A June 2, 2009 article, Online, A Reason To Keep On Going, in the New York Times reported that among older people who went online last year, the number visiting social networks like Facebook and MySpace grew almost twice as fast as the overall rate of Internet use among that group, according to the media measurement company comScore.Researchers who focus on aging are now studying whether the networks can provide some of the benefits of a group of friends, while being much easier to assemble and maintain. About one-third of people 75 and older live alone. Per the article, in response to the growing number of older Americans, the National Institute on Aging is awarding at least $10 million in grants for researchers who examine social neuroscience and its effect on aging.

About this blog

Rapid technological changes are enabling better and faster surveillance, generation, collection, analysis, and visualization of vast amounts of data. Such developments have great potential to improve social, health and economic well-being. They also have the potential to harm, violate privacy, or cross ethical boundaries. What can we, as researchers, care providers, and patients, do to better understand, employ and measure the impact of new technological developments in healthcare? These questions underlie musings in this blog. Postings are generally related to insights, observations and resources I come across in the course of my work as a grant writer, researcher and consultant