Title:
Closing the Capacity-Ability Gap: Using Technology to Support Aging With Disability
Closing the Capacity-Ability Gap: Using Technology to Support Aging With Disability
Author(s)
Mitzner, Tracy L.
Sanford, Jon
Rogers, Wendy A.
Sanford, Jon
Rogers, Wendy A.
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Abstract
There is a critical need to develop supports for older adults who have a wide range of abilities, including those aging with
long-term impairments. Without appropriate support, many individuals will be functioning below optimal levels and will
face participation barriers. Technology holds great promise to provide individualized support for a wide range of abilities
and for a variety of domains. To ensure technology interventions are designed well and meet research-documented user
requirements, we need more specific, actionable models to provide guidance for those developing and designing interventions.
In this paper, we present the TechSAge Aging and Disability Model to bridge models from the aging and disability
literatures and to disambiguate the population of individuals aging into disability from those aging with disability (i.e.,
pre-existing impairments). We also present the TechSAge Technology Intervention Model to support aging with pre-existing
impairments, which provides direction and touch points for technology interventions. These models reflect the complex
and dynamic interaction between age-related changes and an individual’s prior capabilities and limitations. We describe the
need for these models with respect to filling a gap in the disability and aging literature by highlighting the importance of differentiating between age-related changes and long-term impairments when designing interventions. We also show the need
for quantitative and qualitative data to refine the models given complexities of the current state of the literature and survey
data. The TechSAge Technology Intervention Model can be used to drive and inform technology redesign and development.
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Date Issued
2018
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Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 United States