I was recently socializing with a group of people, most of whom were about my age, or a little older. The topic of conversation came around to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, and one of the people said, “I wonder how big Haiti is?” I took my iPhone out of my pocket and one member of the group immediately said, “oh, I hate those things. They are just too complicated for me to use.” Some of you know that I am infamous for my ever readiness to make a point. This situation was no exception, so I lifted the iPhone to my face, and spoke to it: “what is the area of Haiti in kilometers?” The phone immediately displayed the results, which I read to the group: “Haiti has an area of 27,750 square kilometers, slightly smaller than Maryland.”
The iPhone has several applications that can be operated by voice. As I illustrated to my friends that evening, Google search is one of them,. IPhone users can also make phone calls and play music without pushing any buttons. For example, when I want to call my wife I simply say to my phone, “call Marcia at home,” and the phone will dial up Marcia. If I forget to tell the device which of Marcia’s numbers I want to call, it will ask me whether I want to call her home phone or cell phone! I can also play my music by using my voice: ”Play Roy Orbison, Blue Bayou” will work. In my opinion these methods of obtaining results are far simpler than the traditional ways. Voice control is not specifically a senior technology but it is especially useful for seniors.
These technologies are improving very quickly. I want to invite you to spend four minutes watching the above video to see what is coming next. If you think that this is far in the future, watch all the way to the end.
Review Of Senior Technology Products & Silvers Summit @ CES 2010….
Complete gadget overload…between the lights of Las Vegas and the toys at the Consumer Electronics Show(CES) this weekend was sensory overload, even for a technophile. Sexy products and gadgets? Yes. Practical? Some yes, some no.
Gadgets for Seniors: Best Gear for the 60+ – ABC News.
Technology and gadget companies are recognizing the unique needs of an aging population. We look at the best gear for the over-sixty crowd.
Domestic robots assist elderly | Senior technology.
In three years several demonstration houses should be finished. They will be equipped with a robot and the domestic systems of a ’smart home’ — think of self-opening curtains. The central role is played by the ‘domestic robot’. It follows patients through the house, learns their habits, watches them closely, gives sound advice, turns the air conditioning up or down a bit, and warns a doctor when the patient is not doing well. In addition, the robot also provides entertainment in the form of the Internet and videos.
