Perceptual and cognitive issues of age-related impairment in complex control environments

Rapid world population aging is increasing incidence of varying forms of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and more severe conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Labour market downturns are increasingly affecting support for this shift in population demographics. Unfortunately, technology based support solutions are not well adopted by older adults and are often perceived as complex, unfamiliar, distracting and requiring higher levels of perceptual and cognitive effort. In many scenarios, these issues contribute to information overload, errors, poor productivity, frustration, and accidents. Technology Design for Ageing Populations (Transgenerational Gerontechnology) is a growing field with fragmented underpinnings in the literature. This review investigates important issues of age-related cognitive impairment and adoption of technology for interaction in complex control environments through a cognitive ergonomics and interaction design perspective. Hermeneutics, narrative analysis, and analogical reasoning structured the research path. The study was conducted in two main phases consisting of Visual and Cognitive theory & Human Factors of Interaction, followed by Visual and Cognitive Ageing and impact on complex controlled interaction. Current research and theory is related to cognitive engineering and contextual control during different forms of impairment; revealing a gap between what we know about age-affected perception and cognition and what we implement in terms of Interaction design applications. Design training, policy development, legislation and regulatory issues are immediate areas to be addressed in a rapidly changing landscape.