Share:


Assessment of chosen technologies improving seniors' quality of life in the context of sustainable development

    Katarzyna Halicka Affiliation

Abstract

Sustainable development is a perspective on economic progress that takes into account the equilibrium among social, economic, and environmental elements. This implies that endeavours aimed at development should guarantee the satisfaction of present generations’ requirements while safeguarding the capacity of future generations to fulfil their own necessities. In the context of an aging society, sustainable development involves providing solutions, services, and technologies that address the needs of older people while also minimizing negative impacts on the environment and future generations. The aim of this article is to identify, analyse and evaluate technologies that improve the quality of life of older people without compromising the well-being of future generations from ecological, social, ethical and other perspectives. Technologies that enhance the quality of life for older people are often referred to as gerontechnologies in the literature.


The article identifies and then selects 3 gerontechnologies that can improve the quality of life of older people while remaining sustainable. Further, 42 criteria for evaluating gerontechnologies were identified. These gerontechnologies were then evaluated by potential users. A ranking of gerontechnologies was further developed. CAWI and CATI methods were used in the survey. The SAW method was used to build the ranking.

Keyword : older people, gerontechnology, SAW, decision making, ranking, sustainable development

How to Cite
Halicka, K. (2024). Assessment of chosen technologies improving seniors’ quality of life in the context of sustainable development. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 30(1), 107–128. https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2024.20614
Published in Issue
Feb 8, 2024
Abstract Views
547
PDF Downloads
496
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Abdi, S., de Witte, L., & Hawley, M. (2020). Emerging technologies with potential care and support applications for older people: Review of gray literature. Journal of Medical Internet Research Aging, 3(2), Article e17286. https://doi.org/10.2196/17286

Abdi, S., de Witte, L., & Hawley, M. (2021). Exploring the potential of emerging technologies to meet the care and support needs of older people: A Delphi survey. Geriatrics, 6(1), Article 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics6010019

Astasio-Picado, Á., Cobos-Moreno, P., Gómez-Martín, B., Verdú-Garcés, L., & Zabala-Baños, M. d. C. (2022). Efficacy of interventions based on the use of information and communication technologies for the promotion of active aging. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), Article 1534. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031534

Bagočius, V., Zavadskas, E. K., & Turskis, Z. (2014). Selecting a location for a liquefied natural gas terminal in the Eastern Baltic Sea. Transport, 29(1), 69–74. https://doi.org/10.3846/16484142.2014.897996

Bouma H., & Graafmans J. A. M. (Eds.) (1992). Studies in health technology and informatics: vol. 3. Gerontechnology. IOS Press.

Chen, K., & Chan, A. (2014). Predictors of gerontechnology acceptance by older Hong Kong Chinese. Technovation, 34(2), 126–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2013.09.010

Churchman, C. W., & Ackoff, R. L. (1954). An approximate measure of value. Operations Research Society of America, 2(2), 172–187. https://doi.org/10.1287/opre.2.2.172

Dahmen, J., Minor, B., Cook, D., Vo, T., & Edgecombe, M. S. (2018). Smart home-driven digital memory notebook support of activity self-management for older adults. Gerontechnology, 17(2), 113–125. https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2018.17.2.005.00

Ejdys, J. (2020). Trust-based determinants of future intention to use technology. Foresight and STI Governance, 14(1), 60–68. https://doi.org/10.17323/2500-2597.2020.1.60.68

Ejdys, J., & Gulc, A. (2022). Factors influencing the intention to use assistive technologies by older adults. Human Technology, 18(1), 6–28. https://doi.org/10.14254/1795-6889.2022.18-1.2

Ejdys, J., & Halicka, K. (2018). Sustainable adaptation of new technology – The case of humanoids used for the care of older adults. Sustainability, 10(10), Article 3770. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103770

Eurostat. (2021). More than a fifth of the EU population are aged 65 or over. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/ddn-20210316-1

Eurostat. (2022). How many healthy life years for EU men and women? https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/ddn-20220613-1

Graafmans, J. A. M., Bouma, H., & Brouwers, A. (1992). Gerontechnology: An approach to “Aging and technology” as seen from a technologi-cal perspective. Technische Universiteit Eindhoven.

