1. INTA symposium: Using digitalisation and technology in old age
On 3 June 2024, the first INTA symposium took place at the Linz campus of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria on the topic of "Technology in old age: possibilities and limits of AI and big data". Around 28 network partners from all over Austria took part in the event - including co-founder of INTA, Univ.-Prof. Dr phil. habil. Giovanni Rubeis, Head of the Division of Biomedical Ethics and Healthcare Ethics at KL Krems, as well as Dr Vera Gallistl and Katrin Lehner BA MA from the Division of Gerontology and Ageing Research at KL Krems.
After the opening by the Upper Austrian State Councillor for Social Affairs Dr Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, the keynote speech by FH-Prof. Univ.Doz. DI Dr Ulrich Bodenhofer from the FH Campus Hagenberg led to the conference topic "AI and Big Data". In the morning, short contributions from research practice covered a wide range of topics on the multi-layered subject of "Technology in old age":
- Cornelia Schneider, FH Wiener Neustadt: "Usage and sensor data monitoring as a supporting tool in the development and evaluation of digital technologies"
- Iris Nemec, UAS Technikum Wien: " Barrier-free dEsign foR Teaching and Learning - Insights into a research project"
- Susanne Schaller/Katharina Munk, Hagenberg University of Applied Sciences: " TrainYourBrain Optimizer: A platform for creating stage-appropriate training for Alzheimer's"
- Vera Gallistl & Katrin Lehner, KL Krems: " The "data gaze" on age - images of age(ing) in the development of artificial intelligence for care"
In the afternoon, three "World Café" rounds were held to reflect on the morning's topics in greater depth and to develop possible INTA research collaborations for the future.
This resulted in several focal points for further interdisciplinary research, for example
- Area of tension "Possibilities, limits and social relevance of AI and technology in old age with special consideration of ethical, social science and data protection issues.
- Research into previously unexplored topics relating to technology in old age, for example the view of technicians on the requirements of care (in old age).
- Further develop images of old age in the context of technology: the frequent connotation of "old age" with "need for care" should be softened and "technology in old age" should thus be defined more broadly; in addition to the importance of technology for care support in old age, technology in the context of leisure activities, but also for promoting health and independence, are essential interdisciplinary research topics that should not only be considered in the context of "old age", but rather from the perspective of needs and barriers to autonomy.
INTA - Interdisciplinary Network for Technology in Old Age
INTA, the "Interdisciplinary Network for Technology in Ageing", was founded in 2023 by Prof. Dr Martina Schmidhuber, University of Graz, and Prof. Dr phil. habil. Giovanni Rubeis, Head of the Division of Biomedical Ethics and Ethics in Healthcare at Karl Landsteiner University Krems. Around forty researchers from almost all of Austria's universities and universities of applied sciences are currently represented in this network and pursue the common goal of researching technology in old age from different professional perspectives.
