Posted on behalf of Roxanne Hiltz [[log in to unmask]]

INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR AN AGING SOCIETY

A Special Issue of ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction
(TOCHI).
Special issue editors: Sara Czaja (U. of Miami) and Starr Roxanne Hiltz
(NJIT)
Deadline for Abstract/ Intention to submit: August 15, 2004
Deadline for Submissions: November 1, 2004.

It is well known that older adults will comprise an increasing
proportion of the population of the U.S., Europe, and other
post-industrial areas in the coming decades.  For instance, between 2000
and 2030, the proportion of the U.S. population aged 65 and over will
double, to approximately 20%.  Older adults are also the fastest growing
segment of the online population.  At the same time that the population
is aging information technologies are increasingly being used in most
societal contexts and for a broad array of tasks.  What do we need to do
as HCI professionals to understand and prepare our systems to maximize
the usability and usefulness and potential of these systems for older
adults?  

The aim of this Special Issue is to present high quality and original
manuscripts related to the topic of aging and information systems that
will contribute to the design of systems that support the needs and
preferences of older users.  The focus of the issue is on older adults
and not on the broad issue of universal design or accessibility. 

All manuscripts must also be related to HCI and not on general issues of
aging. Manuscripts must be original, but significant expansions and
revisions of papers recently presented at conferences are specifically
included.  

Possible topics include:
* Empirical studies of issues related to the usability of systems by
older people (e.g., design of input devices, software design, hardware
design, training, help systems).  
* Empirical studies related to the use of technology in specific
contexts/tasks by older people (e.g., the workplace, home environments,
service settings).
* Reviews of existing literature related to systems specifically
designed to support the needs of older people (e.g., e-health
applications; smart home/appliances, caregiving) (Note: these reviews
must be data driven and result in recommendations for system
design/further research. They should not be a summary of work that is
on-going at a particular laboratory or research center.) 

Abstract/ Intention to Submit: so that we can assess the suitability of
your proposed paper for the special issue, and make sure that we have
sufficient reviewers ready for the number of papers to be submitted,
please email an abstract of about 150-200 words to the issue editors by
August 15, 2004. The final manuscript is due November 1 but early
submissions are encouraged. 

All contributions will be rigorously peer reviewed to the usual exacting
standards of TOCHI. Further information, including TOCHI submission
procedures and advice on formatting and preparing your manuscript, can
be found at: <http://www.acm.org/tochi/>

Manuscripts are actually submitted via the ACM online manuscript system
at <http://acm.manuscriptcentral.com/>

To discuss a possible contribution, please contact the special issue
editors: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]