Halicka, K., & Kacprzak, D. (2021). Linear ordering of selected gerontechnologies using selected MCGDM methods. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 27(4), 921–947. https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2021.15000

Halicka, K., & Surel, D. (2021). Gerontechnology – new opportunities in the service of older adults. Engineering Management in Production and Services, 13(3), 114–126. https://doi.org/10.2478/emj-2021-0025

Halicka, K., & Surel, D. (2022). Smart living technologies in the context of improving the quality of life for older people: The case of the humanoid Rudy Robot. Human Technology, 18(2), 191–208. https://doi.org/10.14254/1795-6889.2022.18-2.5

Hsieh, K. L., Fanning, J. T., & Sosnoff, J. J. (2019). A smartphone fall risk application is valid and reliable in older adults during real-world test-ing. Gerontechnology, 18(1), 29–35. https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2019.18.1.003.00

Hsieh, K. L., Fanning, J. T., Rogers, W. A., Wood, T. A., & Sosnoff, J. J. (2018). A fall risk mHealth app for older adults: Development and usa-bility study. JMIR Aging, 1(2). Article e11569. https://doi.org/10.2196/11569

Huang, G., & Oteng, S. A. (2023). Gerontechnology for better elderly care and life quality: A systematic literature review. European Journal of Ageing, 20(1), Article 27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-023-00776-9

INF Robotics. (2020). Rudy. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://infrobotics.com/#rudy

International Society for Gerontechnology. (1997). ISG Newsletter, 8(2). http://www.gerontechnology.org/

Jachan, D., Müller-Werdan, U., Lahmann, N., & Strube-Lahmann, S. (2021). Smart@home – supporting safety and mobility of elderly and care dependent people in their own homes through the use of technical assistance systems and conventional mobility supporting tools: A cross-sectional survey. BMC Geriatrics, 21(1), Article 205. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02118-9

Kacprzak, D. (2019). A doubly extended TOPSIS method for group decision making based on ordered fuzzy numbers. Expert Systems with Appli-cations, 116, 243–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2018.09.023

Kacprzak, D. (2020). An extended TOPSIS method based on ordered fuzzy numbers for group decision making. Artificial Intelligence Review, 53(3), 2099–2129. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10462-019-09728-1

Kalache, A., & Gatti, A. (2002). Active ageing: A policy framework. http://www.who.int/ageing /publications/active_ageing/en/

Kozlowska, J. (2022). Methods of multi-criteria analysis in technology selection and technology assessment: A systematic literature review. Engi-neering Management in Production and Services, 14(2), 116–137. https://doi.org/10.2478/emj-2022-0021

Lee, C., Kang, B., & Shin, J. (2015). Novelty-focused patent mapping for technology opportunity analysis. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 90(B), 355–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2014.05.010

Ma, Q., Chan, A. H. S., & Teh, P.-L (2021). Insights into older adults’ technology acceptance through meta-analysis. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 37(11), 1049–1062. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2020.1865005

MacCrimmon, K. R. (1968). Decision making among multiple-attribute alternatives: A survey and consolidated approach (RM 4823-ARPA). Rand Corporation, Santa Monica, CA.

Martín-García, A. V. (2018). Aging education and technological virtualization. Classroom, 24, 29–42. https://doi.org/10.14201/aula2018242942

Martinez-Martin, E., Escalona, F., & Cazorla, M. (2020). Socially assistive robots for older adults and people with autism: An overview. Electron-ics, 9(2), Article 367. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics9020367

Martínez Ortega, M. P., Polo Luque, M. L., & Carrasco Fernández, B. (2002). Historical vision of the concept of old age from the Middle Ages. Cultura de los Cuidados, 6(11), 40–46. https://doi.org/10.14198/cuid.2002.11.08

Medineckiene, M., Turskis, Z., Zavadskas, E. K., & Tamošaitiene, J. (2010). Multi-criteria selection of the one flat dwelling house, taking into account the construction impact on environment. In 10th International Conference Modern Building Materials, Structures and Techniques (pp. 455–460). Vilnius.

