Posit Science
Chances are that when you think of new technology products, your first thoughts aren't of the 65+ crowd. But that may change. More breakthrough products are appealing to -- and even specifically targeting -- older adults.
These new products are designed for people with a range of needs and interests. They fall into two broad categories. The first includes products that are largely compensatory, helping people stay safe, comfortable, and independent in their later years. The second category reflects the expanding number of older adults who seek personal growth at any age. Products in this category are designed to enrich life by engaging people towards some positive end, such as fitness, learning, or connection with others. Taken together, these two categories of new technologies have the potential to redefine how we age.
Staying Safe and in Place
Products that aim to help older adults -- even those with fairly serious health conditions -- live safely and comfortably have two basic benefits. First, they help people do what so many want to do: remain at home without relying too much on help from friends and family. Second, they respond to a worrisome issue: whether our families, Medicare system and long-term care facilities will be able to afford and accommodate the needs of the millions of baby boomers who will begin to enter their 80s in the next twenty years.
These products are sometimes quite simple and easy to use. Medical alert systems (such as necklaces with emergency buttons) are already quite common. As you probably know, the person wearing the medical alert device can press the button at any time, and an emergency crew will respond. Other simple devices are likely to catch on in the near future, such as "smart" pill dispensers that sound an alarm when it's time to take your pills and open only the appropriate compartment to ensure the proper medications and dosages are taken. Some of these, such as the Online Medicine Cabinet, even have face recognition software so they can accommodate more than one person in the household. Other new technologies are less accessible to date, but may find a broader application in the future. Here are a few examples: Mitsubishi's Wakamaru robot companion (available for about $15,000) is designed to provide companionship (it can talk about the news, deliver phone and email messages, and gently wake you up in the morning, for example). But it can also be programmed to call a doctor in an emergency, remind you to take medication or perform other tasks, and video your actions so that someone can watch remotely. Sensoring systems are becoming more common. They allow information about health and activity patterns to be sent to a remote location, such as a doctor's office or adult child's home computer. The information can include weight, blood pressure, sleep patterns, medication information, falls and so on.
Memory aids are also in development. One example is the Memory Mirror. Here's how it works: You place RFID tags on items you regularly use. The tags send messages to a calendar of the day, showing what's been done and hasn't. This can help people keep track of whether they've completed important daily tasks: feeding the cat, taking their medicine, retrieving the mail, calling a friend and so on. Another memory aid concept is the Cook's Collage. It takes photos of your hands as you prepare a meal, then displays the six most recent photos. If you can't remember whether you've already added the sugar or not, you can simply review the photos to find out. Some new technologies designed to improve safety can raise an ethical question: How much privacy should be sacrificed for safety monitoring? At Oatfield Estates, a high-tech assisted-living facility in Oregon, patient activities are sent to their loved ones 24/7. Residents wear black, triangular badges that allow families and staff to check in on weight changes, socializing habits, sleep patterns, help needs and much more. And while many residents like it, some opt out. (One man had to revoke his daughter's monitoring privileges when she complained too much about his weight gain.) Expanding HorizonsPerhaps more forward-thinking than these compensatory devices are technologies designed to make life richer and more rewarding at any age. One example lies in brain fitness programs designed to improve cognitive performance, including memory and processing speed. Some products, such as Nintendo's Brain Age, have little scientific proof of efficacy, though they are certainly not bad for you and are pretty fun, besides. But others, such as the computer-based Posit Science Brain Fitness Program, are founded on rigorous science and proven in clinical studies to work.
Programs such as Brain Age and the Brain Fitness Program reflect a change in the long-term goals of aging Americans. No longer content to stay comfortably, quietly retired, many older adults are expecting their later years to be active and fulfilling -- and they're looking for products that can help them meet those goals. We can look forward to many more breakthrough technologies for this willing audience in the near future! Posit Science works with more than 50 brain scientists at leading universities to develop programs that enhance cognitive abilities. The organization offers relevant information about brain science, tips for keeping your brain sharp, assessments for checking your brain fitness, and much more.Get tips to help retain your memory, avoid cognitive decline and keep your brain as sharp as possible with the Brain Fitness Insider.And there's more technology. Learn about how Global Positioning Systems (GPS) may offer help and peace of mind to those caring for patients with Alzheimer's.Technology is supposed to save time, right? Well, its dirty little secret is just beginning to dawn on us. Stay on top of the latest trends in hair styles, cosmetics and fashion. Sign up for the Beauty & Style newsletter.
Source: Health & Wellness
