Beth Mynatt

The population in this country is getting older, and yet, these aging individuals expect their homes to keep up with their changing needs. This so called “Aging in Place” is becoming more and more common. Researchers, like Computing Community Consortium (CCC) past chair Beth Mynatt, Regents’ Professor and Executive Director of the Institute for People and Technology at Georgia Tech, are working to develop assistive technologies to help these individuals continue to enjoy their home and live well.

Beth’s work is highlighted in the July 2019 National Geographic Magazine. Here is a snippet from the feature:

“Like other computer scientists, Elizabeth Mynatt uses cutting-edge tech. What sets her apart is her holistic, humanistic approach. “I always say I’m designing for both sides of the equation,” she says. “And the people side is always the hardest.”

“Mynatt’s work on health informatics and assistive technology has allowed blind programmers to take advantage of graphical computer applications, helped pediatric epilepsy patients and their caregivers use mobile sensing apps, and supported older adults who want to age in place. “The burdens of chronic disease and aging populations are increasingly falling to patients and families,” she says. “And because they’ve grown up with technology, they’re looking to tech to have a role—and to make things better.”

Check out your July 2019 edition of National Geographic or see more here.