AgeTech and the Ethical Imperative

Chair(s)

• CC

  Charlene Chu, RN, GNC(c), PhD (she/her/hers)

  Assistant Professor
  Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
  University of Toronto
  Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Co-Chair(s)

• 

  Jennifer Boger, PhD, PEng (she/her/hers)

  Adjunct Professor
  Engineering
  University of Waterloo
  Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

  Slides

Discussant(s)

• 

  Andrew Sixsmith, PhD (he/him/his)

  Professor
  gerontology
  Simon Fraser University
  Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

• CC

  Charlene Chu, RN, GNC(c), PhD (she/her/hers)

  Assistant Professor
  Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing
  University of Toronto
  Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• OB

  Olive Bryanton, PhD (she/her/hers)

  Researcher
  Applied Human Sciences
  University of Prince Edward Island
  Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

  Slides
• 

  Judith Sixsmith, MSc, PhD (she/her/hers)

  Professor
  School of Health Sciences,
  University of Dundee
  Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom

  Slides
• 

  Jennifer Boger, PhD, PEng (she/her/hers)

  Adjunct Professor
  Engineering
  University of Waterloo
  Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

  Slides

"AgeTech" refers to technological trends in e-health, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and mobile technologies” as a way to improve the health, well-being, independence, and social participation of older people. This symposium provides an overview of the imperative to integrate ethics into the design and development of technology, from start to finish. The first talk presents reflections from older adult members of two AgeTech groups: AGE-WELL’s Older Adults and Caregivers Advisory Committee, and the Research Group of Seniors 411, which will outline the ethical issues and ageism experienced by older adults. To further examine these issues, the second presentation explores a framework for how ageist attitudes can be encoded and perpetuated as digital ageism, both in AI and other technologies, and highlights a need for broader community inclusion. The third paper explores the challenges of virtual community inclusion, highlighting the challenges and benefits of digital participation in a post-COVID world. A health equity focus will be applied when highlighting the unique needs of seldom-heard and under-served older people in virtual spaces to enhance social inclusion. The last paper will highlight the “ethical by design” approach that will encourage and support culture change within AgeTech research and industry. This symposium will contribute to a more ethical, and inclusive design of technologies to support healthy aging.

Presentations:

• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET

  Digital Ageism and its Implications for Older Adult Inclusion
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Charlene H. Chu, RN, GNC(c), PhD (she/her/hers) – University of Toronto
• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET

  Older Adults' Perspectives on Ethical Issues Related to AgeTech
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Olive Bryanton, PhD (she/her/hers) – University of Prince Edward Island
• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET

  Inclusive Aging and Digital Place-Making in AgeTech: The IncludeAge Project
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Judith Sixsmith, MSc, PhD (she/her/hers) – University of Dundee
• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET

  Leveraging an "Ethical by Design" Approach to Create More Inherently Responsible Technology to Support Aging
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Jennifer Boger, PhD, PEng (she/her/hers) – University of Waterloo