Why care of all things? A critical analysis of robotics in care settings

Abstract

In recent years, scholars from a range of disciplinary backgrounds have developed critical perspectives on policies, research and practices surrounding Gerontechnology. Such perspectives have, for example, shown how gerontological research on ageing and technologies often follows a limited and instrumental understanding of technologies (1) or how the development of gerontechnologies by engineers and designers might be based on negative and at times stereotypical images of ageing (2). These common criticisms towards Gerontechnology call for a more critical approach when studying the aging-technology nexus as well as more reflexive forms intervening in the design of new technologies, products and services. As a consequence, researchers have put forward the notion of "Socio-Gerontechnology" (3,4), to explore the co-constitution of ageing and technologies, across instances of technology use and design (5). While this endeavour has stimulated many multidisciplinary and international reflections in, e.g., Science-and-Technology Studies, Age Studies, Critical and Cultural Gerontology and Design, the question remains how these diverse approaches can inform practice. In this session, we hence want to pose the question: (What) Do we need critical approaches to Gerontechnology (for) and how can Socio-Gerontechnology inform practice in policy and design? STRUCTURE The sessions brings together four examples of such critical engagements with Gerontechnology. The symposium includes four speakers and a discussant who will draw to key themes and challenges that illustrate the relevance of Socio-Gerontechnology for practice in Gerontechnology. CONTENT L. Neven and J. Berschld will examine the design process of Gerontechnologies, highlighting the ways in which older adults' technological literacy is often overlooked in these processes. They suggest resourceful DIY solutions of older people as an alternative starting point of design processes. A. Bischof and P. Graf will take a critical look at robotics in care settings, suggesting an alternative to the dichotomy of more human-centred and more technologie-centred approaches in human-robot interaction for care. N. K. Dalmer and K. L. Ellison will investigate how younger adults imagine technological solutions and digital and ageing futures. A. Peine, M. Fernndez-Ardvol, E. Loos, A. Rosales and D. Blanche analyse the interrelatedness of digital practices and social connectedness in later life and show how digital mobiles practices not only impact notions of social connectedness, but increasingly shape them. CONCLUSION The session highlights the relevance of critical approaches in Gerontechnology, STS, Age Studies as well as critical and cultural gerontology. Socio-Gerontechnology as an emerging field of research outlines more reflexive ways of intervening in the design and application of Gerontechnologies.