When Don Jansen ’63 joined the MIT AgeLab to study technology for elderly care, he had no plans to launch another company. But after hearing older adults describe how difficult modern devices were to use, he set out to create a simpler solution.
A serial entrepreneur, Jansen left his job to care for his wife before earning a degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “What I got from MIT was a great education and a sense that I could solve difficult problems,” he says.
One of those challenges, Jansen says, is that many older adults “can’t even use a modern cell phone,” while “very few can use something like an Apple Watch.” Founded by Jansen in October 2024, Kiwi Health develops voice-controlled wearable technology designed to support seniors and caregivers. Its wristbands allow users to set reminders, make calls, send text messages, and share health information using voice commands rather than navigating a screen.
Artificial intelligence helps interpret each command while accounting for changes in a person’s voice as they age. The wearable also monitors health indicators and can automatically alert caregivers when it detects a fall, making it a promising tool for remote elderly care and senior health monitoring.
Jansen’s goal is to “help older people live the best life possible” through accessible, AI-powered health technology.
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Source: www.technologyreview.com