Join us for the 4th annual RERC TechSAge symposium: 

Technologies for Successful Aging with Disability: Understanding Support Needs (Saturday 11/17 8-9:30am)

• Rogers, W. A, Koon, L. M., Hartley, J. Q., Mitzner, T. L., Harris, M. T., Remillard, E. T., & Singleton, J. L. Aging concerns, challenges, and everyday solution strategies for individuals with disabilities.
• Sanford, J. A., & Jones, B. D. SmartBathroom.
• Miztner, T. L., Hartley, J. Q., McGlynn, S. A., Stuck, R. E., & Rogers, W. A. Designing remote exercise classes for persons aging with mobility impairments: Insights from exercise instructors.
• Remillard, E. T., Mitzner, T. L., Sanford, J. A., & Rogers, W. A. TechSAge Minimum Battery.

1. Explore the science on healthy aging;
2. Identify knowledge gaps;
3. Promote prevention;  and
4. Support people aging in place and in their community.

Meeting Tracks

1. Social and Community Context
2. Maximizing Quality of Life
3. Health and Health Care
4. Neighborhood and Built Environment

TechSAge research will be highlighted in the following sessions:

TechSAge workshop: Technologies to Support Successful Aging with Disability. Presenters: Jon Sanford, Elena Remillard, Brian Jones,& Lyndsie Koon.

TechSAge & AGEWELL NCE are coordinating an Aging and Disability track featuring the following sessions:

• Disability, Aging & Health (TechSAge presenters: Elena Remillard & Lyndsie Koon)
• Smart and Robotic Homes (TechSAge presenters: Brian Jones & Zackory Erickson)
• Community Mobility, Participation and Health (TechSAge presenter: Jon Sanford)
• Disability, Aging and Technology in the US and Canada:  A Tale of Two Systems (TechSAge presenter: Jon Sanford)

TechSAge researchers will be presenting in a symposium, entitled "Technology Design to Support Successful Aging with Disability". Presentations will include:

Sanford, J. A., Mitzner, T. L., & Rogers, W. A. The TechSAge Technology Intervention Model for Aging with or into Disability.

Rebola C. Universal Design as a Strategy for Technology Design. 

Harris, M. T., Koon, L. M., Rogers, W. A.The potential for technology to support managing one’s health while aging with an impairment.

Gandy, M., Levy, L. M., Jones, B., Whi, D., & Nair, S. Using Augmented and Virtual Reality to Support Older Adults in Smart Homes. 

McGlynn, S. A., Hartley, J. Q., Mitzner, T. L., & Rogers, W. A. Guidance from Exercise Instructors for Designing Remotely-Led Classes for Older Adults with Mobility Impairments.

The TechSAge Design Competition 2017 seeks to inspire talented students to develop innovative technology-enabled design solutions for the aging population, especially considering the varied abilities and disabilities of older adults. Enter individually or as a team to the competition with a unique submission under one of the following categories:

HEALTH AT HOME: designed technology solutions for the home environment that support health and healthy activities in support to the healthcare system.
SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS: designed technology solutions to encourage communication, connectedness with people and social activities.
ACTIVE LIFESTYLE: designed technology solutions to promote physical and cognitive activities, and how activities can promote healthy lifestyles.
COMMUNITY MOBILITY: designed technology solutions to facilitate access to activities and/or locations.

Designed technology solutions may be products and/or systems including but not limited to ambient technologies, wearable devices, mobile applications, assistive robots—in the broad areas of design and computation, including industrial design, interaction design, graphic design, human-computer interaction, human factors, software engineering, and artificial intelligence, to mention a few. Each category will select the top three designed technologies to compete in phase 2 of the competition for the first, second and third place.

A talented group of experts on product design, universal design, technology design, human-computer interaction, robotics, design research methods, and aging, to mention a few, will evaluate the submissions.

The competition is organized by the TechSAge Research Engineering Rehabilitation Center (RERC) at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and sponsored by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).

The deadline for entries is March 15, 2017 by 11:59 PM.

To learn more about the competition, please visit the following website: techsagecompetition.com

March 27th & 28th

512 Means Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30318

Monday, March 27th

Keynote Lecture — 4pm to 5pm

Michelle Putnam, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Dean for Research, Simmons College, School of Social Work

Open House Reception — 5pm to 8pm
Poster sessions, demos, & more will be on display from aging and disability projects at Georgia Tech. Participating organizations are listed below.
Heavy appetizers & drinks will be served.

Tuesday, March 28th

Special Design and Technologies for Healthy Aging (DATHA) Talk Event:
“State of the Science in Technologies to Support Successful Aging
with Disability” — 8:30am to 11:30am

Event will feature two guest speakers who are leading researchers in personal & environmental technologies for older adults and people with disabilities.
A multi-disciplinary panel of researchers will facilitate discussion.
Breakfast & coffee will be provided.

