Growing up, I lived close to a nursing home. My family use to go to this nursing home because it had a church in it too. During that time in my childhood, I use to see the elderly often. Honestly, it usually made me sad, especially those that were not as coherent.
While sometimes I question if technology is good for employment in the short term, for the elderly, technology can be an incredible benefit!
While we’re all aware of the hearing aids and other medical devices such as a pace maker, I believe that technology for the elderly is just starting to be realized. Much like the old TV series, “The 6 million dollar man”, bionics should be doable by now, or perhaps an exoskeleton of some sort. I think the Segway could just be the start. Perhaps in the future, the elderly could use more accommodating but similar devices in concept to replace wheelchairs and the like. Perhaps vehicles could be automated so that the user could just tell the machine a location and the machine would take the person there without any manual intervention.
What I think would be really exciting and an area to be explored is virtual reality for the elderly. Wouldn’t it be great to get plugged into a machine and have full body motion, like the movie “the Matrix”. The elderly could visit Paris, or go water skiing, or anything think that they desired instead of being confined to a wheelchair in a nursing home. Of course they would know that it’s just virtual reality, but it could be a great experience.
Now some of you may think virtual reality would be a trick and a waste of life for the elderly, but I disagree. After all, look at many of the non-elderly generation, many of them watch reality shows, which in my opinion is just a waste of life too.
Hopefully, in the future, technology can benefit the elderly in other ways too, especially with robotics and virtual software.
Just thinking out loud,
MR
Its like the movies Vanilla Sky (Tom Cruise) and Surrogates (Bruce Willis). I guess if technology really progresses to that point, it would bring up some interesting social and moral issues.
Definitely looking forward to virtual reality hopefully in our lifetime. Now they have 3D Tv’s and video games. I wonder whats next…
I agree, it would have to be regulated by the government, that’s for sure!
Yeah, virtual reality was hot for awhile, then cooled off. I don’t hear much about it now, but with WII and Microsoft XBox 360 technology and the sheer processing power of today’s machines, I’m surprised that it hasn’t come back yet.
I don’t know that it will, or should, be regulated by the government. I’m pretty sure it will, or should, fall under free speech. If anything I’m sure it’ll be regulated by a third party much like video games and movies.
My only fear would be that some company might try some brainwashing program. “Give XSoft company all your money kind of deal” 🙂
It would have to be some type of approval process (maybe Apple would have an iVirtualWorld, like they do with their app store!)
I wish more elderly people would just give the computer a try. It has been great for my mom, who has had a blast tracking her family tree and catching up with people on Facebook. It would be great if little training classes were held in senior homes and such just so that the elderly can keep in touch with others more. I think so many older people are lonely as families seem to be more dispersed now that it could really help them feel more connected.
Great thoughts MR
Yes, even the current technology that you mention would at a minimum greatly improve older folks social lives! The great think is that such activities can keep them and us sharp!
Technology or medical breakthroughs benefit the elderly. It has helped lengthen the lifespan and increased the average age. Unfortunately in some cases, it has not increased quality of life issues.
I’m seriously hoping that some of the software and possible virtual reality for seniors can help defeat dementia, and keep folks sharp like Warren Buffett.
I don’t know about Segway MR…the guy who invented Segway died on one when it went off a cliff!
Attach a third wheel to it and it might be safer for the elderly!
Yeah, I remember reading that. Hopefully segway will have robotics with gps and other sensors to automate the riding experience.
Actually, I think it’s the then CEO that rode off of the cliff, not the inventor.
Segway has something called Puma that will in transit is on 2 wheel, actually has 4 wheels total.
Mostly likely, it’s be another company that comes up with an automated ride 🙂
After much searching, I found the Senior Value Cellphone for my grandmother. Not only is it cheap but it has tons of amenities for the elderly that are critical when choosing a phone such as a large screen and buttons!
The elderly just need to educate themselves to utilize the available technology.
My grandmother has been living on her own for almost 15 years. She still drives but it’s getting at that point where we get nervous every time she goes out. We bought her the Senior Value Cell phone in hopes that we will be able to stay in contact with her when she is out.