The project focuses on the challenges and privacy tensions in a range of products and services and considers how these challenges are affected by the representation of this demographic in the training of these systems.

As part of this project, we are hosting a workshop, Adding Age to AI: The Importance of Representing Older Adults in Data and Design, to seek inputs and research analysis from leading stakeholders in this area. This multi-panel event will be held on March 18, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT, and will include a discussion around our literature review, along with guidance from experts on how to design detailed research agendas that consider primary risks, perceived discrepancies and potential harms for technology developers when considering the needs of the older adult demographic section of the population.

PROGRAM AGENDA

Click here to access our detailed agenda.

Panel 1: The Health and Physiological Needs of Seniors, as Targeted by Elder-Specific Technology (Discussion of Social Impacts) - Moderator, Brenda Leong

Eunju Namkung, Virtual Services Coordinator, Workforce Development Center, Alexandria, VA: older adult representation in digital government services.
Pamela Teaster, Professor and Director, Center for Gerontology, Virginia Tech: systems to control finances for cognitively impaired older adults
Jim Steel, Writer, Iron Company & Starting Strength Physical Training Systems: addressing the available data on older persons and fitness
Lee Poskanzer, CEO, Directive Communication Systems, Inc.: assisting with records of digital property, online accounts and final directives.

Keynote Speaker:

Dr. Clara Berridge, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Washington: older adults and their children, on in-home surveillance and monitoring systems

Panel 2: Consumer Technology as Used and Experienced by Older Adults (Discussion of Technical Issues and Concerns) - Moderator, Dr. Sara Jordan

Jon Antin, Ph.D., CHFP, Human Factors Research Scientist, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute: The Interactions of Senior Mobility & Health
Kerstin Haring, Assistant Professor and Director of the Humane Robot Technology Laboratory, University of Denver: human/robot interactions, and ethics in robotics
Mark Diaz, Research Scientist, Ethical AI, Google: social bias and the use of algorithmic technologies around underrepresented social groups