Aging, Technology and Health

Aging, Health and Technology takes a problem-centered approach to examine how older adults use technology for health. It examines the many ways in which technology is being used by older adults, focusing on challenges, solutions and perspectives of the older user. Using aging-health technology as a lens, the book examines issues of technology adoption, basic human factors, cognitive aging, mental health, aging and usability, privacy, trust and automation. Each chapter takes a case study approach to summarize lessons learned from unique examples that can be applied to similar projects, while also providing general information about older adults and technology.

• Discusses human factors design challenges specific to older adults
• Covers the wide range of health-related uses for technology―from fitness to leading a more engaged life
• Utilizes a case study approach for practical application
• Envisions what the future will hold for technology and older adults
• Employs a roster of interdisciplinary contributors

Richard Pak is Associate Professor at Clemson University Department of Psychology. His research looks at how age-related changes in cognition affect people’s ability to use technology. He is the lab director of the Cognition, Aging, and Technology Lab at Clemson. He is author of the book Designing Displays for Older Adults (2010) and co-edits the Human Factors Blog (http://humanfactorsblog.org/).

Anne Collins-McLaughlin, an Associate Professor at North Carolina State University Department of Psychology, is the lab director of the Learning, Aging, and Cognitive Ergonomics Lab, and co-directs the Gains Through Gaming Lab. Her research looks at the motivation for cognitively complex activities, age-related changes in cognitive abilities, training to use technology, and cognitive ergonomics. She is author of the book Designing Displays for Older Adults (2010) and co-edits the Human Factors Blog (http://humanfactorsblog.org/).