On 18th June 2024, the ISO/TC 314 Ageing Societies Committee and the IEC System Committee Active Assisted Living came together to hold an international workshop on the Utilization of Technologies for Ageing Societies in London. This important and critically timed international gathering places the spotlight on key considerations of the impact and utilization of technologies in various aspects within ageing societies.
Professor Hajime Yamada the Secretary of SysC AAL and the head of delegation for Japan to TC 314 moderated this event which provided a range of perspectives on the use technologies to support ageing societies.
The first speaker at the event, Anne Livingstone from Australia, detailed the development of various technologies to support older people to live at home longer or to be supported in long term care arrangements. Anne emphasized the needs for co-design with older people and their families as a first principle.
Professor Hirokazu Tanaka from Japan gave an overview of the newly developed International Standard on 'Wearable sensing data container format for Internet of Things (IoT)'. This presentation included the cases used to develop the architecture long with the importance of the standards inventory and mapping.
The critical importance of user-centeredness in international standards was emphasized by the third speaker Jeanne Bank from Canada. This presentation covered the most important focus of the input from consumers and their caregivers in the development of quality and safety standards for assistive technologies. Jeanne's unique perspective as the Consumer and Public Interest Representative to ISO TC 314 and ISO Consumer Policy Committee (ISO/COPOLCO) was very well received at the workshop.
The final speaker at the workshop, Professor Taehwa Han from Korea, talked about the need to focus on Usability Frameworks in Ageing Societies. This presentation noted that usability is one the most crucial factors when implementing and operating Active Assisted Living.
In conclusion, four speakers as well as the large audience agree "user-centeredness" to develop international standards for ageing societies.
The forum was an overwhelming success and set the scene for the week of plenary meetings for ISO TC 314 and IEC SysC AAL.