Technologies to Support Aging among People with Long-Term Disabilities
Fall 2024 Newsletter – Now Available
In this issue of TechSAge News, we look back at the past year to highlight achievements and updates from the Center. Learn more about our featured projects and staff, and catch up on the latest events, publications, and study opportunities.
Featured Article
Using Technology to Support the Everyday Activities of People Aging with Long-Term Disabilities
A new TechSAge article published in the Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) Journal special issue on technology and aging highlights our center’s approach of user-centered technology R&D to address the unique challenges of aging with disability. The article spotlights three TechSAge projects that used commercially-available products as exemplars of user centered design for technology interventions: Telewellness Technologies, Monitoring and Managing Falls Among People Who Use Wheelchairs, and Voice-Activated Digital Assistants. These projects demonstrate the potential of technology to enhance social connection, wellness, safety, activity performance among people aging with disability. Read the full article by Laura Rice, Elena Remillard, Emma Lachs, Tracy Mitzner, Jon Sanford, and Wendy Rogers
Latest Publications
Technology Implications
Everyday Challenges for Individuals Aging With Vision Impairment: Technology Implications
Aging Trends
Understanding Wheelchair Use in Older Adults From the National Health and Aging Trends Study
Digital Assistants
Understanding the needs of older adults learning to use digital home assistants: A demonstration study
Staff Spotlight: Zhiyu Ren, PhD Student
Zhiyu Ren is a PhD student in Robotics at Illinois. On TechSAge, he is supporting the Design of a Soft Robotic Shower Head (SoRoSH) project, which aims to develop a novel showerhead with enhanced flexibility and automation to support independent bathing for people aging with mobility disabilities. His work focuses on refining the design based on stakeholder feedback, optimizing a camera-based control system, and testing prototypes with target users. After graduate school, Zhiyu hopes to work as a research scientist in the medical device industry. Fun fact: Zhiyu enjoys reading detective stories and taking walks in the park during his free time!
Become a Research Participant!
We maintain a registry of names of people who are interested in being contacted about research studies. Opportunities include: surveys, focus groups, interviews, and technology evaluations. Depending on the study, you may be able to participate on the phone, online, on campus, at your home, or in other locations.
Interested in joining? We need to ask a you a few questions about yourself to see which studies you might be eligible for and match your interests with our researchers. Complete the brief survey (5-10 minutes) online here:
Join Our Mailing List!
Stay up-to-date on the latest TechSAge news by joining our mailing list.
TechSAge research is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR Grant #90REGE0021 and #90REGE0006-01-00)
NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).