I want to introduce you to Beth Ann Stevens. She is a 79 year old woman, widowed, and lives in an assisted living facility. After the death of Beth Ann’s beloved husband, she made the decision to move from her home. Beth Ann does have memory-impairment but is able to perform all of her activities of daily living. As she wake up in the morning, Beth Ann’s alarm clock says “Good Morning” and the time. Beth Ann walks into the bathroom and get washed. She wants to take a shower and verbally tells the shower head the temperature she wants. After the shower and drying off, she then walks to her closet which asks Beth Ann her clothing choice for the day. The closet then electronically gets the clothes. After getting dressed, Beth Ann walks into the dining room for breakfast. The dining services staff gave Beth Ann a tablet that listed her favorite breakfast foods and beverages. Beth Ann placed her order which was then sent into the kitchen and was received within minutes. After a long day of activities, Beth Ann and her high school friends met in Beth Ann’s room. The refrigerator was stocked with Beth Ann’s choice of adult beverages.
The previous story highlighted Internet of Things and Enchanted Objects. Internet of Things are everyday items connected to one another. Beth Ann’s refrigerator and dining services computer are connected. As Beth Ann and her friends remove the adult beverages from the refrigerator, dining services in notified and re-stocks the refrig when Beth Ann is out of the room.
WVU IMC 619 - Emerging Media 
I think this is a good anecdote of how the IoT could become a seamless part of our future. It’s easy to see the helpful nature of the connected items you mentioned for both the resident and the facility staff. As you probably know, sometimes seniors are averse to asking for help. It might be a different story when they’re asking their closet or refrigerator for something instead of a person.
Considering that care is one of the most important parts of assisted living, do you think that extra technology would help reassure families? It could be touted as an extra layer of assistance and care for their loved one. On the other hand, skeptical families could assume that lax administrators would try to use the technology in place of properly trained staff.
Either way, I can see this technology being used in many areas, especially healthcare.
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As consumers adapt to the newest technology, families will not be hesitant to admit their loved ones into a nursing home. There will always be unethical individuals in the nursing home industry. As one of the most regulated industries in the country, federal, sate, and local governments must also have regulations so the the elderly do not become neglected. The nursing home resident still requires human contact for their physical, mental, and social life – technology cannot change that very important aspect.
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Carol,
You bring a very valid point here about the importance of social interaction and mental and emotional need to have human contact that technology can never do. However, your example really makes me feel a little positive about growing old and being able to be a little less dependent on others. IoT can be pathbreaking if it makes life a little easier for those who need that little help, and specially in this case it makes a great case.
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