Our societies are changing worldwide. Life expectancy has increased in many societies and this increase is often related to an increase in the relative amount of elderly persons. Health-enabling technologies are information and communication technologies for creating sustainable conditions for self-sufficient and self-determined lifestyles. Sensor-enhanced health information systems play a major role in this context. The question is discussed, whether health-enabling technologies for pervasive health care can be regarded as a pivotal field for future medical informatics research and education.