i3 - September/October 2017 - 45

Business
older adults. The project will explore
a group listening system and test the
effectiveness and viability of emerging smartphone-controlled Personal
Sound Amplification Products
(PSAPs). Hearables for All will assess
the impact of these innovations on
hearing loss, social engagement and
isolation, and general wellbeing.

Q What role can technology play in
helping seniors with hearing loss?

A Kari: The health and wellness

Innovative Tech
Modernizing Senior Care
ront Porch, a 2017 CTA Foundation grantee, is exploring the
role that wearable hearing technology can play in helping
seniors live more independently. Kari Olson, chief innovation
and technology officer of Front Porch and president of Front Porch
Center for Innovation and Wellbeing (FPCIW) and Davis Park, director
of FPCIW, recently shared their insights with i3.

Q Tell us about Front Porch and how

your organization serves seniors.
A Kari: Front Porch serves individuals
and families through full-service
retirement, active adult and
affordable housing communities.
Retirement communities offer
options ranging from independent
living to skilled care, including
assisted living and memory care.
Front Porch embraces a leadingedge approach to enhance wellbeing with innovative communities and
programs that meet the changing
needs of people as they age.

Q How is your organization using

innovative technologies?
A Davis: The FPCIW's mission
is to explore innovative uses of
technology to empower individuals,

especially as they age. These
solutions include robotic caregiving
tools, smart home technology,
voice-activated devices, telemedicine, exergaming, social media
and virtual reality. The use of
technology doesn't magically
happen, one of the fundamental
cornerstones of our work is to
promote adoption and engagement
of technologies. A critical component to this strategy is connecting
meaning and purpose between
the individual and the innovation.

Q Tell us about the Hearables
for All Project.

A Davis: Hearables for All is

a 12-month program launched by
FPCIW to explore the next generation of wearable hearing devices for

Top: Kupicoo/Getty Images

CTA Events

Davis Park
Director of FPCIW

A Davis: We're in the midst of an

exciting explosion of hearing solutions that is already disrupting the
traditional hearing device market,
and the impact potential of these
new solutions will be enormous for
wellbeing and independence of
older adults. This generous grant
from the CTA Foundation enables
us to test these consumer solutions
and accelerate their adoption.

The CTA Foundation, a public,
national foundation affiliated
with CTA, was launched in 2012
with the mission to link seniors
and people with disabilities with
technologies to enhance their
lives. The foundation strategically
supports programs that affect
these communities and facilitates
dialog between industry, consumers, government, advocacy
groups and other key stakeholders. For more information, visit
CTAFoundation.tech.

For more information on CTA events, call 703-907-7600 or visit CTA.tech.

Innovate! and
Celebrate

CES Unveiled
Paris

October 9-11
San Francisco, CA

C TA . t e c h / i 3

Kari Olson
Chief Innovation
and Technocology
Officer of FPCIW

impact of hearing loss can't be overstated. As we age, the inability to
hear conversations and participate
in discussions progressively takes
us down a path of self-isolation.
The "Hearables for All" Project seeks
to overcome these challenges
by promoting social wellness and
increasing engagement among
older adults.

CES Unveiled
Amsterdam

CT Hall of Fame
Dinner

CES Unveiled
New York

CES
2018

October 24

October 26

November 7

November 9

October 9-12

Paris, France

The Netherlands

New York, NY

Las Vegas, NV

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

http://fpciw.org http://fpciw.org http://CTAFoundation.tech http://CTA.tech http://www.cta.tech.com

i3 - September/October 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of i3 - September/October 2017