Gerontechnology: 30+ years of research and application – Where do we stand today?

Purpose What does a period of more than 30 years typically mean in interdisciplinary research concerned with human aging? Starting with this general question, this Round Table will make an effort to review the achievements and gaps in gerontechnology, a research area now more than 30 years of age, if we take (pragmatically) the volume “Gerontechnology”, edited by Bouma & Graafmans (1992), as a major starting point. The International Association for Gerontechnology was founded soon after in 1996. New challenges today are the climate crisis and wars and the associated challenges for ageing societies. Method We suggest to approach the review effort in several rounds: (1) Current importance of gerontechnology in the context of existing research on aging as an interdisciplinary science; (2) conceptual developments and robustness of theoretical foundations; (3) research standards and comparability in designs, approaches, and measurements used; (4) empirical highlights that may (or have already) gain(ed) a citation classic status; (5) gaps and future investments needed. To discuss these issues, we have gathered two representatives from the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE), which was founded in 1999 (Charness, Rogers), O. von Stryk, among others co-founder and board member of the German Rescue Robotics Center, among 25 most influential computer scientists in the world in 2021 (von Stryck), the President-Elect of the German Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (Wahl), and an early stage scholar from the University of Applied Sciences, Kempten, Germany (Jokisch). Barbara Klein will take the role of our discussions moderator. Results and Discussion We hope to eventually publish an extended version of discussion outcomes in the journal “Gerontechnology”. We look forward to an interactive discussion with the audience to garner their perspectives on these issues.