Gerontechnology: solutions for ageing people

The November 1997 issue of IFMBE News had a story about 'Ageing and Technology' in Europe. This is a follow-up on additional activities around that theme. As you will notice this is a field which is gaining momentum and acceptance also in the political arena.

International Society for Gerontechnology (ISG)

On 9 September 1997, an International Society for Gerontechnology was established to pursue the following objectives:

  • to promote cultural and scientific, international exchanges between engineers of all disciplines, designers and architects, related industries and professionals in the field of comfort, welfare and health for the ageing and aged
  • to encourage the creation of international research networks as well as international experiments of applied nature, in order to reinforce, by a wider dissemination of information, international potentialities in gerontechnology and to participate in their assessment
  • to contribute to the promotion of international programmes in gerontechnology
  • to encourage the creation of research networks as well as networks of professionals, in order to reinforce, by a wider dissemination the participation in specific educational training courses, for engineers, vocational professionals, as well as for administrators and industrial management
  • to co-operate closely with all similar international organisations and with all national bodies, governmental and non-governmental, concerned with gerontechnology
  • to involve the older citizen in all relevant activities.

The ISG accepts as members, individuals belonging to any kind of engineering, design, gerontological, scientific, industrial or administrative activities related to gerontechnology, national or international societies related to gerontechnology, industries or organisations, producing, providing or commercialising products and services aimed at the well-being, health and autonomy of elderly citizens and non-scientific non-profit-making organisations concerned with the challenges of the ageing society.

Its activities will cover an international newsletter and exploring the feasibility of an international journal, a website and working groups on Internet, international conferences (Munich, October 1999), educational programmes like summer schools, topical symposia and workshops, policy advise and lobbying towards governments/ decision makers, networking with related societies (gerontechnology, medicine, ergonomics, engineering, design) and exhibitions, show centres and a database on projects in gerontechnology.

The President of ISG is Ms. Vappu Taipale, Director General, STAKES, Finland (e-mail: vappu.taipale@stakes.fi). The Secretary-General is Mr. Jan Graafmans (e-mail: j.a.m.graafmans@bmgt.tue.nl) and the conference chair Mr. Richard Pieper (email: richard.pieper@sowi.uni-bamberg.de).

For more information contact: Jan Graafmans, Biomedical and Healthcare Technology, P.B. 513, NL-5600 MB Eindhoven.

Tel: 31 40 247 2008; Fax: 31 40 244 3335

E-mail: j.a.m.graafmans@bmgt.tue.nl

www-site: http://www.tue.nl/gerontechnologie

Gerontechnology – A Sustainable Investment in the Future

The second conference organised by the ISG in Finland in early 1997 will publish the conference proceedings. The first part of the book is a collection of papers describing the background for and the conditions under which the emerging field of gerontechnology can be developed further. The second part describes some 80 case studies. The editors are Jan Graafmans, Vappu Taipale and Neil Charness and the publisher is IOS Press, Amsterdam (ISBN 90 5199 367 6), price US$108 .

TSER/ETAN Ageing and Technology

Gerontechnology also features strongly on the agenda of the Fifth Framework Program which is currently being finalised by the European Commission and Member States. Inputs to this have been provided especially through the European Technology Assessment Network (ETAN) action which is part of the Targeted Socio Economic Research (TSER), programme. As one of its activities ETAN is preparing a science and technology policy document on gerontechnology as a future research and development programme in the European Union.

The general ETAN objectives are:

  • To facilitate and promote communication and debate between policy researchers and policy makers on important Science & Technology (S&T) policy issues which need to be addressed with an European perspective.
  • To provide input to assist the EU Commission to define objectives and priorities for future EU Research and Technology Development actions.
  • To make the best use of results for the benefit of S&T policy makers at national and EU levels.

The ETAN has launched a small number of activities in fields where substantial research results are available and where political interest has been identified. "Ageing population and Technology: Challenges and Opportunities" is one of the selected pilot phases. It started in Summer 1997 and will continue until Spring 1998. This action will identify:

  • Knowledge of the economic, social and policy issues posed by demographic ageing
  • The technological needs of older adults
  • Orientations and priorities for technology policy and interactions with other policies.

The study focuses on the following key questions:

  • What is the magnitude of the opportunity for new technologies, products and services arising from demographic ageing?
  • What are the appropriate science and technology policy means to increase the responsiveness of industry to the ageing challenge?
  • How can the input of older adults into the process of innovation be increased?
  • How can science and technology policy promote the dissemination of good practice in design and diffusion of technologies?
  • What are the areas where science and technology policy is needed to ensure that Europe is in the position to take advantage of the opportunities and address the challenges presented by demographic ageing?
  • How can science and technology policy promote quality of life for all European older citizens whilst preserving the variety of Europe's cultural traditions?

Information and comments related to this should be directed to:

Ms. Paivi Topo

Stakes Siltasaarenkatu 18, PL 220 FIN-00531 Helsinki, Finland

Tel: +358 (09) 39671

E-mail: paivi.topo@stakes.fi