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Marketing of surveillance technology in three ageing countries

Vermeer, Y; Higgs, P; Charlesworth, G; (2018) Marketing of surveillance technology in three ageing countries. Quality in Ageing and Older Adults , 20 (1) pp. 20-33. 10.1108/QAOA-03-2018-0010. Green open access

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Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review marketing materials of surveillance products for people with dementia and their carers in three ageing countries, as part of a dementia-technology media analysis. Design/methodology/approach – An online environmental scan was conducted using search terms for surveillance technologies (STs) and dementia through a Google search focussed on the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands. Data were extracted on the products’ and websites’ marketing messages from consumer and marketer perspectives. Findings – Information was gathered for 382 product websites, of which 242 met eligibility criteria. The majority of products come from the UK. In the UK and Sweden, the companies behind the websites appeared to be mainly “cottage industries” which focus on selling ST. In contrast, sellers in the Netherlands included a more balanced mixture of small, medium and large companies. In all three countries, the website messaging focussed on the need to manage safety concerns, without considering privacy or consent. Social implications – Contrary to the perception of future dependence on technology, the ST sector seems to be a niche market. The media messages, equating people with dementia with animals and children, are at odds with initiatives that strive for dignity and dementia friendliness. Originality/value – No previous study is known to have explored media messages from websites that market ST for people with dementia.

Type: Article
Title: Marketing of surveillance technology in three ageing countries
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1108/QAOA-03-2018-0010
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1108/QAOA-03-2018-0010
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Safety, Carers, Dementia, Surveillance, Marketing, Technology, Review, Environmental scan, Cottage industries
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences > Clinical, Edu and Hlth Psychology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Division of Psychiatry
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10061611
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