Network-based approaches for evaluating ambient assisted living (AAL) technologies

Gomersall, T., Nygard, L., Mihailidis, A., Sixsmith, A., Hwang, A., Hedman, A. and Astell, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6822-9472 (2017) Network-based approaches for evaluating ambient assisted living (AAL) technologies. Evaluation, 23 (2). pp. 192-208. ISSN 1356-3890 doi: 10.1177/1356389017697615

Abstract/Summary

Ambient assisted living technologies could support people experiencing physical or cognitive challenges, to maintain social identities and complex activities of daily living. Although there has been substantial investment in developing ambient assisted living innovation, less effort has been devoted to understanding how to evaluate the impact of ambient assisted living on physical and mental health. Taking a theory-based evaluation approach, we suggest firstly that ambient assisted living technologies rely on networks of people and organizations to function, and secondly, analysing the changing structure of networks can bridge the gap between socio-technological change and individual-level capabilities. We present conceptual arguments for taking a network perspective in ambient assisted living evaluations, illustrated with examples from our own group’s work on technology use among older people with cognitive impairments. We then discuss the different types of network-based evaluation approaches available, their theoretical assumptions, and the sort of research questions they could address.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/69276
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Ageing Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Department of Psychology
Publisher	Sage
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