-care and safety - fun too! aesthetics matter

[Martin]

Martin S., Galbraith M.G., Wallace G., Mulvenna M.D. Transferring research and innovation Living Lab (TRAIL): Experience of a living lab. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):70; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.051.00 Keywords: living labs, user engagement, open innovation

• U of Ulster, UK
• TRAIL - transferring research and innovation living lab
• experiences: HCI approaches evaluated - user-driven models,
• assumptions about PwDs and HCI methodology

[Boger]

Boger J., Turcotte N., Quraishi M., Dunal L. Assistive technologies used to support occupations by community-dwelling older adults with dementia and informal caregivers. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):70-71; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.052.00 Keywords: assistive technology, dementia, daily occupations, older adults, technology use

• U of T, Baycrest institute
• AT for community-dwelling dementia for ADL - engineering + OT perspective
• types of AD used in the name to support occupations; interviewed OTS + informal caregivers for a consensus on what technology is in use
  • enablers and barriers for AT use
  • overlap b/w OTs and informal CGs - what are they using?

[Pigot]

Pigot H. When cognitive assistance brings autonomy in daily living: the DOMUS experience. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):71; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.053.00 Keywords: assistive technology, cognitive assistance, cognitive deficits, mobile agenda, smart home

• U of Sherbrooke, DOMUS lab, Canada; examining cognitive assistance
• autonomy in ADLs and allowing PwDs to continue ADLs
• providing context-aware ATs, personalised approach
• based on user habits, minimal interaction, facilitate communication b/w patient and CG
• DOMUS smart home, test scenarios/experiments
• SemAssist - info tool for semantic knowledge (i.e. cooking assistance)
• MOBUS, Ap@lz - personal organiser/mobile assistant

Tracking older adults of various levels of cognitive health: Findings of the SenTra consortium

Oswald F., Wahl H.W., Shoval N. Tracking older adults of various levels of cognitive health: Findings of the SenTra consortium. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):153; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.082.00 Keywords: GPS, out-of-home mobility, cognitive impairment, dementia, old age

• participating institutions: U of Heidelburg (DE), U of Goethe (Frankfurt, DE), Hebrew U of Jerusalem
• environmental gerontology, cognitive ageing, time geography - multi-method approach
• focus on urban-living PwDs, MCI, using GPS/GIS, mobility diaries
  • involvement of family, CGs, partners
  • longitudinal study

[Isaakson]

Isaakson M., Shoval N. Repetition and routine in the lives of elderly people. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):153-154; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.083.00 Keywords: GPS, spatial activity, routine, old age, out of home mobility

• tracking technology: STaR unit (GPS, GSM Modem, RF component), home unit + RF watch
  • discards data when RF is more than *m from monitoring unit (forgotten at home)
• understanding routines and geography of memory loss
  • using spider diagram geospatial visualisation
  • using sequence align methods (adapted to social sciences from biochemistry method - detecting sequence changes and shifts) (ClustalG -> ClustalX)
  • mapping types of days of older users, classified after alignment and taxonomic organisation;
• during cog. decline, routines become disrupted / missing, travel closer to home, more variability
• contact: michal.isaacson @ mail.huji.ac.il (Hebrew U of Jerusalem)

[Oswald]

Oswald F., Wahl H.W., Voss E., Schilling O., Seidl U., Freytag T., Wettstein M. Tracking older adults of various levels of cognitive health in the project SenTra: Findings from a psychology perspective. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):154-155; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.084.00 Keywords: out-of-home mobility, cognitive impairment, psychology, well-being, old age

• psychology perspective of the SenTra project
• analysis of mobility diaries
  • 141 users - 95 healthy, 30 MCI, 16 PwD
  • distribution, freq., alone vs. w/ others
  • mood + mobility, variability according to diagnosis
  • greater emotional variability among impaired
• results: groups differ in max dist/day - time, freq., action range - related to cog. health
• does tracking data support diary data?

