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  Retirement Communities of the Future

  Posted by David P., product strategy - February 10, 2012

  From doing a lot of research and user interviews for companies that specialize in robotics, I have found that the concept of robotics and technology assistance is readily adopted by two groups: the youth, who are tech savvy, and the elderly, who seek to keep their independence.  You wouldn’t think that the elderly would care about these new innovations, however, as long as it works and is easy to use, they do care!  The benefits of this technology are exactly what they are seeking.  They want to extend their freedom and capabilities.  On the other hand, the youth market accepts the new innovations because they are from a generation of growing technology.  They expect cool new products and services to evolve that allow them to do things that generations before them could have never imagined, much like flight and space travel. 

  Then there’s the middle group which consists of people in their 40-60s, the late baby boomers who are still quite active and engaged in all sorts of activities. I’ve consistently noticed in our user interviews that those who are in the middle group are the most skeptical of new robotic devices, because they wonder how they will benefit from these offerings.  They tend to feel it would be a hassle to learn how to use a new robotic device or that it will require more effort than simply accomplishing a task on their own.

  Working on robotics projects at Speck Design, I can’t help but think how we can combine creating something that appeals to and benefits the elderly who are ready and willing to accept new technology with an environment that encourages activity and vitality.  The aging population makes up a very different user group who not only need functionality, but also companionship and friendship.  Ideally, their robots and surroundings would be able to help on multiple levels, from shopping at the store to carrying groceries up the stairs. 

  Despite the benefits that these robots could offer, there is a limit to the amount of help that the elderly seek from these robots.  There is nothing worse for the elderly than being stripped of their independence.  The impact of losing the facilities that allow them to do the basic things in life really hits home when they lose certain privileges such as having a driver’s license.  One thing leads to another and they are just sitting, waiting for others to help them do what they would like to be doing on their own.  In this sense, while the elderly are adaptive to new technology that could improve their lives, they still want to be able to do certain things on their own.

  Cities and Technology: an Elder’s Playground

  I have been involved with numerous projects that are looking to learn from and provide solutions for the aging population. I have come to a personal realization that most cities of the world are perfectly equipped to become the retirement communities of the future.  Forget about the image of a remote development in the country with a golf course, card room, and duck pond where you can sit outside and watch the sun go down. Our aging population will be looking for a place where they can extend their lives intellectually and physically; a place that is built around their needs.  Cities like New York, Chicago, and Atlanta are well ahead of Middle America in terms of preparing for people with limited abilities.  They are perfectly set-up for the elderly or handicapped by offering reliable and plentiful forms of public transportation such as taxicabs, buses, subways, handicapped curbs, audible signals, and elevators.  The infrastructure is already set up to support them.  These environments offer  activities that the elderly want to partake in, which are already available, including art galleries, restaurants, plays, the opera, museums, parks, farmer’s markets and most importantly other people of varied ages to interact with.  Together, all of these benefits make up a giant “later life” community just waiting to happen. 

  Then there’s the other side of the spectrum, where certain retirement communities built in isolation are nothing more than an “authentic fake”.   All the streets may appear perfect, lined with efficient housing units, porches, and a communal eating area.  These communities are still limited and in need of a more complete solution to accommodate the elderly.  Instead of having assisted living facilities located on the outskirts of town, many cities have opted to develop residential communities that provide medical treatment, transportation, and entertainment, which together could contribute to prolonging one’s life expectancy and independence. 

  Looking ahead

  As things are currently progressing, I can one day imagine the elderly living harmoniously with robots in a city such as Manhattan, much like the ship setting of the Disney movie, WALL-E.  Yet, the needs of all user groups will continue to change with each new generation.  As technologies change, so will the needs and wants of our users.  We as designers need to learn from our surroundings to put the best possible solutions out there for others.