Aging in Place: Liberty Through Technology
by Katie Wright, MyFastPC.com
Published by MyFastPC.com
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© 2018 MyFastPC.com
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Cover photography: Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash.com Second Edition: June 2018
Introduction ................................................................ 7
Aging in Place ............................................................ 9
The Internet of Things (IoT) ...................................... 11
Basic Explanation of the IoT....................................................... 13
History of the IoT ....................................................................... 15
Impacts on Consumers and Society........................................... 17
Chal enges with the IoT ............................................................. 20
Future of the IoT ........................................................................ 23
Smart Homes ........................................................... 24
What You Can Do Now ............................................................. 26
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Measures Are Underway ........................................................................................... 32
It’s Not Al Bad .......................................................................... 34
Staying Safe .............................................................................. 37
Smart Home Security ............................................... 39
Improve Your Home Security System ......................................... 42
Do Your Homework and Understand the Device ...................................................... 52
Devices, Software, and Websites to Amplify Aging in
Place ........................................................................ 55
Is Your Internet Running Slowly? Here’s How to Quickly Fix Your
Wi-Fi Connection ....................................................................... 58
How to Enjoy Facebook While Also Protecting Your Personal
Information ................................................................................ 60
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5 Tips to Ensure You Have a Positive Experience with Your New
Facebook Account .................................................................... 62
Six Helpful Websites to Help Seniors Navigate Computers ......... 64
15 Best Smartphone Apps for Seniors ....................................... 66
Video Chat Troubleshooting Expert............................................ 67
How to Digitize Your Photos ...................................................... 70
How to Connect Your Computer’s Mouse, Keyboard, and Printer 73
Smart TV – 6 Tips for Better Understanding and Using Your
Flatscreen ................................................................................. 75
How to Buy the Perfect Desktop Computer ................................ 77
Three Essential Questions Every Tablet Shopper Should Ask ..... 79
Tech Support for Aging in Place ............................... 81
Technical Support for Your Computer and Devices Saves You
Time and Money ....................................................................... 82
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We are in a time that al ows us to benefit greatly from technology.
These benefits can be for al ages and types of people. This
technology can also be a double-edged sword as there are ways to
expose your private and financial information to those that with to
exploit, steal, or scam.
The best way to benefit from technology is to understand the basics.
Senior citizens can specifical y take advantage of modern
technology by using it to enrich their lives and, in keeping with a
growing trend, utilizing it to help them with Aging in Place. Imagine
ordering your groceries with a device in your kitchen and having the
fresh groceries delivered that same day.
But what is this Internet of Things that enables al these so-cal ed
smart devices? What is a smart home or even a smart device? How
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do you protect your personal information and smart devices
connected to your home internet? How do you behave while on the
internet? How do you keep learning how to use technology while
aging in place? How do you deal with al these questions and keep
your head on straight?
Al these questions and more are answered below in our Aging in
Place with Technology paper.
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Aging in Place
Aging in Place is becoming an ever
increasingly popular topic among those
preparing for or just entering retirement.
Why not live in a comfortable home and be
independent at this age? The U. S. Center
for Disease Control and Prevention
defines aging in place as "the ability to live
in one's own home and community safely,
Figure 1 Jeff Sheldo on Unsplash
independently, and comfortably,
regardless of age, income, or ability level". Aging in place includes
being able to plan for your home, health care, finances, travel, and
entertainment. While making a plan for aging in place one has to
consider how technology can assist with this process. How can a
smart home be beneficial for those that want to age in place? What
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is the role of smart home security and al devices connected to your
internet? How is a personal tech support team and its services part
of this process?
To understand this better one has to learn how al these devices that
amplify living at home are connected. This is what is referred to as
the Internet of Things (IoT).
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The Internet of Things
(IoT)
The IoT is a term that has
become new to many in
recent years. At its
creation it was a difficult
Figure 2 Hannah Joshua on Unsplash
concept for most people
to understand. Today we al have experienced and either been
around or used devices that are considered part of the IoT.
