Jun 30, 20232 min read

Understanding healthy ageing

Updated: Jan 21

Shaping Connections Founder and Director, Associate Professor Bernardo Figueiredo explores how older adults are using technology on his recent study tour to Europe.

I had the privilege of participating as a co-chair in the dialogical Transformative Consumer Research Conference (TCR) at the Royal Holloway, University of London , and it was an incredible experience!

Leading a team of talented and dedicated consumer researchers from around the world to explore the future opportunities and challenges of ageing and technology was both inspiring and enlightening.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the conference was delving into how different understandings of healthy ageing, shape the adoption and use of various technologies. It was truly eye-opening to see how socio-cultural factors influence the ways in which technology is embraced in promoting healthy aging.

I am grateful to have had the invaluable support and expertise of my co-chairs, NilToulouse and Michelle Barnhart, who brought a wealth of knowledge to our discussions.

The atmosphere was incredibly supportive, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose and the conference backdrop was steeped in the history and vision of its founders, added an extra layer of inspiration to our discussions.

During the sessions, we made significant progress in our working group. We were able to create a clear timeline and establish a set of tasks that will guide our future endeavors in understanding the intersection of ageing and technology. The collective expertise and dedication in the room were truly remarkable, and I am confident that our efforts will lead to impactful outcomes.