How Technology and Innovation Will Invent a New Future of Old Age
Since 1900, the industrialised world has gained nearly 30 extra years of longevity. Ageing has become a disruptive force in many countries and economies, not only because there are more walkers and wheelchairs than baby buggies in some parts of Europe, or because people over 60 in China are more numerous than the entire population of Russia. There are also fewer young people who need to support the ageing societies around them; and citizens in Japan, North America and Europe have growing expectations to not only live longer and better than previous generations, but also to remain engaged rather than ‘retired’ from society. These disruptive demographics will challenge government, business and societal assumptions of what ageing is and requires from everyone. In 1999, Joseph Coughlin, who has published nearly 100 peer-reviewed publications and reports on the topic, began the AgeLab at MIT – a multi-disciplinary group gathering researchers, business partners, universities, and the ageing community in order to design, develop and deploy products, services and policies to invent how we all will live, work and play tomorrow. At Falling Walls, he explains how technology, business and policy will redefine old age as a new opportunity.