Research & Media Day
This day I used to dig deeper into the relation between technology and humanity. Also in the world of aged people. I read a very interessting book from Gerd Leonhard «Technology vs. Humanity» which open my mind for new idea and intellectual approaches.
Technology vs. Humanity
Artificial intelligence. Cognitive computing. The Singularity. Digital obesity. Printed food. The Internet of Things. The death of privacy. The end of work-as-we-know-it, and radical longevity: The imminent clash between technology and humanity is already rushing towards us. What moral values are you prepared to stand up for—before being human alters its meaning forever? Before it’s too late, we must stop and ask the big questions: How do we embrace technology without becoming it?
The book written by Gerd Leonhard gave me new critical perspectives on developing new technologies that are becoming ever stronger.
82-year old women developed app for aged people
An 82-year-old Japanese woman developed an iPhone app specifically for the elderly. After the release, she was even invited to by Tim Cook (CEO form Apple) to visit Apple's developer event.In an interview, she gives a very interesting statement.
«Old people do not use apps and computers because they do not make fun of them. A personal reference to it is mostly missing.»
Not the complicated application of technology scares off older ones. Often the handling and its yield is simply not relevant for older people and thus there is no interest. I am convinced that solutions cover the more common interests or areas of interest for seniors, many of them would also be useful.
Age community instead of nursing home
Today, 125,000 people in Switzerland depend on aged care. By 2030, this number could almost double. But by no means all who can no longer live alone at home have to go to the retirement home. Assisted living or retirement apartments are considered promising future models. Can there also be technical assistance become a big part of it?
How and where do old people live?
If we take for example Switzerland, the proportion of elderly people is steadily increasing. By the year 2025, one in five people will be over the age of 65, and by 2035, one in four will be. Around 800,000 people will be 80 years or older. For an aging society, it is a key challenge to offer these people suitable housing in the future.
The high life expectancy presents old people, their relatives but also politics and society new challenges. The period of life after the professional and family phase until the time of increased fragility, in which more and more physical and mental impairments are expected, takes longer today.
The different individual needs and preferences of each also vary. Many elderly people prefer living in their own home even in old age. They do not want to give up their independence, their space, and their privacy. For many, this is not a problem. They do not need a special housing offer. An obstacle-free living space with well- developed locations and close to shopping facilities are sufficient for a largely independent life.
For the small part of people over 65, who depend on help, there exists a wide range of care available at home. For example from emergency call systems to nursing and home help to the delivery of finished meals. Also, settlements with specific service offerings and «cluster-housing-communities» that means buildings specially adapted to the needs of older people, are built. Just about a quarter of those over 80-years old people depend on daily help and thus on living in a suitable facility.
For me, it shows that society and politics are well aware that people nowadays live longer. New methods of resolution are being tested and the living situation is being re-thought. The real estate market has to affirm with these changes and must develop agile to the new situation. Partially new solutions and approaches have already been initiated. But all this in a humble frame.