This term refers to the interconnection of computers, the internet,
and software included with everyday devices that al ows for the
exchanging of information with devices that are connected to
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specific networks. The IoT is connectivity of a device to the internet
or other devices. This can range from a cel phone to watches,
coffeemakers, thermostats, and even lamps!
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In the simplest sense, the IoT is a concept of connectivity. It is the
idea of connecting any device with an on/off switch to the internet,
and multiple of these devices to one another.
The devices associated with the IoT are pretty extensive. For
example, cel phones, watches, lamps, coffeemakers, refrigerators,
thermostats and cars are just a few devices that have been created
with IoT capabilities. Basical y, the IoT is a large network of these
connected “things” and the intel igent use of data col ected and
stored by and through their relationship with the internet.
One example of current IoT technology is the Nest Smart
Thermostat. The Nest Smart Thermostat is a thermostat that’s connected to the internet. With smart technology, it col ects data
and learns your family’s routines, adjusting the temperature
accordingly. Based on whether the inhabitants of a house are away
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or home, awake or asleep, the Nest Smart Thermostat adjusts the
temperature up or down. In addition, the thermostat can be
managed via a smart phone, and it has the ability to alert users
when problems arise with their heating and/or cooling systems.
You can take this concept and apply it to other devices. Almost
anything with an on/off switch and internet capabilities can utilize the
IoT. By not relying on human interaction, the IoT can promote
increased efficiency and save energy. On a large scale, this could
have dramatic implications for things like healthcare and
transportation networks.
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The vision of intel igent, communicating devices was around even
before the launch of the internet. Some of the major milestones of
development are simply the growth of the internet and the way it has
evolved over the past several decades.
A list of these milestones can be found here, but an overly basic summary fol ows the evolution of the internet. First, the internet
connected people to content. Then, it connected people to services.
Later on, it connected people to people. Now, it is connecting things
to things (IoT).
The term IoT was thought to be coined in 1999, by Kevin Ashton,
during a presentation for Procter & Gamble. Ashton, the executive
Director of Auto-ID Labs at MIT, spoke about the idea of computers
capturing and sharing data without any help from humans. He
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explained how direct communication between devices would al ow
for increased efficiency and get rid of human limitation.
Machine to Machine solutions (M2M) is a subset of the IoT. It is
basical y a broad label used to describe technology that al ows
networked devices to communicate and perform actions without
manual assistance from humans. Machines talking to machines
(things talking to things) is essential y the foundation of the IoT.
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Society
Consumers
As a consumer, you may already have personal IoT devices. New
cars come preloaded with IoT applications, and fitness trackers use
the IoT to tel your friends how much you’ve been exercising.
If you are less familiar with IoT devices or simply wish to imagine a
world where al of your devices are connected and communicating,
take this for an example:
It’s Monday morning. A calendar on your phone prompts a bedside
alarm to go off at a certain hour. This alarm is familiar with how
much time it takes you to get ready for work, and by knowing your
routine, it chooses an hour that wil al ow you adequate time to
prepare.
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As your alarm goes off, the coffee maker in your kitchen goes on.
You get out of bed, get dressed, and you eat breakfast. When you
step outside the door, freshly brewed coffee in hand, your car is
already warm and started. Upon entering the car, you are given a
traffic report and told the fastest route to work. This is an example of
IoT technology working to promote ease of life on a personal level.
Society
On a larger scale, the opportunities of IoT technology are virtual y
endless. The IoT can be applied to things like transportation
networks, defense systems, infrastructure, smart buildings and
eventual y smart cities.
In healthcare, the IoT has the ability to keep patients safer and
healthier while improving care delivery. One example of IoT in
healthcare is the development of a continuous glucose monitoring
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system for people with diabetes. This device uses a sensor that
communicates with a smart transmitter and sends blood glucose
levels to a mobile app on a patient’s phone. IoT technology like this
is expected to dramatical y change the healthcare field.
