Potholes in effective use of innovative technology
DISCLAIMER
in elderly
y careNo portion of these materials is tobe used or disseminated by any
method without the expressed
written consent of the presenter(s)and the German Institute forJapanese Studies (DIJ).

Helinä Melkas
D.Sc. (Tech.), Adjunct Professor
L
Lappeenrantat U
Universityi
it offTechnology, Lahti Unit, Finland
Tel. +358 40 588 1400
helina.melkas@lut.fi

Special Session 2: Innovation, ProductDevelopment and Technologies
Helinä Melkas

Tokyo, 3 Oct. 2008

Background of the presentation: Research anddevelopment
pprojects
p jin Finland• Empirical research in several large research anddevelopment projects:• ”Safety and communication services in the living
environment of an elderly person”, 2001–2004, nationwide
id• ”Customer service work and gerontechnology: A humanimpact assessment”, 2005–2007, nation-wide• ”Good living at home of the elderly: A productivity
improvement project for municipalities”, 2005–2007,
regional• ”Smart homes pilot”, 2007–2008, regional

Helinä Melkas

Tokyo, 3 Oct. 2008

Objectives and viewpoints of the research• The objective was to search for and solve problems andcontradictions in the relationship between humancentred care and technology• Research environments: sheltered accommodation andelderly
ld l people’s
l ’ hhome care
• Gerontechnology = research, development andimplementation of particular technologies for the benefitof elderly people (e.g., safety alarm systems)• Other types of technology related to elderly care werealso investigated: customer information systems,computers, camera supervision, GP navigators…

Helinä Melkas

Tokyo, 3 Oct. 2008

Research materials• SomeS
170 interviewsi t iwith
ith FiFinnishi h care workers
kiin ththedifferent projects• Survey data (questionnaires)• Impact assessment processes on technology use• Other research-based development work: thematicworkshops mapping of work processes
workshops,processes, etcetc.

Helinä Melkas

Tokyo, 3 Oct. 2008

Roles of gerontechnology
Ger•
•
•
•
•

Helinä Melkas

Preventing problems
Emphasizing and utilizing strengths
Compensating for weakening abilities
Supporting care work
Furthering research

Tokyo, 3 Oct. 2008

Methods: Human Impact Assessment (HuIA)

HUMAN= (A group of)f) people
l targetedtt dbby a ddecision,i iplanl oraction (or indirectly affected by it)

IMPACT= A decision always affects something (for instance,impact on health, well-being and work processes)

ASSESSMENT= Assessment produces information that can be applied
to support decision-making and development efforts

Helinä Melkas

Tokyo, 3 Oct. 2008

An impact assessment process
4 D
4.
Drafting
fti action
ti plansl
3. Planning related to weakeninggg of impact
ptypesypor strengthening
2. Assessment ofsignificance of impact types
1. Identification ofdifferent types of impact

Helinä Melkas

Tokyo, 3 Oct. 2008Technology use has many impacts• Many impacts on elderly people, their near relatives, careg– but these are often overlooked
workers and organizations• With the help of impact assessments, positive, negative andneutral impacts of technology use are identified• Coping at home and at work may be enhanced throughempowerment and a positive assessment culture• Systematic impact assessments• bring forth different viewpoints in a thorough manner• make it easier to weaken negative effects and strengthen
positive ones
• no right or wrong answersHelinä Melkas

Tokyo, 3 Oct. 2008

An example of technology that was focused on inour projects
p j• A high-techgwell-being
g wristband
is a Finnish invention• It automatically monitors 24hhours
adday ththe user’s’ activity
ti it
level by measuring micro andmacro movement, skinttemperaturet
andd skinki conductivity
d ti it• Manual and automatic alarms

Helinä Melkas

Tokyo, 3 Oct. 2008

Impacts of technology use on elderly people’s life
at home or in sheltered accommodation• Technology may cause inequality and substitute humane at o s psrelationships• Prejudice and fear = need for time and encouragement• Technology must be tailored to the user in question; impacts are
i di id lindividual• A motivating factor: increases accessibility; helps to maintainhealth and activity• Need for orientation into use, reminding about use and follow-up
of use and related conditions• It is vital to understand the whole of life; technology does not help
as a separate ”island”

Helinä Melkas

Tokyo, 3 Oct. 2008

Impacts of technology use on elderly care workand care workers• Conflicts and disagreements, prejudice and fear = need for time andencouragement (lack of thorough orientation = long-term negativeconsequences)• Loss of resources or financial savings• Increase or decrease of haste and coping at work
• An increased amount of information on customers• A motivating factor (work becomes visible in a new way; image of theworkplaceo p ace cchanges)
a ges)• Meaning of technology must be understood as part of work processes(not a separate ”island”)• Individual or group-related differences (e(e.g.,g short-term – permanent
staff, junior – senior staff, women – men)

Helinä Melkas

Tokyo, 3 Oct. 2008

Impacts of technology use on near relatives ofelderly
yppeoplep• Ignorance and prejudice =provision of ggeneral information and orientation• need for p• need for assistance and support in acquisition, use and followup of technology use of their close ones
• Understanding needed in order to avoid giving inappropriatetechnology to a person who suffers from dementia or othermemory problems• Understanding needed concerning ’opportunity costs’ of expensive
technology from the point of view of the elderly person
p – how technology
gy use can• Attention to human relationships
support them, not substitute themHelinä Melkas

Tokyo, 3 Oct. 2008

Impacts of technology use on service systems
and decision-makers• Needs for• novel competences
pand new knowledgeg ((e.g.,g , competence
pto givegguidance in technology use and competence to assess impacts)• network management skills (service networks consisting of the public,
private and non-governmentalpg
third sectors))• process management skills (e.g., acquisition, introduction, orientationand follow-up processes) and change management skills (e.g.,common rules of the workplacepwith regardgto technology
gy use))• information and knowledge management skills (increase in
information on the elderly person and other types of information – who
handles it;; how;; where,, and when?))• Loss of resources or financial savings

Helinä Melkas

Tokyo, 3 Oct. 2008

Six potholes in effective technology use (1/2)
1. Impact assessments on technology use are missing
although they should form part of development of service
quality
2 Lack of awareness concerning the need for competent2.
and tailored orientation into technology use (including
elderly people, their near relatives, care work community –and the service network
network, where appropriate)
3. Insufficient consideration of aims, ethical issues andacceptabilitypy of technologygy ((attitudes of different people)p p )Helinä Melkas

Tokyo, 3 Oct. 2008

Six potholes in effective technology use (2/2)
4. Awareness-raising needed among decision-makers
concerning elderly care
care, technology use in it and impacts oftechnology use
5. Public discussion on technology use is black-and-white(negative – positive), although it should cover ’all colours’(different users, needs and aims of use)
6 Suitability of technology for all age groups – Design for All
6.
thinking should be encouraged and users’ views taken
into account in technology development (not just those of”experts” and young users)

Helinä Melkas

Tokyo, 3 Oct. 2008

Technology use is collaboration

Thank you!
Helinä Melkas

Tokyo, 3 Oct. 2008