[Auslander]

Auslander G.K., Gitlitz T., Werner S., Landau R., Shoval N., Heinik J. Caregiver burden of family members of cognitively impaired old people: The relationship with elders’ quality of life and time-space behavior. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):155; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.085.00 Keywords: out-of-home mobility, cognitive impairment, psychology, well-being, old age

• S. Werner - Hebrew U of Jerusalem
• 75 PwDs and CGs, MMSE > 21
• higher subjective burden (correlated w/ lower MMSE) -> greater variability in mobility

[Landau]

Landau R., Werner S., Auslander G.K., Shoval N., Heinik J. Attitudes of family and professional caregivers towards the use of GPS for people with dementia. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):155-156; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.086.00 Keywords: GPS, family caregiver, professional caregiver, attitude, dementia

• S. Werner - Hebrew U of Jerusalem
• efforts to reduce burden on CGs; what about ethical burden?
• CGs want to enhance safety of patients, reduce CG distress
• individual autonomy vs. privacy - is it dehumanising?
  • stigma attached to tracking - likens to tracking released convicts
• study w/ professional and family CGs, OTs - attitudes of GPS for PwDs
  • focus group, questionnaire, Likert scale Q's, factor analysis
  • securing CG peace of mind (esp. family)
  • respect for PwD's autonomy (esp. pro CG/OT)
  • restricted support for device - only for severe stages of dementia
  • how to oblige PwD to use device?
  • possibility of objection to the device
• GPS as a 'protected milieu of autonomy
  • families much more in favour of GPS than pro CGs
  • upside: peace of mind, safety,
  • downside: opposed to tracking and lack of autonomy

[Wahl]

Wahl H.W. Potential of SenTra for gerontechnology research and intervention. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):156; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.087.00 Keywords: out-of-home mobility, cognitive impairment, intervention, old

• 'Big Brother is watching you' concern
• using SenTra for early diagnostic testing of cognitive function

Paper Sessions

Dementia Support

[Ho]

Ho K., Novak Lauscher H., Stacy E., Jagdis R. InterCultural Online Health Network (iCON): Technology: Enabled wellness support for dementia patients and caregivers. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):215; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.296.00 Keywords: dementia, self-management, public education, web-based resources

[Perälä]

Perälä S., Ämmälä M., Latvala R., Mäkelä K. Location based technology for memory impaired elderly. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):242; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.274.00 Keywords: health technology, elderly care, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease

[Spreeuwenberg]

Spreeuwenberg M.D., Willems C.G.M.H., Verheesen H., Schols J., Witte L.P. de Dynamic lighting as a tool to influence the day-night rhythm of clients with psychogeriatric disorders: A pilot study in a Dutch nursing home. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):250; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.278.00 Keywords: dynamic lighting, nursing home, actimetry

[Astell 2]

Astell A. Developing computer games for people with dementia. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):189; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.289.00 Keywords: dementia, technology, guidelines

[Baecker 1]

Baecker R.M., Shim N., Tonon K., Pandeliev V., Birnholtz J., Stern Y., Steinerman J.R., Moffatt K. ‘Serious’ online gaming environments to enhance brain fitness in senior citizens. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):190; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.265.00 Keywords: online games, video games, cognitive reserve, mental aging, cognitive prostheses

Social Interaction & Leisure

[Valk]

Valk L. de, Kruitwagen S., Bekker M.M., Romero N.A., Sturm J. Activator: Playful persuasion to support older adults’ social and physical activities. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):257; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.240.00 Keywords: independent living, persuasion, social and physical activity

[Bekker]

Bekker M.M., Romero N.A., Sturm J., Valk L. de, Kruitwagen S. Persuading older adults to social and physical activities. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):194; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.229.00 Keywords: independent living, persuasion, social and physical activity

Cognitive & Neuropsychological Support

[Baecker 2]

Baecker R.M., Levy A., Massimi M., Tonon K., Watson M., Fenwick K., Scott W., Rochon E., Mulholland D., Laird L., Black S.E., Moffatt K., Poorshahid G. Context-aware mobile phones to aid seniors with word recall and production. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):190-191; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.311.00 Keywords: cognitive prostheses, senior citizens, anomic aphasia, context-aware, mobile devices

