TY  - JOUR
AU  - Abhari, Shahabeddin
AU  - McMurray, Josephine
AU  - Randhawa, Tanveer
AU  - Bin Noon, Gaya
AU  - Hanjahanja-Phiri, Thokozani
AU  - McNeil, Heather
AU  - Manning, Fiona
AU  - Debergue, Patricia
AU  - Teague, Jennifer
AU  - Pelegrini Morita, Plinio
PY  - 2024
DA  - 2024/10/31
TI  - Exploring the Landscape of Standards and Guidelines in AgeTech Design and Development: Scoping Review and Thematic Analysis
JO  - JMIR Aging
SP  - e58196
VL  - 7
KW  - aging in place
KW  - technology
KW  - gerontechnology
KW  - AgeTech
KW  - assistive technology
KW  - older adult
KW  - aging
KW  - ambient assisted living
KW  - active assisted living
AB  - Background: AgeTech (technology for older people) offers digital solutions for older adults supporting aging in place, including digital health, assistive technology, Internet of Things, medical devices, robotics, wearables, and sensors. This study underscores the critical role of standards and guidelines in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of these technologies for the health of older adults. As the aging demographic expands, the focus on robust standards becomes vital, reflecting a collective commitment to improving the overall quality of life for older individuals through thoughtful and secure technology integration. Objective: This scoping review aims to investigate the current state of standards and guidelines applied in AgeTech design and development as reported in academic literature. We explore the existing knowledge of these standards and guidelines and identify key gaps in the design and development of AgeTech guidelines and standards in scholarly publications. Methods: The literature review adhered to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. Searches were carried out across multiple databases, including Scopus, IEEE, PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Google Scholar, using a search string incorporating concepts such as “older people,” “technology,” and “standards or guidelines.” Alternative terms, Boolean operators, and truncation were used for comprehensive coverage in each database. The synthesis of results and data analysis involved both quantitative and qualitative methods. Results: Initially, 736 documents were identified across various databases. After applying specific inclusion and exclusion criteria and a screening process, 58 documents were selected for full-text review. The findings highlight that the most frequently addressed aspect of AgeTech standards or guidelines is related to “design and development,” constituting 36% (21/58) of the literature; “usability and user experience” was the second most prevalent aspect, accounting for 19% (11/58) of the documents. In contrast, “privacy and security” (1/58, 2%) and “data quality” (1/58, 2%) were the least addressed aspects. Similarly, “ethics,” “integration and interoperability,” “accessibility,” and “acceptance or adoption” each accounted for 3% (2/58) of the documents. In addition, a thematic analysis identified qualitative themes that warrant further exploration of variables. Conclusions: This study investigated the available knowledge regarding standards and guidelines in AgeTech design and development to evaluate their current status in academic literature. The substantial focus on assistive technologies and ambient assisted living technologies confirmed their vital role in AgeTech. The findings provide valuable insights for interested parties and point to prioritized areas for further development and research in the AgeTech domain. 
SN  - 2561-7605
UR  - https://aging.jmir.org/2024/1/e58196
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/58196
DO  - 10.2196/58196
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/58196
ER  -