The Future of Aging and Longevity - Flipbook - Page 60
Tool, Infrastructure, Partner:
Technology’s Changing Role in Longer Lives
Joseph Coughlin, PhD
Sheng-Hung Lee, PhD
Director, Massachuse琀琀s
Ins琀椀tute of Technology
AgeLab
Assistant Professor of Urban
Technology, University of
Michigan; Director, d-mix lab
ver the past decade, technology’s
role in longer lives has changed more
profoundly than technology itself.
The story is not simply one of faster processors,
smarter algorithms, or more connected devices.
It is a shi昀琀 in role: from tool, to infrastructure, to
partner. What began as technologies designed
to solve individual problems is becoming an
ecosystem that supports everyday life and,
increasingly, a partner to help people navigate it.
This evolu琀椀on did not happen by chance.
Each role emerged from the convergence of
demographic reali琀椀es, technological capability,
and changing expecta琀椀ons about how we live.
Together they describe not just what technology
does, but what it is becoming.
O
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The 昀椀rst role was technology as a tool to
address individual tasks, o昀琀en related to health
and safety. As an aging popula琀椀on became more
visible to entrepreneurs and investors, they
discovered both a growing need and a global
market opportunity. Sensors became smaller, more
a昀昀ordable, and more reliable. Design focused on
usability. Connec琀椀vity became nearly universal,
and millions of older adults gained greater safety
and independence. Families gained con昀椀dence.
Together, these forces fueled the rapid growth
of agetech. Thousands of companies focused on
individual challenges: detec琀椀ng falls, reminding
people to take medica琀椀ons, or measuring sleep
and ac琀椀vity. One problem. One device. One
solu琀椀on at a 琀椀me.
MIL K EN I N S T I T U T E | T H E FU T U RE O F AGI N G A N D LO N GEV I TY
