The similarities and differences between the technological landscapes of Sweden and Japan could be detected by ETUQ, demonstrating its usefulness in both countries. The potential causes to the differences in relevance of and perceived ability to use ET between older adults in Sweden and Japan need further exploration.

Japan is now a super-ageing society, and it is expected that one out of four to five people will be at least 75 years old by 2025. Technology is constantly advancing around older adults, and older adults with low cognitive function are unable to cope with these changes, requiring assistance. We modified the Everyday Technology Use Questionnaire (ETUQ) to create a Japanese version and conducted a survey of home-dwelling older adults. As a result, we confirm that older adults need to be able to cope with home appliances such as rice cookers, pots, refrigerators, television remote controllers, vacuum cleaners and stoves. Based on these results, we improved TV remote controllers and confirmed that problems due to accidental clicks were reduced. Through a similar survey, we created a toilet-flushing forgetfulness notification system and wandering prevention sensor for people with higher brain dysfunction to help reduce the burden on caregivers.

Everyday technology (ET) has become central to modern life, but its use poses challenges to those with cog nitive impairments. We sought to describe the level of perceived difficulties in using ET by people with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and to assess the correlation between perceived level of difficulty and cognitive impairment. The Every day Technology Use Questionnaire revised Japanese version (ETUQ-Japan) was used to assess perceived difficulties in ET use for twenty-two participants with ABI. A trend of negative correlation was observed between the ratio of ET used with assistance of someone else and all neuropsychological test results. In particular, strong negative correlation was observed between the executive function (Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome, BADS) and the use of ET with assistance. It is likely that impairments to executive function are associated with difficulties in using ET use and patients with ABI living at home will require aid to address these problems.

Objectives: People with acquired brain injury (ABI) have various difficulties when using everyday technology (ET) in their daily life. The aim of this study was to reveal the characteristics of perceived difficulties of people with ABI when using ET through a comparison with the control group. Method: We recruited participants in the Kansai area and Okayama prefecture between 2010 and 2015. A total of 24 participants (18 males and 6 females; aged 20 to 62 years; mean age: 42.6 ± 13.3 years) with ABI and 26 healthy controls were interviewed about their perceived difficulties using ET via the Everyday Technology Use Questionnaire revised Japanese version (ETUQ-Japan). Results: Compared to the controls, the mean number of ETs used by people with ABI was significantly lower. When various difficulties arose, they were unable to independently manage ET, requiring the assistance of caregivers. Conclusion: It is necessary for the medical staff, involved in the home life of patients with ABI to consider the patient's perceived difficulties when using ET.