A Critical Review of Eight Years of Research on Technologies for Disabled and Older People

This paper presents the initial results of a critical review of recent research on new and emerging technologies designed for older people and people with disabilities. The review covers research published between 2005 and 2012 in a range of international peer-reviewed journals and conferences, in the areas of technology, human-computer interaction, disability, assistive technologies and gerontology. On the basis of this review of research, we are exploring what issues for disabled and older people are being addressed by researchers and developers, whether the research is motivated by user needs, the methodologies used, and outcomes achieved.