Gerotechnology: Research and Practice in Technology and Aging, edited by David C. Burdick and Sunkyo Kwon. Springer Publishing Company, New York, 2004, 269 pp., $48.95 (cloth). Impact of Technology on Successful Aging, edited by Neil Charness and K. Warner Schaie. Springer Publishing Company, New York, 2003, 352 pp., $49.95 (cloth). Technology for Adaptive Aging, edited by Richard W. Pew and Susan B. Van Hemel. National Academies Press, Washington, DC, 2004, 320 pp., $49.00 (paper). Two of the most significant global phenomena occurring in the 21st Century are widespread population aging and the rapid diffusion of technology. This is an exciting time for creative research on the relationships of these two dynamics. They are at the heart of the three books reviewed in this essay. All of us in the field of aging, and particularly those involved in research, need to understand and interpret the impact of the technology movement on our own research and professional work. The rapid advancements in computer-based technology in particular are having a profound impact on almost every aspect of aging. For example, this technology is altering the ways in which patients, their caregivers, and health providers interact and make decisions—a social revolution energized by technology. These three publications help provide us with the baseline knowledge of what is currently known in the field of technology and aging, and they also help us look into the immediate future. Given the current state of flux in technology research the reader can easily become lost or at the least confused in reading these volumes if they are not conscious that two types of technology tend to dominate the current level of research discussion: computer-based technology and personal assistive technology. And, as both of these areas progress, there are now examples of where these two are becoming integrated, such as robotics. Often the research language flows in and out of these two areas and does not distinguish between them. However, you, as the reader and interpreter of these ideas, need to keep alert to the two different but complementary concepts. The three publications focus on many of the same or similar themes, and a number of the authors overlap, in part indicating the newness of this field of work and also because earlier research work and methods are now being adapted to work in this new field. For anyone just entering the area of technology and aging, these three books provide a primer, both on research methodologies and on their application. Gerotechnology is a new term. As suggested by David C. Burdick and Sunkyo Kwon, the editors of Gerotechnology: Research and Practice in Technology and Aging, in this fast moving field many ideas and terms either become obsolete or morph into next generation terminology. What is more important is that technology in today's society can contribute to productivity, intellectual work, comfort, and safety, all of which are matters of concern to older Americans. Technological innovation, the editors of this volume say, has inevitably and irretrievably altered the course of human lives. They also note that technology has led to increased sensitivity to the humanitarian aspects of science and technology in terms of their responsibilities to human existence and the environment. They speculate, for example, that the future association between humans and machines may well be in the form of a partnership. And, that the reciprocal relationship between technology and aging provides both challenges and opportunities. For example, they suggest that the lack of “fit” between the person and the environment is particularly striking in the world of the older woman and has resulted in premature aging and the escalation of disease states. The five major themes in Gerotechnology provide an updated review of gerontology and its relationships to usability and design. The volume also covers application of computer-based technology for older adults in both communication as well as assistive technology, incorporating some current models and prototype applications. And it ends up with a discussion of ethical and other issues of concern for the consumer. Impact of Technology on Successful Aging, edited by Neil Charness and K. Warner Schaie, two prominent researchers in the field of aging, represents the 14th volume in a series, based on working conferences. The three main themes of this book are presented with a strong psychological perspective and place heavy emphasis on human factors and cognitive impact. The early chapters discuss technology design, age-related deficits in sensory and cognitive functioning, and their relationship to applying working principles of human factors techniques and considerations. We are reminded that most of the advanced software and hardware design today is being done by younger professionals, many of whom need to be more sensitive and incorporate the concepts of human factors as they develop new products for use by an aging population. The authors point out that technology is becoming blended into everyday services—including banking, health, transportation, and communications—all of which affect our aging population. Because the goal of gerotechnology is to help older persons to remain independent and to retain their self-respect and ability to continue to learn and inquire, human factors must be integrated into the project design environment. In this context, the authors remind us of the everyday impact of technology over the ages and that it not only has a personal and family effect but a community, national, and global impact. For example, they note the profound impact on society, and particularly older adults, of the radio, television, washing machine, air conditioner, microwave, cell phone, and now the personal computer and Internet. In all of these examples, technology interfaces with aspects of aging in many ways. It helps foster fun in a person's daily life and provides further engagement with society, either directly through new forms of interaction or as a result of increasing an individual's “free” time. Technology for Adaptive Aging, edited by Richard W. Pew and Susan B. Van Hemel, is the result of a National Academy of Sciences project commissioned by the National Institute on Aging. The goal of the project was to improve the quality of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposals in the area of technology and aging as they apply to people who develop disabilities and impairments in old age and those who do not. The conference targeted six potential areas of impact: communication, employment, health, learning, living environment, and transportation. However, as the editors note, the original goal of this project was not met. (Perhaps in the future such initiatives might involve as lead partners the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Conference Board, or similar business groups that are focused on the SBIR marketplace goals.) The first part of the book resulting from this conference presents a review of current research methods in aging and their application to technology-related projects. The remainder of the book is a basic primer that focuses on various aspects of the application of technology, mostly computer-based, in the six areas noted above. Perhaps this book, more so than the other two, exemplifies some of the problems in today's research on aging that tries to focus on the impact of technology. There are enormous opportunities to capitalize on the research interests of complementary sectors that have interests and skills in applying technology to aging problems, but these are being held back by traditionalism in aging research domains. Increased subspecialization and a lack of management mechanisms to coordinate the old and new components of research have often resulted in the status quo instead of new collaboration. The fact that technology is changing so rapidly means that nearly every aspect of aging will be impacted now and certainly more so in the future. The gerontological research community has yet to adapt itself to this new environment so it can be an effective player. We are reminded nearly every day that our society is changing, and this in turn is impacting how we age. We are increasingly becoming an ownership society that clearly stipulates individuals are responsible for their own futures. To be successful as we age in this changing environment we need to develop an informed and proactive citizenry. During the time these three books were being written, several private foundations were exploring the extent to which older Americans have become involved in computer and Internet-based technology and what impact this has had on their lives. In her 2004 report, Susannah Fox (2004), director of research of the Pew Internet and American Life project, noted that the percentage of seniors (persons aged 65 and older) who go online has jumped by 47% between 2000 and 2004. In 2000 about 60% of these “wired” seniors were men, and about 40% were women. However, in an exciting change, by February 2004 gender participation had become equal. In another study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Victoria Rideout and Tricia Neuman (2005) note that there is still much to be done based on the fact that less than one third of all seniors have ever gone online, and fewer than half have ever used a computer. They also report that there is a digital divide among seniors using computers and the Internet that is based on income, education, age, and gender. Nevertheless, they also note that during the next 10 years, as the baby boomers get older, the proportion of seniors using the Internet will increase dramatically. Health is one of the key Internet search areas for today's older adults, and keeping in touch via e-mail is also a major area of usage. These observations provide important insights into the impact of the increased involvement of computer-based technology in the field of aging. 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Robert Morgan (2005) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched one closely related paper. Consider it for comparative context: