Conference Tracks and Themes

Themes

The theme of a submission should fall under one or more of the following topics:

• Business Perspective
• Consumer Perspective
• International Perspective
• Research and Development
• Practice / Services
• Policy

and fit into one of the tracks listed below:

Tracks

Assistive Technology and Workplace Adaptations

Track Chair: Roger Smith Ph.D
Track Keynote Speaker: Fred Sammons, Fred Sammons, Inc.

Sessions address assistive devices such as mobility aids (canes, walkers, crutches, wheelchairs); vision devices (magnifiers, large print); hearing devices (assistive listening devices, volume control, vibrating-alert devices); and cognitive devices (pill organizers, reminder notes, wander-alert devices). Also, adaptations to work stations and work places will be addressed in this track.

Home Modification and Universal Design

Track Chair: Ed Steinfeld, Arch. D
Track Keynote Speaker: Susanne Iwarsson, PhD, Lund University

Sessions address the built environment, through both retrofitting and new construction in ways that support independence for people as they age. Universal design includes both buildings and the objects we place in buildings such as furniture, appliances and other devices.

Injury Prevention

Track Chair: John Crews, DPA & Elena Andresen, Ph.D
Track Keynote Speaker: TBA

Sessions address falls, fire safety, poisons, pedestrian safety and other issues related to ensuring a safe environment within the home and community.

Robotics

Track Chair: Zeungnam Bien Ph.D & W. Zev Rymer, MD, Ph.D
Track Keynote Speaker: David J. Reinkensmeyer, PhD, University of California, Berkeley

Sessions address the latest advances in assistive devices that can now, or will in the future serve many of the “personal assistance” needs of older persons with disabilities.

Smart Homes

Track Chair: Mounir Mokhtari, Ph.D
Track Keynote Speaker: Sumi Helal, PhD & William Mann, PhD, Univerity of Florida

Sessions address computer applications; wireless technology; information technology; pervasive computing; wearable computers; sensors; and home-monitoring, smart-home, smartphone and telehealth applications.

Telehealth

Track Chairs: Rita Kobb, MS and Jeff Loomis, MHA
Track Keynote Speaker: Thelma McClosky Armstrong, Director, Eastern Montana Telemedicine Network

Sessions address telehealth applications such as patient monitoring, information, and education.

Transportation

Track Chairs: John Eberhard, Ph.D & Helen Kerschner, Ph.D
Track Keynote Speaker: Matthew Rizzo, MD, Department of Neurology in the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine

Sessions address issues and approaches to older driver safety, testing and driver remediation; the role of low and high technology in enabling mobility later in life; and alternatives to personal vehicles.