The gerontechnology engineer

摘要

Pushing supportive technology to serve an aging society originated from the social sciences. Only about 20 years ago did engineers discover the field and formulated it as gerontechnology. The question arises whether engineers and social scientists have succeeded to form a community of practice with balanced contributions from both sides. Method Google Scholar entries were analyzed with Publish or Perish software, and further categorized manually according to gerontechnology matrices. Results A technology or engineering focus is present in about of gerontechnology publications. Two publication channels are dominant: the International Society for Gerontechnology (ISG) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and concern mainly ICT followed by ergonomics & design, and mechatronics & robotics. Gerontechnology engineers and technologists authors are largely missing in the disciplines of architecture and construction, business administration and material sciences.