My Technology

The child boomers are in their 50s and early 60s. They are accustomed to shopper goods that accommodate their interests. Not solely are they on the lookout for technology geared to their needs, however they want expertise that helps them are inclined to their getting older parents.

Add this to that the fact that the boomers are recognized spenders and customers, and it's no shock that good expertise corporations are starting to see a profitable market, and are designing accordingly.

The Jitterbug

The Jitterbug cellphone, the brainchild of GreatCall Inc. of California, launched in October 2006. It lacks a digital camera, customizable wallpaper or voice-dialing capability, but it is listening to-aid appropriate and has chunky, simple-to-read keys, a large display screen show, easy command buttons, a well-recognized dial tone, and an operator out there to help on the contact of a button.

The operators greet the caller by title, make calls when requested, provide listing assistance, and add names to a member's telephone list. Jitterbug's service begins at $10 a month, has no long-time period contracts and no long-distance or roaming fees. The telephones are available two straightforward-to-use models, every costing $149.

Early this yr, GreatCall gained the Andrew Seybold Selection Award for Finest New Company. Later, In May 2007, Arlene Harris, the corporate's co-founder and CEO, turned the primary female innovator to be inducted into the RCR Wireless News Corridor of Fame.

The Ford Motor Company and Its "Third Age Go well with"

Possibly one of the earlier firms to understand the significance of catering to an aging demographic, Ford introduced a "Third Age Swimsuit" to its engineers as early as 1999. The swimsuit helps younger ergonomics engineers feel what it's like to be 30 or forty years older than they are.

The garment restricts the engineers' physical mobility, and simulates an older person's driving capabilities. Its cumbersome materials limit movement in areas similar to knees, elbows abdomen and back. When the younger engineers don this outfit, together with gloves that scale back the sense of touch, a headset that reduces listening to and goggles that simulate cataracts, they have new insights into the wants of older drivers.

Designed in conjunction with the University of Loughborough, the suit resembles what you get whenever you mate a excessive-tech astronaut swimsuit with a beekeeper's protective gear.

Vivek Bhise, Ford's manager of human elements and ergonomics, stated, "It's one thing to learn buyer suggestions in a advertising examine: It is an entire totally different thing to feel what they're feeling whereas driving a car. This has been an actual eye-opener for our engineers."

The Ford Focus was the primary Ford product to incorporate the engineers' findings.

The Focus had more headroom than different cars in its class, and had special options that allowed a driver to get in and out easily. A few years later, Ford used research findings gathered from utilizing the Third Age Go well with and the Empathy Belly (a device that simulates a pregnant lady's form) to design the Mercury Monterey and the Ford Freestar minivans.

Later, in Europe, under the commerce identify of Mobilistrictor (or the "empathy swimsuit"), the gadget was used by architectural companies, elevator manufacturers, hospitals, building contractors and in college analysis projects. In the United States, Boeing embarked on a 9-month research undertaking to determine design elements that might tackle the wants of the ageing population of fliers. The company introduced its engineers with findings derived from a examine that included use of the Third Age Suit.

The Senior's Superstore

Less thrilling than an "empathy" swimsuit, but definitely useful for the mundane tasks of cooking and meals preparation, this online retailer sells a lot of devices designed especially for seniors. To say just a few, the Two-Liter deal with helps those with arthritic fingers or palms pour and carry a two-liter bottle of soda or water. The Slice-Nice adjustable knife is a kitchen safety product for seniors with hand tremors, restricted vision, or for those with the use of just one hand.

The Multi-Opener assists in opening containers, bottles, cans, ring pulls or flip tops. The Boxtopper helps with opening sealed boxes of cereal, detergent, rice, etc. The Jar Opener and Closer and Faucet Turner focus hand power to remove lids and turn taps effortlessly. The Rocking T Knife cuts by rocking the knife on food. Its design makes it simpler for folks with hand and arm problems to handle a knife.

If it is tools that interest you, check out Black and Decker's vary of instruments with extra snug grips and greater info readouts. The corporate also affords yard instruments suitable for seniors, together with an 18-volt, cordless string trimmer/edger. The edger is lightweight, suitable to be used in small yards and simple to operate.

Dynamic Living

Online, at Dynamic-Living.com , you should buy a wide range of aids for seniors or for individuals with arthritis. Within the Personal Care class, you may find toenail cutters, brushes and combs with lengthy handles for easier attain, an eye-drop squeezer, an elongated bathroom seat riser that makes it easier for people with mobility difficulties to sit and stand, an help for opening medication bottles, and a disposable razor extender for shaving legs.

Recreational devices include an oversized TV distant management, fan-formed card holders, a needle threader, a handle adaptor for baggage, a crochet help, an umbrella that opens and closes routinely, one other umbrella with a gel handle that molds into the shape of the hand, an easy-grip cultivator and trowel for the gardener, and a pedal exerciser that lets the consumer get cardio exercise whereas seated.

The Dressing class includes an help for placing on socks, an assist for placing on earrings, a zipper pull, clasp converters to help with jewellery clasps, an help for placing on a bracelet, and various different items. There is also a spread of kitchen devices much like those talked about earlier at the Senior's Superstore.

Dynamic Dwelling also offers reminiscence-associated items, reminiscent of an amplified photo cellphone that helps the consumer bear in mind speed-dial buttons by displaying photos, a wander alarm that vibrates or chimes when a cherished one opens the door, a voice dialer that permits the user to dial the cellphone by using their voice, and a rather expensive little gadget known as the SmartShopper that allows the consumer to file their buying items and then print them out when buying day arrives.

MF