Information Technology for Active Ageing: A Review of Theory and Practice
By Cristhian Parra, University of Trento, Italy, parra@disi.unitn.it | Patricia Silveira, University of Trento, Italy | Iman Khaghani Far, University of Trento, Italy | Florian Daniel, University of Trento, Italy | Eling D. De Bruin, ETH Zurich, Switzerland | Luca Cernuzzi, Universidad Católica "Nuestra Señora de la Asunción", Paraguay | Vincenzo D'Andrea, University of Trento, Italy | Fabio Casati, University of Trento, Italy
Abstract
Active Ageing aims to foster a physically, mentally and socially active lifestyle as a person ages. It is a complex, multi-faceted problem that involves a variety of different actors, such as policy makers, doctors, care givers, family members, friends and, of course, older adults. This review aims to understand the role of a new actor, which increasingly plays the role of enabler and facilitator, i.e., that of the technology provider. The review specifically focuses on Information Technology (IT), with a particular emphasis on software applications, and on how IT can prevent decline, compensate for lost capabilities, aid care, and enhance existing capabilities. The analysis confirms the crucial role of IT in Active Ageing, shows that Active Ageing requires a multidisciplinary approach, and identifies the need for better integration of hardware, software, the environment and the involved actors.
Information Technology for Active Ageing
Information Technology for Active Ageing: A Review of Theory and Practice sheds light on the role that information technology (IT) might play in helping older adults to age actively. The goal is to understand how IT can better support an Active Ageing, which is defined here as a physically, mentally, and socially active lifestyle as a person ages. The insights provided are based on the analysis of literature collected over two years of research and practice in designing IT solutions that are specifically tailored to the needs of older adults. It includes contributions from Computer Science disciplines as varied as eHealth, Mobile Computing, Social Computing, Ubiquitous and Ambient Computing, Persuasive Technologies, and Human Computer Interaction coupled with contributions from Human Movement Sciences, Psychology, Gerontology, and report on the topic from international institutions like the United Nations and the World Health Organization.
Information Technology for Active Ageing: A Review of Theory and Practice provides the reader with the following:
- A review of the concept of Active Ageing in light of its different definitions in literature, followed by a discussion of the challenges and design issues of IT for older adults.
- A systematic evaluation framework that brings together the different determinants that affect quality of life during the ageing process with the support IT can bring to modulate these determinants.
- A literature review including exemplary IT services and applications that provide support for Active Ageing, using the evaluation framework to analyze contributions and describe their characteristics.
- A discussion on different aspects of the state of the art, and a look at what the likely future challenges and opportunities for IT solutions for Active Ageing are.
