“In the smart home and health space today you see a lot of single purpose solutions that don’t offer a full connectivity platform, like a smart watch or pressure sensor in a bed,” said Mike O’Neal, Nortek Security & Control president. “We’re creating that connectivity.”
A July study from AARP showed Americans 50 years and older want activity monitors like Fitbit and Jawbone to have more relevant sensors to monitor health conditions and 89% cited difficulties with set up.
“They (companies) have great technology, but when you can’t open the package or you can’t find directions that’s a problem,” said Jody Holtzman, senior vice president of thought leadership at AARP.
Such products may help doctors keep up with a growing elderly population. Research firm Gartner estimates that in the next 40 years, one-third of the population in developed countries will be 65 years or older, thus making it impossible to keep everyone who needs care in the hospital.