Affiliations: [a] University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA | [b] Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA | Carnegie Mellon University, Institute for Complex Engineered Systems, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Judith T. Matthews, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N., Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Community Systems, University of Pittsburgh, 3500 Victoria Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. Tel.: +1 412 624 8149; Fax: +1 412 383 7293; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: Efforts to develop novel technologies that address the everyday challenges faced by older adults and persons with disabilities are constrained by limited understanding of their perspectives as potential end-users. We conducted a national, web-based survey with a non-probability sample of 1,610 adults (68% female; 47% age 45–64; 47% age 65+) with and without disability, to learn their views about technologies in development that will be capable of both discerning when and how to accommodate an individual's need and desire for assistance and providing that desired assistance as appropriate. In the survey we described four families of engineered systems that could provide cognitive and physical support for personal and instrumental activities of daily living, including personal care, home management, and driving. Here we summarize respondents' views about quality of life technologies in general and each family of engineered systems in particular. We also describe the recurring themes evident in respondents' answers to our query about technologies that should be developed in the near future.
Keywords: Disability, aging, assistive technology, activities of daily living
