This is book includes 15 full-length papers submitted for the Fourth International Conference on Aging, Disability, and Independence (ICADI) and held in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA from February 20–23, 2008. These papers reflect five ICADI tracks: Livable Homes Communities, Smart Homes and Robotics, Transportation, Work, and Assistive Technology and one ICADI theme: Consumer Perspective.

The broad objectives of ICADI are the synthesis and translation of knowledge about disability and aging, and approaches to maintaining independence and quality of life, while fostering collaborations to support future research in this area. ICADI promotes knowledge translation through a mix of invited and submitted presentations, poster sessions, and networking opportunities with experts from around the world. ICADI-2008, as with previous ICADI's, has provided investigators the opportunity to present their research and development work at the Conference, and to have that work receive wider dissemination through this book, and through the ICADI Conference Proceedings, available at www.icadi.phhp.ufl.edu.

The First International Conference on Aging, Disability and Independence (ICADI) was held in December 1999, in Washington, D.C, and was attended by nearly 300 participants. The Second ICADI was held in Washington in 2003 as the University of Florida Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Aging State of the Science Conference and then again in 2006 in St. Petersburg, Florida where over 525 people from 32 countries participated. ICADI is unique in bringing together researchers, practitioners, business leaders and people involved in research and development and related aging policy to focus on issues of aging, disability and independence.

The major focus of ICADI on aging and disability related services, research and development, and policy, brings together a rich mix of motivated and talented individuals (multi-disciplinary and engaged in different sectors and types of organizations) who ultimately impact these services. Further, as an international conference, ICADI provides the opportunity to learn more about the successes, challenges and different approaches to the independence-related needs of elders in different countries. Key Groups include: (1) Research and Development personnel; (2) Practitioners / Service Providers; (3) Policymakers; (4) Business Representatives; (5) Consumers; (6) Professional and Graduate Students.

ICADI 2008 has the support of almost 100 major organizations in “spreading the word” on the conference. We thank them for their help with ICADI. Further, we have a number of organizations, companies and agencies that provide financial support for ICADI, each supporting a specific ICADI track, special event, or need. Without their support, ICADI would not be possible, and we thank each of them. The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) is the lead sponsor for this book. We offer a special thank you to NIDRR, for this book, and their past support of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Aging.

William C. Mann, Distinguished Professor and ICADI Conference Chair, University of Florida