amsterdam residents meet their 'future selves'
Population ageing is one of the greatest societal challenges of our time and is increasingly affecting Amsterdam as well. That is why, during the IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics, the Smarthouse Experience will temporarily open its doors, offering Amsterdam residents the opportunity to discover how technology can help people stay healthy, active and independent for longer. Visitors can also take part in an ageing experiment, where they will meet their “older selves.”
Dancing in an ageing suit
On 6 and 7 July, between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., a classroom at ROC van Amsterdam–Flevoland, located at Europaboulevard 13, will be transformed into a home equipped with the latest technological innovations. In the Smarthouse Experience, visitors will receive an interactive introduction to various innovations in healthcare and wellbeing, including care robots, a smart stove, a talking microwave, and motion and fall-detection sensors. These applications demonstrate how technology can contribute to person-centred care and support the training of future healthcare professionals.
In addition, on 7 July from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Leyden Academy will host an activity where visitors can meet their future selves. Participants can use an ageing filter to see what they may look like later in life, calculate their life expectancy, and even dance while wearing an ageing suit. This activity will take place outside Entrance C of RAI Amsterdam.
Exhibitions on display
A film by the Amsterdam City Reporters will also be screened from 3 to 8 July. In the film, reporters highlight social initiatives in their neighbourhoods. The film will be shown continuously on a large outdoor screen next to RAI metro station, offering visitors a lively glimpse into the everyday lives of active seniors.
Finally, the exhibition Oudroze by Ernst Coppejans will be on display outside Entrance C of RAI Amsterdam from 3 to 8 July. The exhibition highlights the first openly LGBTQI+ generations and explores the contributions they made to LGBTQI+ emancipation, as well as the meaning of freedom and visibility through the years. It invites visitors to engage in conversations about visibility and inclusion.
The 23rd edition of the IAGG Congress will take place from 5 to 8 July. More than 3,000 scientists, policymakers and healthcare professionals from around the world will gather in Amsterdam to share knowledge and insights on healthy ageing.