[Jimison 2]

Jimison H.B., Pavel M., Hatt W.J., Chan M., Larimer N., Yu C.H. Delivering a multi-faceted cognitive health intervention to the home. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):224; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.297.00 Keywords: cognitive intervention, home health, home monitoring

[Beaudoin]

Beaudoin L.P., Winne P.H. Implications of psychological principles for designing software to improve memory performance in older adults. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):192; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.228.00 Keywords: cognitive aging, memory, retrieval practice

Interface Design Issues II

[Messier]

Messier C., Miller D.I., Gagnon M., Talbot V. I hate Emily: Why interactive voice response systems are unfriendly with older people and how to fix it. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):231; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.221.00 Keywords: computerized telephone service, memory, attention, interactive voice response

[Benton]

Benton S., Altemeyer B., Manning B. Behavioural prototyping: A method for aligning technological capacity with behavioural function for the over 65’s. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):196; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.290.00 Keywords: behavioural profiling, market alignment, aging

[Abdulrazak]

Abdulrazak B., Chakroun O., Malik Y. LocSys: Localization framework for smart spaces. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):346; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.314.00 Keywords: hybrid localization solution, smart spaces, pervasive computing

Posters

[O'Brien]

O'Brien D., Knapp R.B., Thompson O., Craig D. Developing acceptable software: Preparing to test the efficacy of cognitive stimulation in preventing dementia. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):318; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.158.00 Keywords: dementia prevention, cognitive decline, technology acceptance

• Donal O'Brien (ob.donal @ gmail . com) - Queen's University, Belfast UK
• focus groups to evaluate brain games
• evaluation - results should be individual / not compared to a group / population norms

[Wilson]

Wilson R., Rochon E., Mihailidis A. Examining effective communications strategies employed by caregivers assisting individuals with Alzheimer’s disease during oral care. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):339; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.190.00 Keywords: dementia, caregiver, communication, activities of daily living, assistive technology

• U of T;
• hand-washing COACH system (Mihailidis)
• multimodal prompts when appropriate
• users: long-term care impaired MMSE 0-22

[Wright]

Wright P., Soroka A.J., Belt S. Audio changes how older people follow animated instructions. Gerontechnology 2010; 9(2):340; doi:10.4017/gt.2010.09.02.191.00 Keywords: instructions, multimedia, memory, audio, animation

• U of Cardiff, UK
• audio + following instructions
• pre-tests: digit span, vis spatial memory pretests
• task: arranging a 7-piece puzzle
• watched and additionally listened to instructions
• results: time / accuracy did not differ b/w visual and visual+audio group
  • differed significantly on pretest performance
  • listeners w/ higher memory were faster; no assoc. w/ vis memory, silent users correlated with vis spatial memory scores
• different strategies - allow for both! offer modality choices

Master Class

[Leung]

Leung R. (UBC) Design Guidelines for Mobile Technologies for Healthy Older Adults.

• icon design, multi-level interfaces / multiple levels of complexity, mobile-desktop interaction
• survey studies

Trade Show

[OrcaTech]

• intelligent games for cognitive impairment detection; William Hatt (developer), medical informatics;
  • tests paired w/ neuropsychological battery tests; i.e. "scavenger hunt" game = trails test
  • data visualisation for conveying results over time; # games played, personal performance; not comparing to population means
  • also unobtrusively tracking time taken for turns/games, time between games as metrics for diagnosis

Closing Ceremony

• ISG student chapter - Stacy Stewart
• A Sixsmith: themes:
  • increase in training and student involvement
  • older people actively involved in participatory design
  • older people not technophobic
  • social participation, universal design
  • ISG community is trans-disciplinary rather than multidisciplinary
  • translation of knowledge -> products, changing of policy
• upcoming events:
  • ISG*ISARC 2012 - Eindhoven, NL - Work, leisure, robotics for ageing - June 26-30, 2012
  • FICCDAT 2011, Toronto
  • Ambient Assisted Living 2010 - Odense, Denmark - AAL forum, AAL investment forum - 15-17 Sept. - http://aalforum.eu