FUTURE TECH
BOOMERS EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY FOR A BETTER LIFE
Last year AARP and Microsoft convened boom-
ers in four cities to learn what this generation
thinks about modern technology. The findings:
Boomers welcome tools to help them live and
work better, from monitoring their health and
fitness to keeping them connected with friends
and family, work and information. In the past
decade they’ve adopted cell phones, MP3 play-
ers, GPS receivers, and other life-enriching
devices. What might the next ten years bring?
STREAMING LENSES
Data glasses
display a stream
of online info, from
news updates to
e-mails.
EXERCISE CLOTHES
Sensor-equipped
exercise clothing
tracks the calories
you burn.
HEALTH-RECORD IMPLANTS
A tiny chip
implanted under
your skin holds a
unique ID, which
lets medical
personnel access
your health
records online.
PHONE PROJECTION
Entertain friends
and family with
images from
your cell phone—
displayed on a
wall or screen.
MOBILE MONE Y
Pay for everything
by flashing your
cell phone past a
scanner, and
forget fumbling
for change.
VIDEO CONFERENCING
Thanks to online
meetings,
business travel
is a thing of
the past.
SMAR T HOUSES
Your folks can age
in place with
sensors that track
motion levels,
power use, even
footstep patterns—
and send you
a message
if anything
seems amiss.
PHYSICAL VIDEO GAMES
Remember
tennis partners?
They’re no longer
necessary.
DOMESTIC ROBOTS
Let an electronic
helper load the
dishwasher or
whip up a nice
cappuccino.
ILLUSTRATION BY HARRY CAMPBELL
Find “Boomers and Technology:
An Extended Conversation” at
aarp.org /boomertech.
