Most Americans see themselves living an independent and fulfilling life in their own homes and communities as they age. However, for far too many Americans, this vision and desire do not translate into a practical reality.
With a burgeoning aging well tech market, estimated at $2 billion annually and growing, it would appear that several key ingredients are in place to help more Americans continue to live in their own homes as they age. However, consumers do not readily envision how new technologies can help them remain in their homes. This gap between the promise of innovative technology and the perceived benefit to consumers needs to be bridged.
Philips and the Georgetown Social Enterprise Initiative (GSEI) at Georgetown University, in collaboration with Georgetown’s urban and regional planning division and the American Architectural Foundation (AAF) set out to explore how technology can be used to connect people from inside their homes to their external communities, especially as they get older.