Yang Pei Shan, Associate Professsor, Department of Social Work, National Taiwan University
Chang Lin Shan Ju, Professor, the Dept. of Library Science, National Tiawan University
According to Dr. Wang's article in the First Issue of RSPRC E-Newsletter, the ongoing aging population will not only affect economic and human capitals in Taiwan but also threaten the competitiveness of economic development capacity in the world. . The United Nations (2001) have warned that early preparation for facing the challenge of aging population is needed before the socio-economic problems occur. This article focuses on the dynamics of the development of digital era that can help the governments, enterprises and communities to be well prepared for the coming aging society and improve Taiwan's competitiveness of economic development capacity in the world.
In 2007, the World Health Organization published a report: The Global-Age-Friendly Cities: A Guide. This document proposed a framework for age-friendly cities that address eight dimensions: 1) outdoor spaces and building; 2) transportation; 3) housing; 4) social participation; 5) respect and social inclusion; 6) civic participation and employment; 7) communication and information; 8) community support and health services. Meanwhile, Taiwan's Executive Yuan in 2010 also proposed a framework for aging policy that includes: 1) integrative live-in care system (meal delivery, caring service, management of foreign domestic workers), 2) barrier-free environment (assistive equipment, housing, barrier-free transportation), 3) senior medical care (medical equipment, medicine, regimen, preventive health care), 4) extended education, 5) recreation, 6) culture, 7) finance and 8) insurance. The differences between Taiwan's and international policy strategies can be found in the aspects of "employment" and "communication and information". Because in Taiwan the "age discrimination" considers the elderly are less likely to learn new information and communication technologies (ICTs) and this prejudice is preventing the elderly from being employed. Therefore, if our country is eager to remain competitive in the global market, we should overcome the age discrimination and initiate new policies for elder citizens, especially focusing on the aspects of ICTs.
Our research in "Gerontology and Technology Development," supported by the Industrial Technology Research Institute(工業技術研究院) in 2004, has urged Taiwan government to encourage ICTs enterprises in investing the development of technology for integrating medical engineering, education and publication, as well as recreational industry for senior citizens. However, we have not seen actions from the government and industry in the past decade. Taiwan has far behind South Korea, Japan, Scandinavian countries and United States in the field of digital aging research. As Taiwan has played an important role in the development of ICTs in the global market, Taiwan should take advantages in current electronic industry and integrate applications for the elderly in devices such as smart phones and pads for the emerging global "grey hair" market.
Take Samsung for example, in the past few years, the company has launched many age-friendly mobile devices targeting people over 65 years old, and funded a new digital aging research, center. In June 2013, Samsung sponsored the 20th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG 2013) held in Seoul, South Korea. The theme of the congress was "Digital Aging: A New Horizon for Health and Active Aging". The keynote speaker of the Congress was the Director of Samsung's Digital Aging Research. His speech brought a lot of attention of Samsung's efforts in digital aging products. Walker also argued that the simplification of mobile devices can help senior citizens to overcome the problems incurred by aging and physical dysfunctions. Therefore, the philosophy of "make life simple" made IPHONE the most age-friendly smartphone. There are more products and apps designed for seniors around the world in the past years. The NTU Digital Aging Research Group also developed apps for brain rehabitation named "What to eat today", "Touch Game" and "Sleep Coach". The first two apps can enhance the eye-hand coordination and memory; the Sleep Coach can help to log their sleeping diary and improve their sleeping quality.
The popularity of mobile devices will increase the accessibility of these devices for senior citizens. Dr. Sai-Hung Tang, the Superintendent of Cardinal Tien Hospital, said the biggest challenge for the elder people in the future is dementia. To encourage them using digital products can make them more dexterous. Creating age-friendly apps for aging population is the major task of related research and development (R&D) companies. The interface of age-friendly apps should reflect the physical and daily need. It should be also user-friendly for the care takers. Therefore, the app designers should explore the needs, perception and emotions of main care takers to meet the needs of the elderly and modify the content and interface of apps accordingly.
With the increase of internet users, the intergenerational digital divide will decrease year by year. However, the intra-generational digital divide will increase as a result of the variance in resources accessibility and adaptive capacity among the elderly based on social factors such as available resources in their residing areas as well as their own education, income and social network. Therefore, we should pay particular attention to providing ICTs services for aging population varied in their social and economic status.
