Gerontechnology
for successful aging:
From compensation
to enhancement
Ryoko Fukuda(Graduate School of Media and Governance,
Keio University, JAPAN)

What is “Gerontechnology”?
• Gerontechnology = Gerontology + Technology• The study of technology and aging for theimprovement of the daily functioning of the elderly• Similar to “universal design”, “barrier‐free design” etc.,
but especially aiming to older adults

Five perspectives of Gerontechnology

Function

1. Clarify the aging process

2. How to avoid
the declinationof functions

3. How tocompensate thedeclined functions
4. How to support
the people withdeclined functions

AgePlus: How to enrich the daily
lives of older adults

5. How to support not
only care receivers but
also care givers

Technologies which is used to avoid thedeclination of functions

Physical training
machineVideo game for trainingof physical andcognitive function

Care facility withbarrierTechnologies which compensate thedeclined functions

GlassesHearing aids

SticksWheel chairs

Technologies to support the people withdeclined functions

Electric plug whichis easy to unplug

Kitchen shelf withlift
Wash machine withtilted drum
Easy to take laundry
in and out

Toilet lift

Technologies to support the people withdeclined functions
Radio with larger display,dials and buttons
Listening of last 10 sec orlistening with slower
speech rate is possible

Keyboard with larger labels
Remote control
unit with larger
buttons

Technologies to support care receivers
and care givers: Robots

Robot formoving

Therapy robots communicate
with the elderly with help of AI
Robot suits

Toilet robot detects
excretion and
immediately
vacuums it into thetank

Home assistant robot
does cleaning and otherhouse keepingTechnologies to support care receivers
and care givers: Watch‐over systemMobile phone withpedometer
Sensor installed in charge
station detects movementof the user
Amount of activity is mailed
to family members

Electric kettle with internetconnection
Usage history is mailed tofamily members and alsoavailable on the special
WebsiteTechnologies toenrich the daily lives:
ICTSimple
mobile phone
without mailand any otherfunctions
Smart phone with simple
menu, guidance function,
larger fonts, higher display
luminance and contrast,
and haptic feedback

Mobile phone with simple menu,
guidance function, larger fonts,
higher display luminance and contrast

Visualfeedback+Hapticfeedback

Technologies to enrich the daily lives: ICT
Use of ICT realizes…
• Communication with otherpeople• Telemedicine• Personal healthcare• Online shopping• Getting informed about
various things• Maintaining (and improving)cognitive function
Older workers use tablet to get anorder of leaves for food decorationDifficulties for older adults and solutionsin use of ICT
Difficulties
Too small and closely‐
arranged devices/elements
to see and operateLess experience with “high‐technologies”
Not know how they canutilize ICT and what is goodfor themselves

Solutions
Make devices/elements
larger and distinguishable
Make ICT devices easy tooperate (in an intuitive way)
Provide help function
Give information about useof ICT (if possible, withconsideration for personalneeds and interests)

Influence of technology on the daily livesof older adults• Used Nintendo DSi XL “Personal Trainer Walking” and“Brain Age Express” for 4 weeks• Some participants played it over half an hour daily.
• As results, some participants walked more than before.
• Mood was also influenced; half of the participants weremore vigorous than 4 weeks before.
1000 steps / day

Number of steps per day
25201510508060
40200

Rating of mood (POMS)
Day 1 before trial
Day 1 after trial
Day 8Day 15Day 22Day 29 after trial
T‐A D A‐H V F C
T‐A: tension‐anxiety, D: depression‐dejection,
A‐H: anger‐hostility, V: vigor‐activity,
F: fatigue‐inertia, C: confusion‐bewilderment

Summary and points for discussion• Technologies to compensate the declined functions
and support the people with declined functions orcaregivers are already developed and implemented• Difficulties with use of high‐technologies are going
to be overcome, which have potential to enrichdaily lives of older adults• How can high‐technologies enrich daily lives ofolder adults?
• How such technologies can be implemented?