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W. Rogers and R. Mudar Awarded Grant from Discovery Partners Institute

03.28.2019

Professors Wendy Rogers and Raksha Mudar have been awarded a grant through the Discovery Partners Institute, a purpose-driven collaborative research institute located in Chicago that is focused on prosperity and growing the state's workforce by creating solutions to grand challenges.  Rogers' and Mudar's project will explore whether social isolation among older adults can be prevented with the use of video technology and will specifically identify if this platform can help those older adults who are economically disadvantaged.  
More information on this project and others can be found here: http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2019-03-28/first-9-recipients-discovery-partners-institute-seed-grants-announced.html

W. Rogers and B. Pastor Featured in News Gazette for Work at CHART Apartment

11/25/2018

Wendy Rogers and Brian Pastor were featured in a News Gazette article on 11/25/2018 highlighting the collaboration between the CHART program and Clark-Lindsey Village.  This collaboration is crucial in the continuation of research efforts to promote successful aging with the use of technology.  Find the full artlcle here! http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-11-25/chart-ing-progress-ui-clark-lindsey-team-study-seniors-and-tech.html

HFA Laboratory Seeking Applicants for Post-Doctoral Research Associate with focus in Social Robotics

11/05/2018

Description: The Human Factors and Aging Laboratory (www.hfaging.org) is seeking a postdoctoral research associate with interests in aging, health, and robotics. Our overall goal is supporting successful aging through research in healthcare technologies; design for aging; technology acceptance; human-automation interaction; aging-in-place; human-robot interaction; cognitive aging; aging with disabilities; and skill acquisition and training. The laboratory is funded by: the National Institutes of Health as part of the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (www.create-center.org); and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Community Living) Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technologies to Support Aging-in-Place for People with Long-term Disabilities (www.techsage.gatech.edu). The position is expected to be for two years, pending funding and satisfactory performance. (Additional years possible.)
 
Research Focus: The research for this position will focus on human-robot interaction, very broadly defined. Specific projects will be determined based on shared interests but will involve assistive robots, social robots, telepresence robots, or personal robots to support the needs of older adults. Projects will be guided by theory, be methodologically sound, and advance both fundamental knowledge and practice.
Qualifications: Successful candidates must have an earned doctorate in an affiliated discipline such as gerontology, health, human-centered computing, human factors, psychology, or robotics, biomedical engineering, computer science. Candidates must possess a commitment to interdisciplinary research collaborations and be interested in pursuing grants from NIH, NSF, NIDILRR, PCORI, AHRQ, and private foundations. Strong communication skills – spoken and written – are critical, and should be evidenced by publications and presentations. Experience mentoring undergraduates and junior graduate students is a plus.
 
Applications: To apply, please send the following materials to Wendy Rogers at wendyr@illinois.edu
• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover letter describing relevant experience and interest in aging, health, and robotics
• Three reference letters sent directly to Dr. Rogers via email.
For initial consideration, please send your materials by December 7, 2018. The anticipated starting date is March 1, 2019 (negotiable).
For additional information, contact Wendy Rogers at 217-300-1470 or wendyr@illinois.edu.

TechSAge 2 Receives Funding - - Kick-Off Meeting Held at UIUC and Georgia Tech

10/17/2018

Faculty and staff at the University of Illinois and Georgia Institute of Technology will collaborate on research designed to help people with long-term disabilities age in their homes with support from a five-year, $4.6 million grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.
 
Read More Here!  http://ahs.illinois.edu/techsage-grant-2018

Human Factors & Aging Lab Presents at HFES Conference

10/01/2018

Tina Nie and Kenneth Blocker (pictured) presented a collaborative research effort entitled "User Insights for Design of an Antihypertensive Medication Management Application" and represented the Human Factors & Aging Laboratory at the 2018 HFES conference held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  

Lyndsie Koon Represents Lab at NASPSPA and RESNA National Conferences

07/27/2018

Lyndsie Koon, Ph.D represented the Human Factors & Aging Laboratory presenting work on the ACCESS study at both the North American Society for Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) and Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) national conferences held in Denver, CO and Washington, D.C. respectively.  ‘Understanding Exercise Challenges & Responses for Adults Aging with a Mobility Impairment​’ and ‘Developing a Feasibility Study for a Tele-Technology Group Exercise Class for Adults Aging with Mobility Impairments’ titled her talks as she shared results from interviews among adults aging with a mobility impairment in regard to their challenges, and response to the challenges associated with engaging in exercise as well as discussed the potential benefits of using tele-technology (e.g., Skype, OneClick) to support remote group exercise for adults aging with mobility impairments. 

Dr. Rogers and Human Factors and Aging Lab Member Team up with OneClick.Chat

07/17/2018

Dr. Wendy Rogers, Dr. Raksha Mudar, associate professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Science, and members of both professor's labs will partner with OneClick.chat on a study of the web-based video chat platform’s ability to enhance social connections and engagement among older adults. OneClick.chat was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging. OneClick.chat’s CEO Dillon Myers says the research team will pilot the platform with adults over the age of 70, including adults with early signs of cognitive impairment. His goal is to understand the unique design needs of older adults at risk for social isolation in order to adapt OneClick.chat’s video technology.
 
For more information, click here!

Dr. Wendy Rogers Featured in Recent American Psychological Association Monitor

07/17/2018

 
Dr. Wendy Rogers and Dr. Richard Pak were featured in the July/August 2018 APA Monitor issue 
Click here to Read More!

Human Factors & Aging Lab Presents at HFES-Health Conference

Kenny Blocker, Maurita Harris, and Rachel Stuck

April 9, 2018

Members of the Human Factors & Aging Laboratory recently presented at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) - Health conference held in Boston, Ma on March 26th-28th.  Pictured are Kenny Blocker, Maurita Harris, and Rachel Stuck, all members of the lab. 

Dr. Rogers and Kenneth Blocker co-author chapter in newly released book

April 6, 2018

Dr. Wendy Rogers, laboratory director, and Kenneth Blocker, graduate student, have been featured in the new book entitled Aging, Technology, and Health edited by Richard Pak and Anne Collins-McLaughlin.  Rogers and Blocker co-authored a chapter in this book that takes a case study approach focusing on how older adults use technology for health and issues of technology adoption, basic human factors, cognitive aging, mental health and automaton. 
Aging, Technology, and Health is now available on Amazon.

Dr. Rogers Interviewed for the BBC's "The Digital Human" Podcast

March 5, 2018

The Human Factors and Aging Laboratory's Dr. Wendy Rogers was interviewed by BBC's Aleks Krotoski for The Digital Human podcast and discussed the laboratory's work related to human-robot interaction and older adults.  The episode is free so click here to listen!

Collaborations to Adapt Home Energy Technologies to Support Aging in Place

January 27, 2018

The Human Factors and Aging Laboratory is part of a team of researchers that include Eastern Illinois University’s School of Family & Consumer Sciences, Sustainable Community Development, LLC, and the University of Illinois’ Indoor Climate Research & Training Group that were awarded a grant from the Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation (ISEIF) to adapt home energy technology to allow for better again in place for senior consumers. The team will be working to provide materials and a training program for installers on serving the senior community more specifically and successfully. 
 

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