Featured Speakers
Brenna Argall, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Robotics, Northwestern University; Research Scientist, Rehabilitation
Institute of Chicago

Andrew Sixsmith, Ph.D. Professor and Director of the Gerontology
Research Centre, Simon Fraser University

Space is limited. Please RSVP by February 21st
Click to RSVP 

Discover what’s new in aging. GSA’s Annual Scientific Meeting brings together 4,000 international experts and partners from academia, industry, government, and beyond to exchange information and to discuss the broader role of aging science. This meeting is the premier gathering of gerontologists from both the United States and around the world. They participate in over 450 scientific sessions including symposia, paper, and poster presentations.

TechSAge will be highlighted in the following:

A Spotlight on Technologies for Individuals Aging with a Disability. Symposium presentation at the Gerontological Society of America 69^th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.

Chair: Wendy Rogers.

Participants: Elena Gonzalez, Ted Johnson, Tracy Mitzner, Jon Sanford; Discussant: Alex Mihailidis

Presentations:

Gonzalez, E. T., Fausset, C. B., & Fain, W. B. Overcoming Challenges in the Home: Solutions from

Older Adults with Long-Term Mobility Impairment.

Mitzner, T. L., Hartley, J., Stuck, R., Chan, L., Beer, J. M., & Rogers, W. A. “Being There”: Attitudes about Televideo Technology for Adults Aging with a Mobility Impairment.

Sanford, J. A., Guhathakurta, S., Melgen, S., & Zhang, G. Application for Locational Intelligence and Geospatial Navigation (ALIGN).

Vandenberg A. E., Johnson T. M., Jones B. D., Clevenger C., Nadel L., Vaughan C., Master V.,

Perkins M. Technology solutions? Simpler. Clinical implementation in physically frail older adults? Involved.

Gonzalez, E. T., Singleton, J. L., Mitzner, T. M., & Rogers, W. A. Everyday technology use among deaf older adults.

Preusse, K. C., Gonzalez, E. T., Singleton, J. L., Mitzner, T. L., & Rogers, W. A. Aging with impairment: Needs assessment insights from subject matter experts.

TechSAge will be highlighted in the following paper presentation:

“RERC TechSAge: Making a Difference to the Lives of Older Adults with Disability through Design and Technology” (Jon Sanford & Elena Gonzalez)

TechSAge will be highlighted in the following workshop:

Everyday Technology Use by Deaf Seniors (Singleton, J. L., Gonzalez, E. T., Rogers, W. A., & Mitzner, T. L.)

TechSAge will be highlighted in the following workshop:

TechSAge at Georgia Tech: Technologies to Support Successful Aging with Disability. (Gonzalez, E. T., Mitzner, T. L., Rogers, W.A., & Sanford, J. A.) 

TechSAge will be highlighted in the following presentation:

 “Universal Design for Aging” (Jon Sanford & Elena Gonzalez)

Please join us this coming February to enjoy the charming yet metropolitan vibe of Atlanta, GA for the premier conference in Rehabilitation Psychology! Rehab Psych 2016 promises to be one of the most exciting, dynamic, and cutting-edge conferences we have had to date and we are incredibly excited about it. The focus is on Rehabilitation Psychology across the Spectrum of Care and attendees will have the opportunity to learn, experience, and practice new skills as never before! Nearly all of our presenters were invited after a rigorous peer review process performed by experts in the field of rehabilitation psychology as well as early career professionals and student members of Division 22. 

TechSAge will be highlighted in the following poster:

“Technologies to Support Successful Aging with Disability: Research, Design, and Training Efforts” (Wendy Rogers, Tracy Mitzner, Jon Sanford, and Elena Gonzalez)

Featured Speaker: Lee Ann Harvey  "Creating an Age-Friendly City: The Role of Design & Technology"

Design and Technologies for Healthy Aging (DATHA) kicks off this Spring with a talk by Lee Ann Harvey, Lifelong Community Coordinator for the City of Decatur. The purpose of the Lifelong Community (LLC) initiative is accomplish the goals of the City’s 2010 Strategic Plan by ensuring that Decatur provides a rich and welcoming environment for citizens at all the stages of their lives. She serves as staff to the citizen-based Lifelong Community Advisory Board, managing their work and the work of the volunteer-based Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project and the Season of Giving program. In her role, Lee Ann develops and implements projects that respond to a variety of lifelong community issues such as: aging in place, intra-city transportation options for seniors, and affordable housing. Her DATHA Talk with highlight the LLC initiative and current efforts in the city of Decatur. Attendees are encouraged to participate in open discussion on the role of design and technology in creating an age-friendly city. 

