How to Go Solar Without the Rooftop Panels

As the winter of 2019 bore down on the upstate New York suburb of Guilderland, Mary Anne Bettcker, 65, got a curious letter in the mail. A company named Arcadia was pitching solar power — not from her roof, but from an unspecified “new community solar … Continue reading

Put These Tech Gifts Under the Tree

Staying in touch with the people you love can be challenging if they’re far away. Anytime you are separated from a child, grandchild, sister or close friend, maintaining closeness can be hard, no matter how often you text, call, or video chat. Never fe… Continue reading

Facing Loneliness and Isolation While Living With a Disability

  For many years, Erin Loughran lived independently: she owned a home and car, worked as an adult English language learner instructor, even dabbled in online dating. She now lives with a disability. Three years ago, Loughran suffered a bleed in her bra… Continue reading

How to Live Sustainably in the Colder Months

Thinking about how to live sustainably, conserve energy and ultimately save a few dollars can be challenging any time of the year. But it is especially troublesome when the temperature outside drops below freezing. There are some simple ways, though, t… Continue reading

Keren Etkin: Discovering the Intersection of Gerontology and Technology

Keren Etkin, 32, calls herself “a gerontologist by training and a tech enthusiast by nature.” In 2015, Etkin, who lives in Tel Aviv, received a master’s degree in gerontology from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and two years later, founded TheGero… Continue reading

Could a Smarter Home Help You Age in Place?

In the heart of Louisville’s Innovation District sits the Thrive Center, a 7,500-square-foot space dedicated to showing how technology can enhance the lives of older adults. And in the center of the center is the prototype of a smart home — including k… Continue reading

What Can AI Do to Help Us Age Better?

New technology devices and apps pop up as abundantly as summer weeds here in Silicon Valley. Chip-enhanced products offer to satisfy almost every need imaginable. Prompts from your smart refrigerator tell you to buy more milk. With a voice command, mus… Continue reading

Beyond Mobile Health Apps

In a recent Next Avenue story, we examined the ubiquity of mobile health apps. Now, our focus shifts to a more expansive view about digital health technologies and on how these technologies are not only playing out today, but what their impact will be … Continue reading

Danger Ahead: Privacy Concerns With High-Tech Caregiving Devices

One of the most exciting sectors in the elder care market is the technology industry moving into the caregiving business. High-tech devices and support services are being built around smartphones, voice-activated devices, artificial intelligence (AI) a… Continue reading

Induction Cooking Is Eco-Friendly

(Editor’s Note: This story originally ran on Rewire). If you’re a kitchen nerd, maybe you’ve heard of them: fossil fuel-free, space-age stovetops that cook your food fast but can’t burn you. Maybe you’ve seen a video of someone putting their bare hand … Continue reading