This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
See the future you
15/05/2006
Computer software developed by the University of St Andrews is now available to show how individuals might look when they reach 65.
It artificially ages people's faces. Simply by providing a photograph and email address, people can be 'ageified' to see how they might look in later life.
The software is being used to encourage people to think about their future and add their views to the Executive's consultation on the Strategy for a Scotland with an Ageing Population.
Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said:
"Scotland is changing and the population is becoming progressively older. As a society, we need to plan for that now, and a key part of that will be to think about how technology can improve people's lives.
"It's already changed the way we live and will no doubt change our future. So it's interesting today to see one technology which actually shows people what they could look like in later life. Never has ageing become so real.
"As people submit photos to be aged, it's also worth us all thinking about what we want Scotland to look like in the future. We're asking what sort of a society do we want as we all grow older and how older people can contribute to that. To do that, we need people to let us know want they think."
People can log on to www.infoscotland.com/experience have their picture aged and take part in the consultation.
Mike Blair, Scottish rugby international who has had his picture aged, said:
"Playing rugby for Scotland has been a lifelong dream, but I know it's not going to last forever. Like other athletes, I am thinking now about my future and life after sport.
"While the software is fun and you can see what you might look like in the future, it does have a serious point: what do we want Scotland to be like when we're older? To see what you could look like and to give your views on how Scotland should plan for an ageing population, then simply visit the website."
The consultation on a Strategy for a Scotland with an Ageing Population runs until June 5.