This document describes emerging gerontechnologies that will likely be available to the elderly in future years. Gerontechnology is an integrative discipline that examines the impact of technology on the elderly as it relates to health, housing, communication, transportation and work and leisure. Communications technology must play a key role in any future technologies serving the elderly, a fact that became abundantly clear as this review progressed. This technology can be especially useful in supporting the frail elderly and persons with dementia in both home and institutional settings. Besides describing that potential, significant attention is devoted to outlining communication between older persons and machines including robots and other adaptive devices. This is where contemporary research is making the greatest strides.