Ethical adoption: A new imperative in the development of technology for dementia

Abstract

Introduction: Technology interventions are showing promise to assist persons with dementia and their carers. However, low adoption rates for these technologies and ethical considerations have impeded the realization of their full potential.

Methods: Building on recent evidence and an iterative framework development process, we propose the concept of "ethical adoption": the deep integration of ethical principles into the design, development, deployment, and usage of technology.

Results: Ethical adoption is founded on five pillars, supported by empirical evidence: (1) inclusive participatory design; (2) emotional alignment; (3) adoption modelling; (4) ethical standards assessment; and (5) education and training. To close the gap between adoption research, ethics and practice, we propose a set of 18 practical recommendations based on these ethical adoption pillars.

Discussion: Through the implementation of these recommendations, researchers and technology developers alike will benefit from evidence-informed guidance to ensure their solution is adopted in a way that maximizes the benefits to people with dementia and their carers while minimizing possible harm.

Keywords: Alzheimer; Assistive technology; Biomedical ethics; Dementia; Ethics; Technology; Technology adoption; Technology development.