Aging in Place with Laurie Orlov

VFH Episode 5

In this episode, Teri welcomes Laurie Orlov, analyst, writer, speaker and elder care advocate from the Aging in Place Technology Watch.

Laurie is a tech industry analyst, thought leader, and the founder of Aging in Place Technology Watch. She has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The NY Times, USA Today, MoneyWatch and US News & World Report, and many other publications. She is a keynote speaker and in September, 2017, she was named one of the Top 50 Influencers in Aging by Next Avenue. She joins me today to talk about some of the trends in voice-first technology and how this relates to aging in place and the elderly population.

Key points on Aging in Place from Laurie!

Laurie has been an analyst on technology for older adults for the past 10 years.
One of Laurie’s most recent reports (2018): The Future of Voice First Technology and Older Adults
She is certified in Geriatric Care Management from the University of Florida
“Voice first technology changes everything” is a very compelling statement to Laurie.
Devices to access the internet have deteriorated in terms of usability over time, particularly for older people; we used to have button and keys and now we have glass – the icons and letters are difficult to access for people with visual impairment or tremors, for example.
The voice world is a breakthrough for older adults because they can go back to doing something they all know how to do – talk!
Voice is a next generation user experience – it is opening up a whole new world for many people.
Some examples of applications of Voice First tech: concierge services in senior living; managing lights, temperature and music without moving; getting answers to common medical questions and answers; setting up reminders and scheduling, and providing medical advice.
Our life expectancies are increasing and we will be living in our homes longer – voice technology is going to help us feel more comfortable in our homes.