If you’re aiming to live a long and healthy life (who isn’t?), it’s likely that you try to eat healthily, get plenty of exercise and enough sleep. If you’re really serious about maintaining good health, you may even wear a fitness tracking watch or use an app that helps monitor your heart rate, track caloric intake and count the number of steps you take.

 

But going beyond even the watches and the apps, there is a whole slew of technological advances that not only improve our quality of life but also affect how long we live (in a good way). Crazy to think that “fun” tech can have a real impact on life expectancy, isn’t it?

 

Let’s take a step back. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average life expectancy in the US in 1900 was 47. Toward the beginning of the Digital Revolution in 1970, life expectancy increased to 70 years. As of 2016, following a continued explosion of consumer technology and other tech innovations as part of the Digital Age, the National Center for Health Statistics tells us the average life span is 78.

 

Of course, technology isn’t the only factor playing into increased life expectancy, but several advancements have, and will likely continue to have an impact.

 

This type of tech is great to have for communicating with friends and family and staying in the loop on the latest news or, let’s just say it, celebrity gossip. But perhaps more importantly, cellphones, computers, wearables and their associated apps can help improve overall quality of life.

 

Having access to the internet from the palms of our hands opens doors to accessing all types of information and applications related to health care, life insurance and overall well-being. Thanks to current tech, we can easily and quickly get information on everything from when a fever has reached the point a visit to the hospital is advisable to what breathing techniques we can use to reduce everyday stress and tension. You can even access heart rate-boosting workouts without needing to leave the house or pay for a pricey membership.

 

Access to, and in turn, the sharing of information has played and will continue to play a vital role in enabling us to take better care of ourselves and those around us. 

 

As medical technology continues to evolve, the potential to positively impact critical or even life-threatening conditions increases as well. Just look at the emergence of robotics in the operating room, which, according to UCHealth, is helping cut down on recovery times and reduce blood loss among other benefits.

 

Perhaps even more futuristic, according to HealthTech, drones are being tested for emergency response situations in the US, providing first responders with improved access to medicine, blood and more. Aside from robotics and drones, tech advancements are playing a central role in improving quality of life through new applications like 3D printed prosthetics, telemedicine (which can help improve access for rural communities), and testing supplies and devices for managing autoimmune diseases from the comfort of home.

 

While technology continues to advance – especially with the emergence of AI and the use of big data – there’s no doubt that it will continue to impact the quality of life by providing access to services.

 

We’re exploring ways to incorporate technology into our offerings to provide consumers with easy access to life insurance quotes and policies. We understand that these days, it’s about meeting consumers where they are – through technology – and in new and engaging ways. We look forward to growing along with this new digital age, and we look forward to the many exciting and life-improving innovations of the future.