About Lee Ann: Lee Ann began her career with the city of Decatur as volunteer coordinator in April 2000. She is currently Lifelong Community Coordinator with the Planning Department. Lee Ann’s previous work experience includes managing a senior community center at local nonprofit organization. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Business. Lee Ann is a past president of the National Association of Volunteer Programs in Local Government (NAVPLG) and is a 2005 graduate of Leadership DeKalb. In 2007, she received the Decatur Business Association’s Thomas O. Davis Public Servant award.

TechSAge will be highlighted in the Technology Track day on Friday, November 12th. 

Presentation: "Re-Conceptualizing the Impact of Aging on Disability: Implications for Technology Interventions" (Elena Gonzalez, Jon Sanford, Wendy Rogers & Tracy Mitzner), in the Technology and Aging (TAG) Interest Group Symposium. 

Panel: "Desiging with Older Adults: What do Gerontologists Know That Others Don't?" (Wendy Rogers)

Location:

Talks are held on the 2nd floor of the Health Systems Institute (HSI) Building, room 207. The address is: 828 West Peachtree Street NW Atlanta, GA 30332.

Parking:

Visitor parking is located directly in front of the HSI building entrance (Area 6 Visitor Lot off 5th Street across from Ray's Pizza) with an hourly rate of $1.50. Metered parking is also available.

Save the date:

DATHA Talks will take place the 3rd Tuesday of the Month (9:30-11am).

TechSAge will be highlighted in the following presentations:

“Accessibility in Serious Games for Adults Aging with Disability” (Keiko Gomez-Gurley, Anne Collins McLaughlin, Maribeth Gandy, & Jason Allaire)

“Assessing Older Adults’ Usability Challenges Using Kinect-Based Exergames” (Christina N. Harrington, Jordan Q. Hartley, Tracy L. Mitzner, & Wendy A. Rogers)

“Perceptions of Computer System Usefulness: Insights for Design from Experienced Older Users” (Tracy L. Mitzner, Neil Charness, & Wendy A. Rogers)

“Universal Design as an Approach to Technology Intervention for Seniors” (Jon Sanford)

TechSAge will be highlighted in the following presentation:

“Technologies to Support Successful Aging With Disabilities: A Framework for Design” (Wendy Rogers & Tracy Mitzner)

• Providing seminars dealing with issues impacting their well-being and safety;
• Conducting awareness projects or activities among decision makers, providers of service and the general public regarding their unique needs, and;     
• Acquainting those senior citizens with national, state, and local resources that will contribute to their positive image and fuller participation in the mainstream society.

TechSAge will host an exhibitor booth to promote our research with Deaf Seniors as well as a workshop on “Healthy Aging” by Jenny Singleton.

TechSAge will be highlighted in the following:

Workshop: “Moving Forward with Technologies for Successful Aging with Disability” (Tracy Mitzner, Wendy Rogers, Jon Sanford & Elena Gonzalez)

Scientific Paper Session "Moving in, out and around the home: Solutions from older adults with long-term mobility impairment.(Gonzalez, E., Fausset, C., Foster, A., Cha, G., & Fain, W. B.

Attendees will share common goals and innovations as well as building, architecture, and design best practices. Don't miss this opportunity to gain inspiration through a gathering of like-minded, forward-thinking individuals instrumental in the creation of future living environments for the aging.

TechSAge will be highlighted in the following:

Cara Fausset will lead a presentation on Georgia Tech HomeLab and highlight findings from the R1.2 study “Aging with Mobility Impairment: Understanding Challenges in the Home”. (Fausset, C., Fain, W. B., & Gonzalez)

Timeline

For detailed announcements about events associated with the CIC be sure to subscribe via Twitter and Facebook.
Please contact the lab staff at rnoc-lab-staff@lists.gatech.edu for any questions or support needs. 

• Draft proposals and videos due for early feedback from judges and the lab staff. This is not required, but is highly recommended.

• A one-week hangout with games, food, prizes, tutorials, feedback, and hacking! If you don't have plans for all of Spring Break or need some extra time to fine-tune your submission, come join us at the App Lab.

• Your submissions must include a running prototype and a product website with a pitch video.
• The requirements for submissions can be found here.

• 4 - 7 pm
• IPaT (6th floor Centergy building in Tech Square)
• Selected finalists will pitch their idea to a select group of industry judges and faculty experts. 

TechSAge will be sponsoring a special award for Universal Design in home and community-based technologies as part of the CIC. 

