Glossary

Search results

Perceptual speed(also: Processing speed, Cognitive processing speed)

The speed at which an individual can accurately perceive, compare, and respond to visual or auditory stimuli, typically measured through timed tasks requiring rapid symbol comparison or pattern matching. Perceptual speed declines with age and is a significant predictor of…

Person-Centred Care(also: Person-Centered Care, Person-Centred Approach)

An approach to care and support that places the individual — their preferences, needs, values, history, and identity — at the centre of all decisions and interactions, rather than focusing primarily on their diagnosis or deficits. Originated in dementia care through the work of…

Personal emergency response system(also: PERS, PER system, Medical alert system)

A device, typically a wearable pendant or wristband with a button, that allows a person to summon help in an emergency. Despite being the mainstream solution for older adults living alone, PERS devices suffer from poor adoption: users forget to wear them, find them stigmatizing,…

Persuasive Technology(also: Behaviour Change Technology, Behavior Change Technology)

Technology designed to change users' attitudes or behaviours through persuasion and social influence rather than coercion. In health and wellness contexts, persuasive technologies use strategies such as goal-setting, self-monitoring, reminders, social comparison, and rewards to…

Pet Robot(also: Robotic Pet, Zoomorphic Robot, Companion Pet Robot)

A socially interactive robot designed to resemble and behave like an animal companion — most famously PARO (a baby harp seal) and AIBO (a robotic dog) — used to provide emotional comfort, reduce loneliness, stimulate engagement, and support therapy for older adults, particularly…

Presbycusis(also: Age-Related Hearing Loss, Presbyacusis)

A gradual, progressive loss of hearing in both ears that occurs as a natural part of aging, primarily affecting the ability to perceive higher-frequency sounds. Presbycusis is the most common cause of hearing loss in older adults and has significant implications for the design…

Presbyopia(also: Age-Related Farsightedness, Loss of Accommodation)

An age-related vision condition in which the eye gradually loses the ability to focus on nearby objects, typically becoming noticeable after age 40. Presbyopia affects the vast majority of older adults and is caused by the hardening of the eye's lens, reducing its flexibility.…

Presbyopia(also: Age-Related Farsightedness)

An age-related vision condition where the eye gradually loses its ability to focus on nearby objects, typically becoming noticeable in the early to mid-40s. Presbyopia affects virtually everyone as they age and significantly impacts web accessibility, making small text difficult…

Processing Speed(also: Information Processing Speed, Cognitive Processing Speed)

A cognitive ability referring to how quickly a person can perceive, process, and respond to information. Processing speed affects how rapidly someone can read, understand instructions, react to stimuli, and complete timed tasks. It naturally declines with age, beginning in…

9 results.