WELCOME TO OUR WEBSITE!

This page will provide you with extensive information about the SMART-AGE project.

The research project "Smart Aging in the Municipal Context: Investigation of Intelligent Forms of Self-Regulation and Co-Regulation under Real Conditions (SMART-AGE)," funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation (P2019-01-003), conducted its main study in two municipalities in Baden-Württemberg (Heidelberg and Mannheim). The study focuses on individuals aged 67 and above living in private households or assisted living, examining the extent to which a targeted selection of four tablet-based apps can contribute to improving their quality of life.

NEWS:

Web Symposium: Digital-Based Prevention to Promote Healthy Aging

May 5, 2026, Marsilius Kolleg, Heidelberg

As part of the scientific web symposium, researchers from the SMART-AGE project presented the latest findings on digital prevention approaches for healthy aging. The focus was on presenting the results of the large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT), which examined digital applications designed to promote social participation, physical activity, and health literacy.

At the beginning of the event, supplementary substudies of the research project were presented, providing additional insights into the daily lives of older adults. The focus included, among other things, digital and analog living contexts, social activities, sensor-based mobility analyses, and innovative approaches from robotics and computer vision. In the afternoon, the structure, objectives, and initial results of the main SMART-AGE study were presented. Participants also gained insights into the three applications developed: “smartVERNETZT,” “KOKU,” and “smartIMPULS.” Additionally, further results regarding usage behavior, correlations between cognition and app usage, and ethical issues related to the use of digital technologies were presented.

The hybrid event, which made it possible for researchers from the international network to participate, provided a comprehensive platform for interdisciplinary exchange and highlighted the potential of digital technologies to support healthy and self-determined aging.

Citizens’ Workshop on “Ethics & Technology”

January 29, 2026, 2:30 – 5:00 p.m., Kulturhaus Käfertal, Mannheim

As part of a citizens’ workshop, the SMART-AGE research project invited former study participants and interested citizens to engage in a discussion on the topic of “Ethics & Technology.”

In his keynote address, Prof. Dr. phil. Hans-Jörg Ehni from the Institute for Ethics and History of Medicine at the University of Tübingen explained how technologies can be evaluated from an ethical perspective. Drawing on their individual experiences, the participants then discussed the topics of “benefit,” “autonomy,” “do no harm,” and “justice” in an interactive station-based activity . Using facilitation cards, ideas and perspectives were collected and visualized on bulletin boards. At the end of the event, the facilitators at each station provided an overview of the key points of discussion.

The SMART-AGE team would like to thank all participants for the valuable exchange.

Bürger

Events for Study Participants in the SMART-AGE Project

December 12, 2025, and December 13, 2025, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Bürgerhaus Neckarstadt-West, Mannheim; City Library, Heidelberg

During the closing events in Mannheim and Heidelberg, researchers from the SMART-AGE research team presented key findings from the study to the approximately 250 study participants in attendance for the first time. They began by providing an overview of the project’s background and the recruitment process.

The presentation then focused on selected analysis results, particularly the impact of the apps used on the participants’ quality of life. In addition, attendees gained an in-depth insight into the use of the smartVERNETZT, KOKU, and smartIMPULS applications.

During the lunch break, poster presentations offered an opportunity to engage more deeply with the doctoral students’ work and to strike up conversations. In addition, participants were able to learn about and try out innovative approaches—such as video analysis for automated activity recognition and so-called exosuits—in two interactive workshops.

The session concluded with a look ahead at the significance of artificial intelligence for future medical care. During an open discussion, many participants took the opportunity to share their experiences from participating in the study and to ask questions of the SMART-AGE team.

Abschlussveranstaltung_1

CREATE

The Center on Research and Education für Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE; CREATE: Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement) is one of the world’s leading research centers in the field of digital aging. As part of the collaboration between SMART-AGE and CREATE, a consultation workshop was held from June 11 to 12, 2025, with the aim of jointly reviewing and contextualizing the first results from the SMART-AGE project. In addition, on June 13, 2025, researchers from German-speaking countries with an interest in digital aging had the opportunity to learn about and discuss CREATE’s latest and highly innovative work in this area.

create_2

create_1