• 5:00pm - 6:00pm  Opening speakers in the Institute for Paper Science and Technology Building (IPST)
  • Welcome Remarks
  • Keynote: Dr. Amy Baxter, CEO MMJ Labs
  • Open House Overview
• 6:00pm - 8:30pm  Open house showcase at multiple, adjacent locations in the northwest part of the Georgia Tech campus, providing an opportunity to meet Georgia Tech researchers and students, and view demonstrations of innovative technologies from student class projects to core research.

Please visit: http://healatgt.gatech.edu for more information.

Thursday, November 6, 2014, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Midtown Atlanta Hilton Garden Inn
97 10th Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30309

Hosted by LeadingAge Georgia and the Georgia Gerontology Society, this meeting is a great opportunity to learn more about emerging technology making an impact in aging as well as ground breaking research that is changing the landscape of aging in Georgia. 

Relevant TechSAge projects are discussed by Brian Jones and Carolyn Phillips in the Summit’s Closing Session.

For more information about the event, please view the flyer here.

The NCD is an advisory group to President Obama and Congress that meets quarterly to discuss policies, programs, practices and procedures that affect people with disabilities. Examples of research highlights: Real-time Captioning on Google Glass for Individuals with Hearing Loss; Digital Inclusion and Emergency Communications; Use of Social Media to Promote Social Engagement of Adolescents with Autism; Multimodal Displays for Accessible Education, Entertainment and Driving; Technologies to Support Successful Aging with Disability; Universal Design Ballot Interfaces for Voters with and without Vision Loss.

At the end of this successful event, NCD Chairperson Jeff Rosen expressed his enthusiasm with the comment “What Georgia Tech has accomplished is mind-blowing…our Council is very impressed with the cutting edge research happening here!”  Georgia Tech Vice President for Institute Diversity, Archie Ervin, echoed Rosen’s excitement stating “This event was incredible…it demonstrated how we here at Georgia Tech approach these challenges from so many different disciplines. We clearly have a significant footprint in this domain.”

Ervin also noted that President G.P. “Bud” Peterson is committed to the inclusion of individuals with disabilities throughout our campus community and to support that commitment, in 2013 he established a new campus committee that is charged with looking at issues pertaining to Disabilities and Access here at GeorgiaTech.

The Research Showcase featured poster presentations by 28 Georgia Tech scholars including TechSAge Investigators Carrie Bruce, Brad Fain, Maribeth Gandy, Brian Jones, Charlie Kemp, Tracy Mitzner, Wendy Rogers, Jon Sanford, and Jenny Singleton.

TechSAge will be highlighted in the following presentation:

Park, D., Kapusta, A., Kim, Y.K., Rehg, J., & Kemp, C. (2014, September).  Learning to Reach into the Unknown: Selecting Initial Conditions When Reaching in Clutter.  2014 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Chicago, IL.

For more information about the conference, please visit: http://www.iros2014.org/

TechSAge was highlighted in the following workshop:

Singleton, J. (2014, July). Healthy Aging in the Deaf Community. Workshop to be presented at the conference of the National Association of the Deaf. Atlanta, GA. July 2014.

 Abstract:  Our nation is paying greater attention to the health challenges faced by the aging population—including management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, coping with declines in cognitive functioning such as dementia. Are the proposed solutions and initiatives designed to address these challenges accessible and culturally appropriate for the Deaf Community? Georgia Tech leads a research effort (TechSAge) investigating how different disability communities experience these challenges.  We engage with those communities to develop ideas for new technologies and solutions to promote healthy aging.  How can our Deaf community best manage increasing health, mobility, vision, and memory challenges?  Let’s discuss!

For more information about the conference, please visit: http://new.nad.org/

The 9th World Conference of Gerontechnology (ISG 2014) was held in Taiwan by the ISG Sinophone Chapter, under the theme “Cultural and Social Diversity in Gerontechnology.” With the full support of the Chinese Society of Gerontechnology and Service Management, Yuan Ze University and Taiwan External Trade Development Council, it is certain that the conference was a successful global academic festivity of exchanging relevant research findings from all over the world.

TechSAge was highlighted in the following talk:

Rogers, W. A., Mitzner, T. L., & Sanford, J. A. (2014, June). A research framework to guide design of technologies for successful aging with disabilities. International Society for Gerontechnology, Taipei, Taiwan. 

For more information about the conference, please visit: http://www.isg2014.org/

For more information on the conference, please visit: http://ud2014.se/

TechSAge was highlighted in the following talk on Saturday, June 14 from 10:30am-11:45am:

Sanford, J. A., Rogers, W. A., & Mitzner, T. L. (2014, June). Current and Future Directions in Technologies for Successful Aging with Disability.  Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society (RESNA) 2014 Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN. 

See the conference schedule here.

For more information about the conference, please visit: https://www.resna.org/conference/