The growth of the older population, especially the oldest old, creates a critical need to develop strategies to ensure that older adults are able to remain productive, independent and maintain a good quality of life. The variety and increased use of technology in everyday life, mandates that strategies to support older adults must consider issues surrounding technology uptake. Although technology use has risen among older adults, a digital divide remains, especially among vulnerable populations. The pace of technology innovations also poses challenges to current technology adopters. Unless we understand why technology uptake is challenging for older adults, the supportive benefits of technology will not be realized for vast numbers of people. This application is a request for continued support for the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE), an established multidisciplinary, cohesive Center that focuses on aging and technology. CREATE's goal is to ensure that older adults are able to use and realize the benefits of technology. Our objectives are to: develop a database on user preferences, needs, and problems with emerging and existing systems; assess the efficacy of design solutions; gather information on the value of technology; promote new research; support new investigators; and disseminate outcomes to a broad community. CREATE I focused on attitudinal issues: training/instructional support; and design of input devices, interfaces and support aids. Our focus in CREATE II was on technology-based tasks, stress associated with technology adoption, training, privacy, and ergonomic issues. In CREATE III we examined applications of technology in living environments, work and health care settings and the value of technology in supporting older people. CREATE IV will continue this theme and focus on optimizing the role of technology in promoting healthy, productive and successful aging in living, work and healthcare domains. CREATE will continue to involve the University of Miami, Florida State University, and Georgia Institute of Technology. CREATE will include: interrelated research projects; collaborations with business/community partners; and a cross-site project that will further evaluate PRISM, a software application that supports social connectivity, memory and access to information. The Center will include Administrative, Data Management/Statistical, and Dissemination Cores, External Scientific and Community Advisory Boards, and a Pilot Research Program. CREATE is unique in terms of its multi-disciplinary and well-integrated research team, approach to issues regarding aging and technology, and access to diverse populations.

Public Health Relevance

The growth in the older population, especially among the 'oldest old' creates a pressing societal need to ensure that the vast number of elderly can maintain their independence and a good quality of life. Successful use of technology systems is critical to everyday functioning especially within the healthcare domains. Thus understanding issues surrounding aging and technology uptake is critically important to the development of strategies to support the well-being and independence of older adults.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Program Projects (P01)
Project #
5P01AG017211-18
Application #
9260735
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAG1)
Program Officer
Plude, Dana Jeffrey
Project Start
1999-08-01
Project End
2020-03-31
Budget Start
2017-05-01
Budget End
2018-03-31
Support Year
18
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Miami School of Medicine
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
052780918
City
Coral Gables
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33146
Evans, Jarrett; Charness, Neil; Dijkstra, Katinka et al. (2018) Is episodic memory performance more vulnerable to depressive affect in older adulthood? Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn :1-20
McGlynn, Sean A; Kemple, Shawn; Mitzner, Tracy L et al. (2017) Understanding the Potential of PARO for Healthy Older Adults. Int J Hum Comput Stud 100:33-47
Souders, Dustin J; Best, Ryan; Charness, Neil (2017) Valuation of active blind spot detection systems by younger and older adults. Accid Anal Prev 106:505-514
Rogers, Wendy A; Mitzner, Tracy L (2017) Envisioning the Future for Older Adults: Autonomy, Health, Well-being, and Social Connectedness with Technology Support. Futures 87:133-139
Stuck, Rachel E; Chong, Amy W; Mitzner, Tracy L et al. (2017) Medication Management Apps: Usable by Older Adults? Proc Hum Factors Ergon Soc Annu Meet 61:1141-1144
Charness, Neil (2017) What Has the Study of Digital Games Contributed to the Science of Expert Behavior? Top Cogn Sci 9:510-521
Preusse, Kimberly C; Mitzner, Tracy L; Fausset, Cara Bailey et al. (2017) Older Adults' Acceptance of Activity Trackers. J Appl Gerontol 36:127-155
Barg-Walkow, Laura H; Rogers, Wendy A (2016) The Effect of Incorrect Reliability Information on Expectations, Perceptions, and Use of Automation. Hum Factors 58:242-60
Souders, Dustin J; Boot, Walter R; Charness, Neil et al. (2016) Older Adult Video Game Preferences in Practice: Investigating the Effects of Competing or Cooperating. Games Cult 11:170-120
Charness, Neil; Best, Ryan; Evans, Jarrett (2016) Supportive home health care technology for older adults: Attitudes and implementation. Gerontechnology 15:233-242

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