Ebook: Solutions to master the Demographic Change: Ambient Assisted Living for the Elderly : Ambient Assisted Living for the Elderly

How will the Western World manage to master the implications of the demographic change? The answer to this may be Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) that becomes the topic of this research study. The aim of the research is to present the field of AAL with relation to home care. Furthermore, the work of the European Union (EU) in the field of AAL is presented as the EU is a major key player in enhancing research on AAL solutions that help meeting the demands of the future. Moreover, a categorization scheme of AAL solutions is developed through research evidence. Additionally, characteristics of a successful innovation given by the Diffusion of Innovations theory by E. M. Rogers are used to identify challenges for the diffusion process of AAL. Eventually, knowledge and evidence from the research conducted is used to give recommendations for the future concerning the diffusion and research directions of AAL. Auszug aus dem Text Text Sample: Chapter 2.1, Diffusion of Innovations Theory: The theory that is used for the analysis is the ‘Diffusion of Innovations theory’ (DoI). Although it has been discussed by French sociologists in the early 20th century already, the American Everett M. Rogers further developed the theory to what it is today. In very general terms, it describes the process by which an innovation, which can be a product, a way of thinking, or the like, comes into the social system, hence into use. In 1962, Rogers published the first edition of this book ‘Diffusion of Innovations’ in which he elaborates on the theory. The most current version of his theory is presented in the fifth edition of ‘Diffusion of Innovation’ (2003). For the development of the theory, he gathered research evidence from over 500 studies dealing with the diffusion and adoption of innovations. According to Robinson (2009), the insights that Rogers’ theory provides are verified by over 6000 field tests and studies and are therefore considered as highly reliable. The central issues of the theory focus on the process of social change and seek to present how an innovation is taken up among members of a specific population. In his book, Rogers concentrates on four main elements with regard to the diffusion of an innovation. These are the innovation itself, communication channels, time, and social system. The next paragraphs review the different dimensions of the theory, based on the works of Clarke, Kaminski, Orr, Robinson, Rogers, and Rogers and Scott (1999; 2011; 2003; 2009; 2003, 1997). With regard to the innovation, Rogers identified certain characteristics that determine whether an innovation will be successful in its adoption. The ultimate end of a diffusion process is called saturation point, i.e. the moment when the innovation is fully integrated. The first characteristic is relative advantage and describes in which way it is better than current practice. However, there are no specific attributes that constitute ‘relative advantage’. Therefore it is depending on wishes, needs, and perceptions of the users. The greater the perception of this characteristic, the faster is the innovation likely to be adopted. The second characteristic is compatibility concerning the consistency with socio-cultural values, specific needs, and practices. If an innovation is not compatible with norms and values of the target group, its adoption process is considerably slowed down. The third characteristic, complexity, refers to the nature of the innovation and the question whether it is simple to use or not. Simple ideas that are easy to understand have a more rapid adoption process than ideas that are more difficult. In the latter case, users that are to adopt the innovation may have to build up new ways of thinking or skills in order to understand the innovation, which slows down the adoption process, too. Trialability presents the fourth characteristic discussed by Rogers and concerns the possibility whether it is possible to try the innovation or not. Given the case that it is not possible to try out the innovation, high levels of uncertainty may arise. As uncertainty presents a severe obstacle in the adoption process, an innovation should ideally be trialable. The last characteristic identified by Rogers is observability and refers to whether positive results are visible. The more positive results are easily visible to people, the lower is the rate of uncertainty associated with the innovation. Moreover, visibility of positive results also encourages people to talk about it. Another key principle that can be linked to the successfulness of an innovation is the consideration of re-invention, yet it is not specifically included as a characteristic for a successful innovation. Accordingly, an innovation is even more likely to reach the saturation point, if it is possible to alter and amend the innovation during the implementation phase, according to changing needs or as challenges emerge. The notion of re-invention is essential because it refers to continuous improvements of the innovation, which are important for its successful diffusion. With regard to communication channels, Roger identified two types of channels through which an innovation is communicated, i.e. the mass media and interpersonal channels. Mass media has the advantage that it spreads information rapidly and to many people at once. Hence, the mass media channel is essential for raising awareness about the innovation itself. However, the effect of interpersonal channels is immense, too, as strong attitudes are formed when people communicate with each other (Orr, 2003). Therefore, this channel is essential for the influence on decisions of people whether to adopt or reject the innovation. These two channels ultimately influence the pace and the quality of the adoption process. The dimension of time in the theory focuses on three ways of time involvement. The first way is the innovation-decision process, which can be looked upon in five steps. These steps encompass: knowledge, referring to knowing what it is about and recognizing the function of the innovation; persuasion, in terms of realizing that it is beneficial; decision, referring to deciding about its introduction; implementation; and confirmation, in terms of whether it yields beneficial results. As already noted, the ultimate end of an innovation is when it reached its saturation point. The second way of time involvement is the degree of innovativeness of people of the social system and refers to the specific types of people that are involved in the adoption process as time passes by. The theory categorizes and characterizes these groups of people. These include: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards. However, a detailed characterization of each of the groups is not necessarily relevant, yet it has to be stressed that the first two groups are especially necessary. The innovators present a small group of idealistic people, which put great creativity and energy into the development of new ideas and innovations and without those people, there would not be any innovation. Soon after the innovators made the benefits of the idea or innovation visible, early adopters become aware of it and start involving in the process either in a purely private way or in seeking business opportunities. Whereas innovators and early adopters present the smallest segments of a social system, the other three groups present the bigger segments and adopt the idea or innovation one after another. The third way of time involvement refers to the rate of adoption. This rate is influenced by the successfulness of the innovation, characterized through the characteristics presented earlier and presents the pace of diffusion, usually measured in how many people of the social system adopt it in a specific period of time. The fourth element that Rogers describes in his theory is the social system. Accordingly, a social system is defined as ‘a set of interrelated units that are engaged in joint problem solving to accomplish a common goal’ (Rogers, 2003). Members of a system are not necessarily specified, therefore units of a social system can be comprised of organizations, individuals, or other groups of people that have something in common or share common views. Biographische Informationen Franz Gosch, B. Sc. was born in Wolmirstedt near Magdeburg, Germany in 1989. Before he graduated in European Public Health at the University of Maastricht in 2012, he has gained manifold experiences in the health care sector. During his studies in Maastricht, he became quickly aware of the importance of a respectful and sensible dealing with elderly people in society. Therefore, he addressed the topic of Ambient Assisted Living against the background of the proceeding demographic change. He is currently involved in a Master’s program in Medicine-Management at the University of Duisburg-Essen.