Aging resourcefully; Barriers to adoption; Ethics; Gerontechnology; Medical device development; Older adults
Gerontechnology is an interdisciplinary field that integrates technology for the needs and challenges of aging people. This chapter describes the design process of inclusive, intuitive, and user-friendly medical devices tailored to the specific needs of older adults, following the principles of usability, universal design, and accessibility. This chapter also outlines the benefits of assistive tools, such as housing adaptations, mobility aids, and visual/hearing devices; healthcare innovations, such as telemedicine platforms, wearable health monitors, and electronic pillboxes; cognitive aids, including digital cognitive training software and virtual reality experiences; and platforms for boosting social engagement through social networks, online communities, and video chat services. Despite the advantages of gerontechnology, a range of ethical concerns require careful consideration, including data privacy, depersonalization, discrimination, dehumanization, autonomy loss, impact on human interactions, and data security. Furthermore, the barriers to the widespread adoption of these technologies, such as digital literacy gaps, affordability issues, design and environmental barriers, and resistance among older adults and medical professionals, are discussed. Thus, this chapter outlines gerontechnology?s current landscape; underscores its capacity to revolutionize care for older adults by delivering predictive, customized, preventative, and participatory healthcare solutions; and discusses the opportunities it presents for innovation, connection, and continued growth. © 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.