Technology acceptance and perceptions of robotic assistive devices by older adults - implications for exoskeleton design.

AIM: This study explored and interpreted insights expressed by a cohort of older adults related to their life experience, their experiences using or assisting someone with assistive devices, and their perceptions of robots and robotic assistive devices, including lower limb exoskeletons. METHOD: A grounded theory study was undertaken with 24 older adult participants over five months. Each participant participated in a structured interviewed regarding their experiences with technologies and in particular their perceptions of assistive technologies. Themes from the interviews were coded using Nvivo software. RESULTS: Five main themes emerged from this study - (1) Aging & life stage experiences, (2) Quality of Life, (3) Assistive Technologies, (4) Health Conditions & Care, (5) Products & Service Systems. These have influenced new constructs for a hybrid design tool that incorporates stages of Usability and TAMs (Technology Acceptance Models) to gauge (a) Perception, (b) Experience and (c) Perceived Impact by older adults of lower limb exoskeletons.Conclusions: Emerging technologies such as robotic assistive devices require a specific enquiry to understand how best to optimise acceptance by older adults and avoid feelings by them of frustration, embarrassment and ultimately abandonment of these devices.Implications for rehabilitationOlder adults frequently require rehabilitation and assistance with ambulationExoskeletons are forms of assistive technologies for rehabilitation, and they are moving from clinical use to more day care use, including as part of daily livingThese results help explain factors related to the perception of exoskeletons by older adults, which if considered during exoskeleton design, could improve the technology uptake and compliance with this technology use by these users.

How does a (Smart) Age-Friendly Ecosystem Look in a Post-Pandemic Society?

COVID-19 has impacted not only the health of citizens, but also the various factors that make up our society, living environments, and ecosystems. This pandemic has shown that future living will need to be agile and flexible to adapt to the various changes in needs of societal populations. Digital technology has played an integral role during COVID-19, assisting various sectors of the community, and demonstrating that smart cities can provide opportunities to respond to many future societal challenges. In the decades ahead, the rise in aging populations will be one of these challenges, and one in which the needs and requirements between demographic cohorts will vary greatly. Although we need to create future smart age-friendly ecosystems to meet these needs, technology still does not feature in the WHO eight domains of an age-friendly city. This paper extends upon Marston and van Hoof's 'Smart Age-friendly Ecosystem' (SAfE) framework, and explores how digital technology, design hacking, and research approaches can be used to understand a smart age-friendly ecosystem in a post-pandemic society. By exploring a series of case studies and using real-life scenarios from the standpoint of COVID-19, we propose the 'Concept of Age-friendly Smart Ecologies (CASE)' framework. We provide an insight into a myriad of contemporary multi-disciplinary research, which are capable to initiate discussions and bring various actors together with a positive impact on future planning and development of age-friendly ecosystems. The strengths and limitations of this framework are outlined, with advantages evident in the opportunity for towns, regions/counties, provinces, and states to take an agile approach and work together in adopting and implement improvements for the greater benefits of residents and citizens.

Exoscore: A Design Tool to Evaluate Factors Associated With Technology Acceptance of Soft Lower Limb Exosuits by Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE: This pilot study proposed and performs initial testing with Exoscore, a design evaluation tool to assess factors related to acceptance of exoskeleton by older adults, during the technology development and testing phases. BACKGROUND: As longevity increases and our aging population continues to grow, assistive technologies such as exosuits and exoskeletons can provide enhanced quality of life and independence. Exoscore is a design and prototype stage evaluation method to assess factors related to perceptions of the technology, the aim being to optimize technology acceptance. METHOD: In this pilot study, we applied the three-phase Exoscore tool during testing with 11 older adults. The aims were to explore the feasibility and face validity of applying the design evaluation tool during user testing of a prototype soft lower limb exoskeleton. RESULTS: The Exoscore method is presented as part of an iterative design evaluation process. The method was applied during an exoskeleton research and development project. The data revealed the aspects of the concept design that rated favorably with the users and the aspects of the design that required more attention to improve their potential acceptance when deployed as finished products. CONCLUSION: Exoscore was effectively applied to three phases of evaluation during a testing session of a soft exoskeleton. Future exoskeleton development can benefit from the application of this design evaluation tool. APPLICATION: This study reveals how the introduction of Exoscore to exoskeleton development will be advantageous when assessing technology acceptance of exoskeletons by older adults.