The overarching objective of ORCATECH (Oregon Center for Aging & Technology) is to develop technologies that optimize health and quality of life for our aging population. ORCATECH is a collaborative research center at the Oregon Health & Science University that includes academic, industry and community partners. Through interactive and cross-disciplinary research, ORCATECH seeks to identify technologies to help meet the challenges of aging, especially around two key reasons for loss of independence: loss of mobility and decline in cognitive function. Technology is likely to be a key factor in enabling elders to live independently and at home until the end of life. We have centered our research efforts on the key value of maintaining independence in a person’s home by creating the concept of a living laboratory for translational research.

ORCATECH’s goals are:

• To create and support a collaborative network that will enhance the process of developing and translating basic social, behavioral and biological knowledge about aging independently using state of the art technology and engineering.
• To establish a use-inspired living laboratory for technology-based health monitoring and support of independent aging using unique study sites in the community, made up of individual residences.
• To accelerate development and translation of knowledge gained in this living laboratory through innovative public-private partnerships, cross-disciplinary collaborations and recruitment of new talent into the field.

ORCATECH is funded as a Roybal Center by the National Institute on Aging (P30 AG024978).