Abstract
The intersecting trends of population aging and the ubiquitous diffusion of technology, presents opportunities and challenges for older adults, researchers, and system designers. Optimizing technology interactions requires maximizing the fit between aging adults and technology systems. This talk will present a conceptual framework to illustrate the interplay between aging adults and technology. The intent is to highlight the potential sources of misfit and design solutions. An emphasis will be given to healthcare, as technology is playing an increasingly important role within the healthcare domain for service delivery, in-home monitoring, communication and transfer of health information. Examples will be provide from research examining Patient Portals of Electronic Health Records, wearable technologies, and telehealth systems to demonstrate current challenges within healthcare confronting older adults and providers. In addition, how a user-centered design process and a focus on users can enhance the use of healthcare technologies by diverse user populations will be discussed.