Mi, L., Huang, L.-c., Han, Z.-x., Miao, H., & Wu, F. (2022). Forecasting and evaluating emerging technologies based on supply and demand matching – a case study of China’s gerontechnology. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 34(3), 290–306. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537325.2021.1895982

Nap, H. H., Diaz-Orueta, U., González, M. F., Lozar-Manfreda, K., Facal, D., Dolničar, V., Oyarzun, D., Ranga, M. M., & de Schutter, B. (2014). Older people’s perceptions and experiences of a digital learning game. Gerontechnology, 13(3), 322–331. https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2015.13.3.002.00

National Research Council. (2004). Technology for adaptive aging. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/10857

National Science and Technology Council. (2019). Emerging technologies to support an aging population.

Noh, H., Song, Y.-K., & Lee, S. (2016). Identifying emerging core technologies for the future: Case study of patents published by leading tele-communication organizations. Telecommunications Policy, 40(10–11), 956–970. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2016.04.003

Rodríguez, A. C., Roda, C., Montero, F., González, P., & Navarro, E. (2016). An interactive fuzzy inference system for teletherapy of older people. Cognitive Computation, 8(2), 318–335. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12559-015-9356-6

Roszkowska, E., & Kacprzak, D. (2016). The fuzzy saw and fuzzy TOPSIS procedures based on ordered fuzzy numbers. Information Sciences, 369, 564–584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2016.07.044

Sale, P. (2018). Gerontechnology, domotics and robotics. In Masiero, S., & Carraro, U. (Eds.), Rehabilitation medicine for elderly patients (pp. 161–169). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57406-6_19

Silva, T., Caravau, H., & Campelo, D. (2017). Information needs about public and social services of Portuguese elderly. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health (ICT4AWE) (vol. 1, pp. 46–57). Porto, Portugal. SciTePress. https://doi.org/10.5220/0006284900460057

Simsik, D. (2012). The mechatronic shoe: A new rehabilitation. In 29th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC). Eindhoven, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.22260/ISARC2012/0070

Tan, C. K. K., Lou, V. W. Q., Cheng, C. Y. M., He, P. C., & Mor, Y. Y. (2023). Technology acceptance of a social robot (LOVOT) among single older adults in Hong Kong and Singapore: Protocol for a multimethod study. JMIR Research Protocols, 12, Article e48618. https://doi.org/10.2196/48618

Tellier, M., Auger, C., Bier, N., & Demers, L. (2020). Use of an electronic pillbox by older adults with mild Alzheimer’s disease: Impact on medi-cation administration and adherence. Gerontechnology, 19(1), 66–76. https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2020.19.1.007.00

Thilo, F. J. S., Schols, J. M. G. A., Halfens, R. J. G., Linhart, M., & Hahn, S. (2021). Deciding about the use of a Personal Safety Alerting De-vice – The need for a legitimation process: A qualitative study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 77(1), 331–342. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14566

Wang, T.-C., & Chang, T.-H. (2007). Application of TOPSIS in evaluating initial training aircraft under a fuzzy environment. Expert Systems with Applications, 33(4), 870–880. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2006.07.003

Van Bronswijk, J. E. M. H., Bouma, H., & Fozard, J. L. (2002). Technology for quality of life: An enriched taxonomy. Gerontechnology, 2(2), 169–172.

Volvačiovas, R., Turskis, Z., Aviža, D., & Mikštiene, R. (2013). Multi-attribute selection of public buildings retrofits strategy. Procedia Engineer-ing, 57, 1236–1241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2013.04.156

Zainal, A., Aziz, N. F. A., Ahmad, N. A., Razak, F. H. A., Razali, F., Azmi, N. H., & Koyou, H. L. (2023). Usability measures used to enhance user experience in using digital health technology among elderly: A systematic review. Bulletin of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, 12(3), 1825–1832. https://doi.org/10.11591/eei.v12i3.4773

Zavadskas, E. K., Stević, Ž., Turskis, Z., & Tomašević, M. (2019). A novel extended EDAS in Minkowski space (EDAS-M) method for evaluat-ing autonomous vehicles. Studies in Informatics and Control, 28(3), 255–264. https://doi.org/10.24846/v28i3y201902

Zhou, J., Zhang, B., Tan, R., Tseng, M.-L., & Zhang, Y. (2020). Exploring the systematic attributes influencing gerontechnology adoption for elderly users using a meta-analysis, Sustainability, 12(7), Article 2864. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072864