Using Technologies (p1):

Avoiding the digital divide. using computers, tablets, smartphones, wearables (activity-trackers) and more.

Overcome Today's Challenges. Avoid Tomorrow's.

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Analysis & Exploration | Explorer Discussions | Resources and Products shared by our Explorers.

Featured Guides & Reports: Using Technologies

Useful Apps Club for seniors, boomers, older adults.

The "Useful Apps Club"

Unlock the potential of your smartphone or tablet to improve your life.

The Useful Apps Club is for older adults and Boomers who have a smartphone or tablet (or are thinking of getting one) and need help to turn it into a useful tool. We are focused on finding Apps that can change your life, and teaching you how to use them. .........Read more

Analysis & Exploration: Using Technologies

Alzheimer's Thermostat Design: Jeeves vs. Nurse Ratched

Remember Jeeves, and Nurse Ratched? Imagine they were in charge of designing products for older adults. I wish we had the sort of products I imagine Jeeves would have designed for Bertie Wooster. Unfortunately, we seem to get the products Nurse Ratched might have dreamed up for the unfortunate... .........Read more

Working at 90 and designing for age

Stimulated by a recent NPR segment on working at 90, here are some thoughts about user interfaces for older adults, and why they fall short. .........Read more

Functional ability declines with age but perhaps technology can slow that down

Could tech really take 20 years off your age?

My favorite question when I meet someone with an idea for a new venture is: “what problem are we trying to solve?". Here is one that is really worthwhile: Delaying functional decline as we age! .........Read more

The Paradox of Good UX Design for Seniors

Seniors report avoiding, or using in as stealth a manner as possible, technologies that would improve the quality of their lives — even enhance their safety — because they are associated with or specifically designed for the elderly. The paradox, then, for good UX design that addresses seniors’... .........Read more

Make Your Health Care Wishes Known - Easily

The New Old Age blogger Paula Span has recetly written an immensely helpful piece on new ways each of us can make our health care advance directives known. .........Read more

Trends in Technology Use by Older Adults

Pew Research has released a report that shows a substantial increase in the use of technology by older adults. They increased the use of the Internet, smart phones, and TV. .........Read more

Explorer Discussions: Using Technologies

Telephone, Cyber and Doorbell Scams Explored

Explorer Steve speaks about computer scams, including one brought to his attention by his neighbor who complained that a message would periodically appear on her computer screen telling her that her computer was infected, and to call the number in the message to get help in clearing her computer. .........Read more

Quantified Older Adults: Activity tracking conversation

This circle discusses their use of activity tracking devices to monitor and quantify their levels of acitivity. The group discuss the different approaches each of them has to tracking, and why they do it in the first place. .........Read more

i Phone and Hearing Aids

How well does the i Phone work with hearing aids? Hear this discussion from our March circle. .........Read more

Ageism and Technology

Interesting discussion about Ageism, but also about the challenges of technology adoption by older adults. Among other things the group talked about how to reduce the friction between older and younger adults. .........Read more

All-terrain walker demonstration

Our group had a demonstration of a prototype all-terrain walker, invented / designed by Elaine Levin who came along to show us her product concept. .........Read more

Driving at Night, SRC discussion

Older adults experience various challenges with driving at night. This discussion focuses on vision related issues, and includes glare from oncoming headlights on glasses, and the difficulty of avoiding bright LED headlights which can cause adaption problems. .........Read more

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Useful Products & Resources: Using Technologies (shared by our Explorers)

BigKeys iPad Keyboard App

The BigKeys keyboard app is intended to enlarge the font size to enable users with visual disability or poor vision tend to use a physical keyboard with an iPad, since they may tend not to see (or feel) what they tapped on.

Learn, discuss, review...

CompuMed

CompuMed is a countertop device to store and dispense medications at pre programmed times, with alerts.

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Skype

Skype is a free app for video calling which can help people stay in touch over long distances.

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RFID Blocker Sleeves

RFID blocker sleeves protect credit cards, passports, and other radio frequency ID cards from being read by unauthorized scanning devices nearby.

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Magnifier Android App

The Magnifier app is an Android version of the EyeReader iPhone app.

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Course on Using Smart Phones and Tablets

A course on using smart phones and tablets by AARP

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Drivesharp

Drivesharp is a brain fitness product of Posit Science which is offered in partnership with the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

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TV Ears

TV Ears is a lightweight headset using voice clarifying technology intended to capture the TV's audio signal and amplify only the human voice frequencies while decreasing background noise.

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NoMoRobo: website to help stop robocalls

Nomorobo, telemarketer blocking, nuisance calls

NoMoRobo is a web site that allows the user to register the number receiving telemarketing calls and which intercepts those nuisance calls before they reach you. Calls from other than known illegal telemarketing sources come through as always. Occasional telemarketing calls come through and...

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