The Possible Role of Technology in Supporting the Ageing Model Outlined in the UN and WHO Reference Documents

Aging has normally been considered as a health problem. More recently the increasing number of old people with only small decreases of abilities gave birth to a line of thought, at the level of UN and WHO and research, according to which their culture and experience may transform them in a resource and not a weight for the society. In the paper the relevant UN and WHO documents are briefly summarized. Then, with reference to the foreseen evolution of our society into a Cyber-Physical-Social System, the idea was born that an effort is necessary to adapt the emerging system to the needs of all people, old people included. Some applications developed at IFAC to support people in their life in the new society are described.