Paper short abstract:

This paper examines how different logics, arising from funding requirements in the composition of research consortia (business and academic, technology and social sciences, etc.), work in creating images of ageing and practices of technology use in research and development of AAL projects.

Paper long abstract:

Despite the insistence with which research and development of Ambient Assisted Living technologies has been driven by public and private stakeholders (Sixsmith & Sixsmith, 2008), AAL has yet failed to establish itself on the market (Wilson et al., 2014). Hence, to better adapt to the end-users' needs, the social sciences are increasingly being involved in AAL research. How do different logics, arising from funding requirements in the composition of research consortia (business and academic, technology and social sciences, etc.), work in creating images of ageing and practices of technology use in research and development of AAL projects? How is the "older end-user" discursively and practically being constructed?

This paper draws upon data and reflections from three years of working in AAL-projects as sociologists, particularly focusing on the project "wellbeing" (funded by the AAL-Joint-Programme). In this project, a software platform is being developed to enhance quality of work for older adults. Data to be discussed includes:

- A quantitative survey among employees 50+ and their supervisors on technology acceptance and ageing stereotypes (n=1.575)

- 15 qualitative interviews with older end-users in a software field trial

- Critical reflections on the research process

Results show that deficient images of ageing underlay research, development and provision of technology that do not match older adults' self-perception. However, both deficient, passive images of ageing and the neoliberal active-ageing paradigm should be critically reviewed when working in this field.