Beschreibung
This open access book presents the first systematic, co-created process to develop and implement an information and communication technology (ICT) solution for all ages, which would be relevant to their tangible and intangible care needs, It presents the discussion in the context of South Africa, a developing country and details a workable, transdisciplinary and relational approach to 21st-century ICT innovation that helps create applications tailored to purpose. Worldwide, it is anticipated that care needs of older populations will outstrip available resources. Sub-Saharan Africa lacks long-term care systems, and technology could play a crucial role in supporting families, communities and government in care management. This volume addresses the under-explored topic of age-inclusive ICT development and use in resource-poor countries. Divided into three parts, Part I provides a context of the work relating to ICT service delivery to older persons globally and within South Africa. It discusses the we-DELIVER project as an example of age-inclusive technology in developing countries. Part 2 critically evaluates Eurocentric ethical protocols which are either irrelevant or even harmful when applied without context, and discusses alternatives that are more suited to poorer countries with differing cultures. Part 3 discusses the impact and sustainability of such ICT projects and provides useful templates to assist with future designs of age-inclusive ICT solutions in developing countries. This topical volume is of interest to social science researchers and students of lifecourse studies, ageing and age care, technology studies, social policy, and social work.
Autorenportrait
Vera Roos is Research Professor in the Ageing and Generational Dynamics programme in the Optentia Research Unit (AGenDA) at the North-West University, and an Affiliate Research Fellow of the Institute of Population Ageing at the University of Oxford. As a socio-gerontologist, she focuses on relational experiences and, from a community psychology perspective, on the contributions of older individuals in challenged contexts. Vera has presented her research on topics related to enabling interpersonal contexts, loneliness, friendship, and intergenerational relations at national and international conferences, and has published widely, including three edited books. She developed the Mmogo-method, a projective visual data-collection tool to enable research participation despite age, language or cultural barriers and to obtain layered information about personal, relational, and group experiences. Findings from this visual method informed the development of a relational theory, Self-Interactional Group Theory (SIGT), and intergenerational interventions. Vera's commitment to promoting the well-being of older people in relation to their contextual realities prompted the development of an information and communication eDirectory system, Yabelana, with context-specific information for use on smart and older generation mobile phone devices. Vera Roos is a rated scientist of the South African National Research Foundation. Jaco Hoffman (DPhil, Oxon) is Professor of socio-gerontology in the Optentia Research Unit, North-West University (Vanderbijlpark Campus), where he leads the Ageing and Generational Dynamics in Africa (AGenDA) programme. He is also Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford, where he co-ordinates the UN-endorsed African Research Network on Ageing (AFRAN). AFRAN brings together African and international institutions and individuals from academia, policy, and practice to develop and expand African research and training capacity on ageing. He is an Honorary Professor in the Institute of Ageing in Africa, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, a past president of the South African Gerontological Association (SAGA), and founding member of the South African Older Persons Forum. Jaco co-directs, with Professor Sebastiana Kalula (UCT), the International Longevity Centre (ILC) South Africa, and is a director of the International Federation of Ageing (IFA) Board. His research experience relates broadly to the social sciences (sociology, anthropology), with specialization in the multidisciplinary field of socio-gerontology, including topics such as HIV/AIDS, poverty, (long-term) care, families, and community development.
