IEEE AgeTech Program:  Impacting Our Members and the Global Community We Serve

By Michael Andrews, Vice Chair, IEEE AgeTech

IEEE AgeTech provides a unique opportunity for all members, independent of member grade or geographic location, to engage in a socially meaningful application of professional skills and engineering talents while contributing to one of the most pressing global demographic challenges.

The IEEE AgeTech initiative was created as a result of the Next Chapter panel held at the inaugural IEEE Evolution Conference in 2024.  During the panel discussion, Brittne  Kakulla, Ph.D., AARP’s Senior Insights Manager, commented that she knew of no industry standards that governed products developed for senior citizens.  Fred Schindler, Immediate Past Vice President, Technical Activities, and George Arnold, the Chair of the Conference Program Committee and Past President of the Standards Association, agreed there were no IEEE study groups that had ever tackled developing standards for age-responsive products.  The panel concluded IEEE, in response to the rapidly growing demographic of older adults worldwide, there was a need for innovation in areas such as assistive technologies, digital health, remote monitoring, smart living environments, and social inclusion. 

What Is IEEE AgeTech?

IEEE AgeTech is a multidisciplinary initiative engaging all IEEE members from the 39 technical Societies, the research community, and the product, service, and systems industry.  AgeTech’s goals include:

1. Create a framework within the Standards Association Industry Connections program titled “Technology Standards for AgeTech”.  The program is being launched to develop proposals for IEEE Standards (PARs) to address aspects such as terminology, human factors, usability, metrics, test methods, and interoperability for AgeTech products and services.

2. Build and promote a new IEEE community of technical professionals working on age-responsive products and services supported by IEEE’s standards and technical activities.  The AgeTech program will also develop partnerships with healthcare providers, community organizations, startups, and regulatory bodies to ensure that AgeTech solutions are scalable, sustainable, and grounded in real-world needs.  IEEE AgeTech offers seminars, webinars, and publications to engage both early-career professionals and seasoned engineers, facilitating knowledge transfer and professional development in this growing field.

3. Engage IEEE members, Technical Societies, and entities with similar interests in the development of products, services, and industry standards for age-responsive products, including the range of wearable applications, smart home solutions, social connectivity, cognitive support, transportation, home care robotics, exoskeletons, and intentional “Blue Zone” smart city design. 

4. Create an IEEE AgeTech Resource Hub. The IEEE AgeTech Resource Hub will be a platform for sharing product ideas, projects, educational materials, and other resources that support the global development of age-friendly devices and systems.

Make a Commitment

Michael Andrews, one of the originators of IEEE AgeTech, believes AgeTech will be the IEEE’s next big thing, “The program aligns with IEEE vision, public imperative and community outreach initiatives, increases the global visibility of IEEE, positions IEEE as a leader and expands its visibility in the emerging AgeTech field, captures the imagination of members of all grades by promoting both the creation of Standards and the development of age responsive products, and leverages global technical activities across most of IEEE’s fields of interest, impacting all 39 Societies and 7 Councils.”

This is your chance to become involved with developing standards or designing products for people like your parents and grandparents…make the commitment. 

The AgeTech Committee has formed four study groups to investigate applicable standards.  There are over 100 study group members from 18 countries.  The current AgeTech Standards Association study groups are:

Study Group 1:  Healthcare Wearables for the Aging

Study Group 2:  Intelligent Home Solutions for the Aging

Study Group 3:  Robotics for Caregiving

Study Group 4:  Wearable Robotics and Exoskeletons

The program will serve as a catalyst for innovation by connecting IEEE members and stakeholders across healthcare, academia, industry, and public policy.  AgeTech also creates a collaborative space for IEEE members to engage in high-impact research, standards development, and product innovation aimed at aging in place, digital inclusion, caregiver support, and healthy longevity.

IEEE’s Public Imperative

IEEE AgeTech will have a profound impact on the global community. As technology innovators and entrepreneurs, our members can create the right technologies for the right community at the right time. With the right technologies, older adults can maintain autonomy, reduce healthcare costs, and continue contributing to their communities. At the same time, families and caregivers gain tools to support loved ones with confidence and compassion.

AgeTech also contributes to workforce development by fostering an ecosystem where engineers, designers, healthcare professionals, and data scientists work together to build ethical, impactful, and inclusive solutions. It supports economic growth in the growing “silver economy,” while championing dignity and quality of life for all.

What’s Next

IEEE AgeTech is not just a program—it’s a movement.  Each IEEE member can contribute their technical skills and drive the program’s success.  The opportunity, with IEEE as the technology leader, to engage individuals, companies, and research institutions in the development of AgeTech recognized products, services, and systems, is tremendous. 

AgeTech crosses the broad range of IEEE fields of interest and technologies.  AgeTech will also encourage international collaborations, interdisciplinary research, and public-private partnerships.  IEEE members are invited to get involved, whether through working groups, local sections or chapter events, or contributing to AgeTech publications, workshops, and symposia. 

Some of the applications and IEEE Fields of Interest that will contribute to IEEE AgeTech include:

1.      Biomedical Engineering and Healthcare Technologies: Remote Patient Monitoring, Wearable Health Devices, Digital Therapeutics, Telemedicine Platforms, Fall Detection and Prevention Systems, Neurotechnology and Cognitive Health Tools

2.      Robotics and Automation:  Assistive Robots, Service Robots, Rehabilitation Robotics

3.      Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Home Systems:  Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) environments, Connected Devices and Sensors, Smart Infrastructure and intentionally designed Blue Zones

4.      Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: AI and Predictive Analytics, Conversational AI and Voice Interfaces, Personalized Digital Companions

5.      Human Factors and Accessibility: User-Centered Design for Older Adults, Age-Friendly UI/UX, Digital Literacy and Accessibility Standards

6.      Power and Energy Systems: Smart Grids and Backup Power Solutions, Energy-Efficient Devices

7.      Transportation and Mobility Technologies: Autonomous and Assisted Vehicles, Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), Pedestrian and Urban Navigation Aids

8.      Data Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Ethics: Secure Health Data Sharing, Consent and Autonomy in AI Systems, Ethical Design of AgeTech Solutions

9.      Education and Workforce Development: Digital Skills Training for Seniors, STEM Education Programs on Aging Technology, Intergenerational Mentorship, and Innovation Labs

10. Standards and Policy Advocacy: Development of Global Standards, Advocacy for Age-Inclusive Technology Policy

Potential Partners

We are contacting non-IEEE globally recognized organizations and entities that could be valuable AgeTech partners in the following interest areas to become AgeTech partners.  We currently have two non-IEEE partners: the AARP and the Consumer Technology Association.  We are in the process of contacting potential partners from these sectors:

·   Healthcare and Medical Organizations

·   Academic and Research Institutions

·   Government Agencies and Public Sector Programs

·   Industry and Tech Companies (AgeTech or Adjacent)

·   Startup Accelerators, Innovation Hubs, and VCs

·   Standards and Policy Organizations

·   Nonprofits, NGOs, and Advocacy Groups

Get Engaged

Become involved with developing standards or designing products for people like your parents and grandparents….make the commitment.  

For more information, visit

·   Life Member Web Site:  IEEE SA AgeTech Initiative – Get Involved | IEEE Life Members

·   Standards Association:  IEEE SA – Technology Standards for the Aging (AgeTech)

For additional information, contact

George Arnold – Chair – IEEE AgeTech –    

Michael Andrews – Vice Chair – IEEE AgeTech –