Technology and Aging

Our thesis is that clever new products, with technology embedded into them, can push out the time at which functional decline gets in the way of living life as we wish.

We founded Tech-enhanced Life to explore the intersection of aging and technology. Together with the Longevity Explorers, we are seeking out technology enabled products and services with the potential of improving quality of life as we age; evaluating them; and sharing what we learn in our Recommendations section.

And, on occasion we roll up our sleeves and work with product developers to help them turn their visions into reality (see how we help companies).

This is our Topic Hub for research into the intersection of Technology and Aging. In this section we collect various pieces of research about older adults and technology.

Featured Content: Technology and Aging

Hearables: Better Hearing, Less Stigma?

Hearables, which include smart wireless earbuds and some types of hearing aids, have the potential to deliver the benefits of better hearing to a far broader segment of the population than is served by today's hearing aid industry. This includes people with quite modest hearing loss, and people who are put off by the perceived stigma or cost of conventional hearing aids. This article explains exactly what hearables are; who they are good for; and why they are important.

Read: "Hearables: Better Hearing, Less Stigma?"

Aging in Place: Why Technology & Gadgets Matter

In my mind, there is a compelling argument that the right gadgets and technology can make aging in place more successful and less expensive. And by more successful, I am thinking in particular of higher quality of life, more autonomy, and less dependence on the kindness of strangers. I don't think this argument gets made much in the media or by the aging services industry though. So here it is.

Read: "Aging in Place: Why Technology & Gadgets Matter"

Gerontech Products We Wish Existed

Here are some high-impact, gerontechnology product concepts that do not yet exist as commercially available products — although the technology to enable them already largely exists. Our hope for products like these: to significantly postpone the time at which frailty and functional disability get in the way of "living life".

Read: "Gerontech Products We Wish Existed"

Technology for Older Adults: Notable from 2020

As far as Technology for Older Adults goes, we saw some positive developments emerging in 2020, despite the pandemic, and some promising products gaining traction. Here are trends and products we think are notable from 2020.

Read: "Technology for Older Adults: Notable from 2020"

Technology to shelter in place and stay home

Technology for Sheltering in Place

While staying at home for weeks or months on end is hard for everyone, older adults have some unique challenges. And as the enforced lockdown winds down eventually, those over 70 are likely to be the last to see a return to "normal" life. We created this page so members of the Tech-enhanced Life community have a place to share their learnings about how they are handling the challenges of "sheltering in place", and to compare notes about technologies they are finding useful.

Read: "Technology for Sheltering in Place"

Technology & the Future of Aging

This is a live recording (slides and audio) of a talk given by Richard Caro entitled "The Future of Aging, & the Intersection of Aging & Technology". This talk was given in March 2019, at the Commonwealth Club, San Francisco.

Read: "Technology & the Future of Aging"

Functional ability declines with age but perhaps technology can slow that down

Can Technology Delay Functional Decline?

My favorite question when I meet someone with an idea for a new venture is: “what problem are we trying to solve?". Here is one that is really worthwhile: Delaying functional decline as we age!

Read: "Can Technology Delay Functional Decline?"

Aging "Gray Tsunami": Challenge or Opportunity

The world's growing elderly population is starting to get a lot of attention. As usual, there are several ways to look at this looming gray tsunami. The demographics are typically framed as "a challenge". I prefer to think of this as an opportunity.

Read: "Aging "Gray Tsunami": Challenge or Opportunity"