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The future of ICT for health and ageing: Unveiling ethical and social issues through horizon scanning foresight

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  • Flick, Catherine
  • Zamani, Efpraxia D.
  • Stahl, Bernd Carsten
  • Brem, Alexander

Abstract

This paper uses horizon scanning as a foresight methodology to investigate the opportunities, challenges and futures of ICT for health and ageing, particularly focusing on identifying the ethical and social issues associated with this sector. It uses empirical evidence gained from the analysis of interviews, literature reviews, and policy documents to identify the primary signals within the areas of future technologies, future environments, future companies, and future older people. In addition, we build on contemporary internet-based discussions amongst the general public and the ICT start-up sector to identify weak signals regarding ethical and social issues, based on and around these areas. Our findings show that the key ethical and social issues identified are concerned with the issue of the elderly being seen as collections of diseases, the human face of ICT, privacy and informed consent, autonomy, stereotyping of older people, and general anxieties around ICTs. We conclude our paper with recommendations for addressing these ethical and social concerns, specifically through the adoption of responsible research and innovation practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Flick, Catherine & Zamani, Efpraxia D. & Stahl, Bernd Carsten & Brem, Alexander, 2020. "The future of ICT for health and ageing: Unveiling ethical and social issues through horizon scanning foresight," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:155:y:2020:i:c:s0040162518318560
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2020.119995
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Oderanti, Festus Oluseyi & Li, Feng & Cubric, Marija & Shi, Xiaohui, 2021. "Business models for sustainable commercialisation of digital healthcare (eHealth) innovations for an increasingly ageing population," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    3. Raul Gouvea & Shihong Li, 2022. "Smart Nations for All, Disability and Jobs: A Global Perspective," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(2), pages 1635-1650, June.
    4. Zhu, Zhuo-Yue & Xie, Hong-Ming & Chen, Liang, 2023. "ICT industry innovation: Knowledge structure and research agenda," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    5. Zhizheng Zhang & Wentao Wei & Tianlu Zhu & Ming Zhou & Yajun Li, 2022. "New Dimension on Quality of Life Differences among Older Adults: A Comparative Analysis of Digital Consumption in Urban and Rural Areas of China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-23, November.

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