Outthink Aging, a new report from IBM and the CTA Foundation, offers new research on solutions addressing the accessibility needs of older adults.

1. Solutions for our Future
In collaboration with

2. IntroductionThe Outhtink aging study was first announced by Gary
Shapiro, CTA and Gini Rometty, IBM at CES 2016

3. Why Outthink Aging?
• The older adult population is growing,
with the aged representing a greater
majority
• 900 million (12%) over 60 … 2 billion by
2050 (22%)
• Economic Impact
• Rising eldercare costs will disrupt
economies - 6% of US GDP and 4 to 8%
of EU GDP will account for social service
costs for older adults.
• Estimated assets for this demographic
•US - $8.4 to $11.6 Trillion
•Japan and China - $9 Trillion and 17
Trillion

4. Fastest Growing Situational Disability: Aging

5. Cognitive business is the basis of a lifelong engagement

6. Outthink Aging Goals
“We are excited to work with IBM as we identify how
new and emerging technologies will fundamentally
change the way we age or manage disabilities in the
years to come. By raising visibility about how
technology can empower seniors and people with
disabilities, we can help reduce social isolation, promote
wellness and enhance independent living.”
Larry Richenstein, Chair of the
CTA Foundation
Read the press release

7. What is the Outthink Aging study?
A joint study focused on new approaches and business models that
leverage the power of cognitive computing to significantly improve the
lives of the aging population.
The study has been deployed through an innovative methodology
crowdsourcing ideas from students of diverse background and
geography, challenging them in a so called “Innovation Olympics”
competition and adding a survey on the aging dilemmas conducted
both on line and on the field at SXSW.
The purpose was to gain the Millennials perspective on the Aging
topic in a sort of cross-generational joint effort to address one of the
crucial topic of our and the future times.

8. The study content components at a glance
Hackaton challenge
Onsite survey
Online survey

9. The Outthink Aging study main facts
Responses from the on-site
and on-line survey
Teams from
universities
Students involved in the
Innovation Olympics
Main
recommendation
Months
of research
Nationalities involved
in the challenge

10. Innovation Olympics
Four teams of students challenged themselves
in a 4 months “battle” process to outthink aging

11. Millennial Thinking on Aging: Innovation Olympics
IXL Innovation Olympics is a unique and practical program that challenges
business school students and alumni to integrate their business
knowledge to solve a real innovation & growth issue for a senior
executive from a company
The Challenge - Identify high potential solution
areas that:
• Integrate consumer devices with cognitive
computing
• Involve a network of ecosystem partners
• Adapt to individual needs and scale to global
requirements
The Universities involved:

12. Visitors to IBM Cognitive Studio at of SXSW 2016
take an onsite survey on aging dilemmas

13. Survey Results

14. Outthink Aging: The Results
Defining the Challenges Generating New Ideas Key Recommendations

15. Outthink Aging: The key recommendations
RECOMMENDATION #1
Knowledge-as-a-Service
RECOMMENDATION #2
Protect Older Adults from
Financial Fraud
RECOMMENDATION #3
Create a Cognitively
Powered Community

16. Knowledge-as-a-Service
What if you and partners could tap into a central cognitive computing platform that combines private
data, industry data, and public information, uniquely and securely?
Benefits:
• Cognitive Interaction: Older adults could
quickly and easily get answers to key
questions, with the system learning from each
interaction.
• Analysis of Consumer Data: Partners gain
new insights from data, information previously
siloed in industry repositories
• Knowledge Mining: New, streamlined access
to deep knowledge.

17. Protect Older Adults from Financial Fraud
What if there were a platform that could monitor, detect, prevent, and learn from fraudulent activities,
designed specifically for aging individuals??
Benefits:
• Protection and Ease of Use: Older adults are
exceptionally vulnerable to fraud and less able to
quickly react.
• Enhanced Fraud Detection: Cognitive systems
can continually learn and adapt to new threats to
specific populations.
• Expanded, Trusted Relationship: Ability to
meet the specialized needs of older adults will
become a major differentiator

18. Create a Cognitively Powered Community
What if there were a cognitive “Town Square” that connected older adults to support, services and
activities?
Benefits:
• More than a Directory: Drawing upon the power
of cognitive capabilities, seniors can easily ask
questions and get customized information and
services
• Customizable Solutions at Scale: Providers
can customize the platform to match the needs
of individual communities,

19. Accessible Self-Driving Vehicles
New Partnership Launched at CES 2017 – IBM, CTA Foundation and Local Motors
Leveraging the power of:
• Local Motors Olli, the worlds first 3D printed cognitive vehicle
• Watson IoT and IBM Research technologies
• Crowdsourced innovations
Goals:
• Allow older adults to age in place and remain independent and
self-sufficient in their communities
• Help those with cognitive, vision, memory or physical challenges
to leverage transportation, improving their independence and
quality of life
• Provide enhanced access to work opportunities and community
services to people of all ages and abilities
• Ensure a successful transition to driverless cars for all
CREATING THE WORLD’S MOST
ACCESSIBLE, SELF-DRIVING
VEHICLE

20. Loneliness and the Aging Population
New IBM Institute for Business Value Study – May 2017
Goals
• Understand the concept of loneliness in the aging
population and its cross-industry economic impacts
• Analyze the elements of success and challenges in
current efforts to address this issue
• Identify areas of opportunity
• Technology
• Ecosystem and partnerships
• Business models

21. Do you want to know more?
• IBM Aging Initiative – www.ibm.com/able @IBMAccess
• CTA Foundation - www.CTAFoundation.tech @CTAFoundation
Contact:
• Sheila Zinck, Program Director, Accessibility & Aging Solutions, IBM Research, zincks@us.ibm.com
• Stephen Ewell, Executive Director, Consumer Technology Association Foundation, sewell@CTAFoundation.tech