My path to this nexus: a friendship with Jef Raskin in the early 1960s at undergrad university, reconnection at Jef’s home in the early part of this century, our discussions about his ideas and mine (cut short by his death), reading his last book … and recently following web breadcrumbs from Jef to his son Aza who clearly shares what Jef and I shared and on to this HumaneTech community…

I’ve spent a good part of the last three decades living with and pondering the conundrums posed by aging, dementia (i.e., Alzheimer Disease and many others) and the problems of people living with dementia and the technologies they have used for much of their lives. I am an inventor/designer/former caregiver of my mother who had AD who has been looking for solutions to the problems that they increasingly experience when they try to continue using their phones, thermostats, microwaves, …

Given the progressive nature of many dementias, I would hold that it is inhumane to look at introducing new interface technologies (on iPhones, tablets, laptops) to many of those people living with dementia who may well have years and perhaps decades of quality life left to live if cognitively appropriate technologies were designed to be truly usable in their lives.

I absolutely see the power that can be included as embedded (i.e., behind the scenes) machine “intelligence” supporting both those living with dementia and those who provide the many levels of care needed to assure their safe and successful Aging in a Place they want to be.