Stephen Johnston's blog
Could we elevate the ubiquitous swipe to improve our cities? Every day millions of people, young and old, collectively make 1.6bn swipes on profiles they’re presented with on Tinder, one of the most popular dating apps. These swipes either send that profile to the virtual dustbin (left) or open up the potential for witty banter, […]
As cities take on disruptive challenges, in particular harnessing technological disruptions and managing aging populations (see earlier post about updating ‘age-friendly’ here), this note suggests a five-stage framework to guide cities along their innovation journey. It’s designed to be more descriptive than prescriptive – each city will implement in its own way and in line with […]
Keeping older people connected, independent and fulfilled in their communities of choice – thriving, not just surviving – is the goal of many innovators, public policy makers, and older people themselves. However, this is a complex challenge and delivering this can be challenging for two main reasons. First, everyone is different. Whether they’re 25 or […]
The world is being rocked by four uniquely powerful disruptive forces: aging, urbanization, technology and globalization. The WHO’s age-friendly cities and communities (AFCC) initiative – updated to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by pervasive, ubiquitous, exponential technology – could be a powerful platform to help cities adapt and thrive in a fast-changing world. The […]
Introduction Cities have become increasingly important in shaping the economic and cultural life of our societies. As the number of older people living in cities continues to rise, so does the role cities play in their quality of life. Today’s cities, generally not designed with older people’s needs in mind, pose a number of unique […]
Wrote this article recently for the California Association of Assisted Living’s magazine – News and Views, about 10 tips for partnering with startups. Was written from the perspective of the senior living industry, but it’s fairly relevant for all sectors. Quick summary here, and more in the link. Clearly articulate the problem Get buy-in from […]
While there is a lot of excitement about new gadgets and solutions in the ‘age-tech’ space (with good reason, we all love shiny, new gadgets), one area that has received less attention is business model innovation. However, as the US health care system evolves towards ACOs, capped and value-based-payments, innovative business models are becoming increasingly […]