Gerontechnology
Advanced Solutions for an Aging Society
From: IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine - Jul/Aug 2008

The issues related to the aging of the population are becoming more and more
necessary to be addressed from different points of view (political, social,
clinical, technological). Technology can provide important solutions to these
issues, and many groups are now working in this direction. In particular,
gerontechnology - a term born in Europe just prior to the 1990s as a
composite of a two words: "gerontology", the scientific study of aging, and
"technology" - is concerned with research on the biological, psychological,
social, and medical aspects of aging exploiting the potentials offered by the
progress of technology. 

Gerontechnology can help elderly people to identify and slow down the effects
of the age-related modifications of the (central and peripheral) neural and
musculoskeletal systems. In particular, this approach can slow down the
reduction of sensorimotor performance, increase the quality of life and the
ability of the elderly people to participate in daily life activities,
increase the time they can live at home independently, and reduce the
hospitalization time. 

Gerontechnologies can be used to carry out different types of activities: 1)
the motor (and cognitive) abilities are assessed in clinics by exploiting the
potentialities of advanced technologies and systems to identify and address
major deficits; 2) when at home, the performance of elderly people are
continuously evaluated by using wearable systems to recognize immediately the
onset of possible problems related to reduced performance; 3) technological
aids are used to compensate possible deficits increasing the level of
autonomy especially at home. 

Read the entire article at:
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/51/4558059/04558133.pdf?tp=&isnumber=4558059&arnumber=4558133

Other articles of interest in this issue:
Gerontechnology and Human Cognition
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/51/4558059/04558135.pdf?tp=&isnumber=4558059&arnumber=4558135

In-Home Telerehabilitation for Geriatric Patients
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/51/4558059/04558129.pdf?tp=&isnumber=4558059&arnumber=4558129

Quantitative Evaluation of Movement Using the Timed Up-and-Go Test
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/51/4558059/04558137.pdf?tp=&isnumber=4558059&arnumber=4558137

Innovations in Health, Wellness, and Aging-in-Place
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/51/4558059/04558138.pdf?tp=&isnumber=4558059&arnumber=4558138

Robot Therapy for Elders Affected by Dementia
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/51/4558059/04558139.pdf?tp=&isnumber=4558059&arnumber=4558139

Paradigm Shift for Rehabilitation Robotics
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/51/4558059/04558140.pdf?tp=&isnumber=4558059&arnumber=4558140