Technology To Grow Old With

Many older people are now using the internet, but retirees of the future could also be living in 'smart homes' with robotic companions.

Retiring with technology: Many senior citizens are now surfing the internet.

By 2050, there will be a burgeoning army of two billion pensioners worldwide. By then will technology have revolutionised old age? Will people be living in ‘smart homes’, socialising virtually on the internet, video conferencing with their grandchildren and pottering around with a robot dog for company? The idea that elderly people are incapable of using technology is already changing. There are around ten million older internet users in the USA and this number is rapidly increasing. Many elderly people have mobile phones and digital cameras. But as more technology-savvy generations retire, we are sure to see even more silver-haired surfers regularly enjoying sophisticated web-based communication and gadgets.

High tech communication

Pilot projects with video telephones are already popular with older people. Children and grandchildren are able to keep in contact with elderly relatives and ensure their safety. “A video call is better than an audio call,” says Dr Francis Miskelly, Senior Lecturer at the Division of Medicine at Imperial College London, who has tested this technology. “We found that internet transmission rates are very slow, but this may improve when more people have broadband internet.” Also, as interactivity on the web continues to develop, there will be more options using multimedia applications for older people to keep in contact with their families and friends via voice and video messages.