Technology and Ageing

This subject is not offered in 2015.

170 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website.

This subject looks at the ways in which recent technological advancements can revolutionise the experience, management and future of ageing. Innovations in how we age will be explored from multiple perspectives, including how technology can support autonomy and independent living as well as social connectedness to minimise the isolation common in later life. Controversial improvements in assistive technologies will be covered, particularly in regards to privacy concerns over sensors that monitor behaviour and health conditions. Lastly, this subject considers life extension ideas people once thought impossible in the areas of longevity technologies and regenerative medicine. This is an exciting subject that opens up the possibilities of ageing with massive implications for older adults, health practitioners, care-givers, service providers, policymakers and researchers.

On completion of this subject, students will be able to:

• Critically discuss and appraise the benefits and risks, including short term and long term consequences, of technology advances in ageing.
• Demonstrate an informed understanding of the challenges and opportunities different technologies offer and how they support older users, as well as their care-givers and service providers.
• Review an Information and Communications Technology and produce a set of recommendations to further develop its impact to improve quality of life for older people.

• Weekly contribution to Online Discussions (10%)
• Team assignment that appraises the benefits and risks of a specific technology, with structured peer review of another team’s assignment due mid semester (40%)
• 3,000 word critical essay analysing and evaluating a current technological innovation in ageing based on someone that utilises that technology due end of semester (50%)

Students will have access to electronic copies of relevant readings.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students will be provided with the opportunity to practice and reinforce:

• Demonstrate the ability to identify, analyse and evaluate relevant information.
• High level written communication skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively with team members.
• Advance analytic, integration and problem-solving skills