Too old for technology? – University of Reading
04 March 2008A workshop at the University of Reading will bring together leading researchers and professionals from a range of backgrounds to discuss how technology can be used to help keep older people independent. Researchers will present some of the latest advances which may be used to improve the independence and well-being of older people and will discuss how older people view technological developments.
In the UK we have an ageing population. In the future, there will therefore be increased pressure on health and social services to care for these increasing numbers of older people. One way to cope with this challenge will be to focus on developing technologies which support independence and enable people to stay in their homes for as long as possible.
The workshop is jointly organised by the University of Reading and SPARC (Strategic Promotion of Ageing Research Capacity) to promote the value of scientific ageing-related research for older people and identify opportunities for further research. The workshop will cover research which is contributing to the development of new technologies to help older people stay healthy and maintain social interaction in old age. It will also look at technologies which can be used to help older people with recovery and rehabilitation from illness or accident.
Dr Rachel McCrindle from the University's School of Systems Engineering said "One of the ways in which technology which can be used to help older people is by helping to keep individuals safe at home. Issues which older people feel that need addressing range from being able to feel secure within their own home, to concerns over falling and to having a good support network. We think that technology can be adapted to address these concerns and to help people stay safe and secure within their own homes."
Dr Faustina Hwang, a SPARC award holder from the University, said "Computers can be very useful for older people, for example enabling them to stay in touch with friends and family. When you use a computer you usually have to 'point and click' with a computer mouse, and this action becomes more difficult with age. In particular, older people often require more time to make the required movements for this task and have more difficulties keeping the cursor steady on a target whilst they try to select it. My work focuses on developing techniques which make 'point and click' interactions faster and easier for older people. "
Notes to Editors
1) For all media enquiries please contact Dr Lucy Chappell 07515 188751 or email l.chappell@reading.ac.uk
2) The workshop "Promoting Independence through New Technology" takes place on the 5th March at the University of Reading. For more details please see www.sparc.ac.uk
3) SPARC is an initiative which brings together researchers, practitioners and policy makers in ageing. It specialises in communicating the latest design, engineering and biological ageing-related research to all stakeholders, making the case about the benefits for an ageing population of scientific research, and it encourages new blood into ageing research. For more information please visit www.sparc.ac.uk