While the immediate future is unlikely to yield AI pseudo-human carers, the notion of robots aiding the elderly is closer than ever. All over the world – especially in Japan, where more than a quarter of the population is over 65 – technology and healthcare are starting to overlap.

London-based OwnFone has launched what it says is the world’s first Braille phone. Starting at £60, the front and back of the phone is constructed using 3D printing techniques and can be customised, allowing people to add two or four pre-programmed Braille buttons.

Life 2.0 is an EU-funded project, involving 13 core partners in five EU countries, which has developed a series of networked applications to help empower elderly residents to live more independent lives.

What does it feel like to grow old? Professor Philip Tew and Nick Hubble asked over 300 seniors to document their experiences. The findings shed new light on this untapped, misunderstood demographic, overturning assumptions about who seniors really are.