Baby boomers aren't getting any younger, and IBM knows it. Over the last several years, the computing giant has spent much of its time researching ways to keep America's second-largest generation happy and healthy in old age. That research has zeroed in on outfitting boomers' living spaces with artificially-intelligent sensors that can measure things like air quality, sleep quality, movement patterns, falls, and changes in scent and sound. Susann Keohane, senior technologist at IBM Research, says the data captured by those sensors can then help family members and doctors provide people with better care when needed. Critically, the sensors could detect when people deviate from a baseline to offer person-specific alerts.

The receptionist at the Institute of Media Innovation, at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, is a smiling brunette called Nadine. From a distance, nothing about her appearance seems unusual. It's only on closer inspection that doubts set in. Nadine is an "intelligent" robot capable of autonomous behaviour. For a machine, her looks and behaviour are remarkably natural.

A prototype robot that could assist senior citizens by detecting vital signs. Fifty-year-olds, take notice: In a few decades you might have a robot roommate taking care of you. In conjunction with Rice University, IBM is developing a series of sensors that can someday live inside a robot interface to help senior citizens stay safe. Susanne Keohane, senior technologist at IBM Research, says the project addresses a growing need for technology that helps aging populations preserve both their independence and their overall health, while also avoiding disruption in their daily lives. "If you slap an Apple Watch on an 88-year-old, that's not feasible for most 88-year-olds," Keohane tells Business Insider.