Three focus areas

Cognitive support for aging population

Progressive loss of cognitive memory, executive function, and mental acuity is probably the most feared and life-impacting disability of aging people in this modern era of physical conveniences. There is an urgent need and opportunity to find systemic solutions that can address, or at least mitigate and delay, the problems of cognitive loss in the aging. This will enable older adults to remain more productive, independent, engaged, and happier, with the added benefit of greatly reducing health care costs and anguish to their caregivers and society.

Mobility and independent living

Another important aspect of healthy aging is independent living. For older adults to be independent, nothing is more important than being mobile. As people live longer, many problems, including frailty, neurological and motor conditions, can bring about disabilities, which have adverse effect on the quality of life and health. Being immobile leads to health decline and is a predictor of future mortality. Technology can play an important role in the assessment of mobility and in assisting mobility. From better wheelchair design to assistive and robotic systems, such devices can help people to remain mobile to a much older age. Technology also has the ability to accurately assess movement and its patterns; information which can inform strategies to improve health and quality of life.

Communication for aging population

Loss of hearing and vision becomes predominant as people grow older making communication more difficult, affecting interactions with peers, care-givers and health professionals. Cognitive decline can contribute to loss of effective communication. Technology can play an even more significant role in the future as assistive devices, automatic speech recognition systems and visual aids will make aging less of a challenge than it is now. From new and improved sensor design to machine learning technologies, engineering will play an important role.