As a person firmly ensconced in middle age – 57 percent of the way through life, to be precise, if government actuarial tables hold – I have begun to notice certain things not working quite as well as they used to. Specifically, my eyes and my ears.

You can ask my family: My hearing is not what it once was, and not just as I have been known to hear selectively from time to time. As for my eyes,I had them zapped with lasers back in 2005,but the increasing squint as I read tells me the warranty may have expired on that. And I’m not alone – about 14 percent of Americans between 45 and 64 experience hearing loss in some way, while over 90 percent of those over 45 suffer from presbyopia, or the declining ability to focus on near objects. globally, the World Health Organization projects that by 2050 nearly 2.5 billion people will have some form of hearing loss.

But I have good news for fellow aging people (which is, well, all of us eventually.) Our digital gadgets are increasingly being designed with features that can help users overcome both the usual sensory declines of age and more severe disabilities and diseases.From Apple AirPods that can act as inexpensive hearing aids – and now, on-the-go translators – to the growing ubiquity of continuous glucose monitors for diabetics, some of the most promising uses of consumer tech involve propping up our failing organic meat-sacks.

The biggest consumer tech nudge

How Smartphones Are Bridging the Gap Between Consumer Tech and Healthcare

Smartphones, once solely communication devices, now monitor our health, manage chronic conditions, and even assist those with vision impairment. This shift demonstrates a growing convergence between consumer technology and healthcare, offering proactive and personalized health management.

The rise of wearable fitness trackers, like Fitbits and Apple Watches, exemplifies this trend. These devices track steps, heart rate, sleep patterns, and even blood oxygen levels, providing users with valuable insights into their physical activity and overall health. While not medical devices, they encourage healthier lifestyles and can alert users to potential health concerns.

However, the relationship isn’t always positive. Studies increasingly link increased screen time, notably smartphone use, to higher odds of myopia, or nearsightedness.

But if phones contribute to some vision problems, they also offer features to help people with vision impairment navigate the world. On the iPhone, the built-in Magnifier app uses the device’s camera for practical tasks; Door Detection announces a door’s distance and how it opens; point and Speak reads labels on buttons,decoding complex kiosks. These features are standard, not add-ons.

On Android, Google’s Lookout app now provides more helpful image descriptions. Image Q&A lets users ask for details about an image and receive spoken answers, powered by Google’s Gemini AI models. This enables daily autonomy: “Is this the blue shirt?” “What does the sign say?” “Where’s the submit button?”

This consumer-to-care transition extends to chronic disease management. Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) – medical implants tracking glucose levels – have long been available for diagnosed diabetics. In 2024, the FDA cleared Dexcom’s Stelo, the first over-the-counter CGM, for adults not using insulin (including those with oral medication or pre-diabetes). Abbott followed suit a few months later, receiving FDA clearance for two new over-the-counter CGMs.

These advancements empower individuals to proactively manage their health, moving beyond reactive healthcare to preventative and personalized care. Smartphones, once seen as a distraction from well-being, are increasingly becoming essential tools for it.