The IoT could also dramatical y improve energy efficiency,
productivity and other aspects of daily life. Increased connectivity
between people, processes and things opens the door for
educational and economic growth. Safer and more efficient
transportation, waste reduction, social and environmental benefits
are just the beginning.
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Security is perhaps the biggest issue when it comes to the IoT. A
world where cars, city infrastructure, healthcare, companies and
homes are al connected creates a perfect storm for cyber
vulnerability. As bil ions of devices become connected, the
devastation hackers and cyber-attacks can create increases.
In the home, Americans are worried about the possibility of
someone stealing their personal information. Researchers have
been able to hack IoT devices, which means hackers can likely do
the same. Security within large companies and city infrastructure
creates an even bigger platform for concern, especial y since it wil
be difficult to be aware of al of the necessary safeguards during
early adoption.
Another issue is that of privacy and data sharing. The IoT has the
potential to create a staggering amount of data, but what the world
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wil do with this data is a whole other issue. Vast amounts of data
introduce more entry points for hackers, and it needs to be sorted,
stored and analyzed.
Maintaining privacy with this data is a main concern and likely wil
become increasingly important as more IoT technology is adopted.
Luckily, companies, like My Fast PC, can help. Along with computer support, the protection plans offered by My Fast PC can minimize a hacker’s chances at accessing your personal information. In the
future, companies wil become increasingly involved in offering
personal protection while they answer consumers’ security
questions and privacy concerns.
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As the world becomes increasingly connected, it is hard to predict
al that the IoT might encompass. Some expect the IoT to become “
the backbone of future customer value, ” as it already has and wil continue to play a major role in the global market. If interested in
learning more, consider checking out The Internet of Things 2017
Report by Business Insider Intel igence.
With the IoT, endless opportunities await. Obviously, many of the
benefits are yet to be realized, and so are many of the chal enges.
As the world heads towards increased connectivity with IoT
technology, there wil be a lot of learning, changing and growing. In
the end, hopeful y the benefits outweigh the chal enges and it leads
to a safer, happier, healthier and more productive world.
23
Smart Homes
The Internet of Things
(IoT) is changing a lot
about the world you live
in. Everything from the
way people drive to the
way people live at home.
Figure 3 Paweł Czerwiński on Unsplash
A home enabled by the
IoT and connected devices is cal ed a “smart home”. A smart home
is a home automation system that includes control ing your lighting, climate, entertainment, and other devices which are al connected to
the internet and centralized control devices, such as an app on a
smartphone or tablet. These devices in your home connected to the
internet are al part of the Internet of Things.
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Imagine being able to turn up the heat from your smartphone while
your spouse is driving you home. You can also turn your lights on
and off at your content while on vacation. Or also, while on vacation,
you can check your security cameras from your smartphone or
tablet. What about being able to have an e-visit from a healthcare
provider? Or having your device give you medication requirements
and reminders every morning? Al these are great but they also
mean that al your devices are col ecting data in order to optimize
your experience. This data can be compromised. So how do you
understand and protect it?
Read more: How to Protect Your Smart Home Devices
If you’re wondering how you wil adapt to this new life, you’re not
alone. Although a lot wil change over time, information protection
wil have to advance rapidly to help keep your information safe.
Reading on, you’l find practical tips and information on protecting
yourself in this new age.
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Change Your Router’s Password
If you have a home router, you may stil be using its standard
password. Unfortunately, it’s fairly easy for a hacker to gain access
to your home internet by guessing your password. There are similarities between default passwords on routers, which makes
gaining access to them quick and simple.
To protect yourself from an attack, change your password every
three months. When you come up with a new password, try to make
sure it is at least eight characters long. Ideal y, it’l have a lower-case
letter, upper-case letter, number and some sort of punctuation
mark. Another sound practice is to use characters that look alike to
confuse potential hackers. For example, you could use both the
26
letter S and the dol ar sign in your password because they look very
similar.
Keep Programs Current
Nearly every year, manufacturers and software providers offer
product updates. Many times, people neglect to update their
software because they assume that the new version wil only offer
