Gadgets and widgets (p3):
Research, explorations, discussions, and products and resources relating to Gadgets and widgets: from Tech-enhanced Life.
Electronic gadgets, such as wearables and TV remotes, and mechanical widgets such as jar openers and grabbers.
For Older Adults, their Families, and Caregivers
— and for Companies Creating Innovations Related to Aging.
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Analysis & Exploration | Explorer Discussions | Resources and Products shared by our Explorers.
Featured Guides & Reports: Gadgets and widgets
Medical Alert Systems: Help!
We kept getting asked "which medical alert system is best?"; and "how do I choose the right medical alert system for me?". This independent, objective, hands-on research tries to answer those questions. If you are looking for a medical alert system, either for yourself or for an older adult such as a parent, this piece of research is for you.
Technology for Older Adults: Notable from 2020
As far as Technology for Older Adults goes, we saw some positive developments emerging in 2020, despite the pandemic, and some promising products gaining traction. Here are trends and products we think are notable from 2020.
Location Devices and Trackers for Dementia
Location Devices and Trackers can play an important role in dementia care and management, as well as for people with mild cognitive impairment. The hope: A location tracking device can help some older adults stay independent for longer, and relieve caregiver stress.
We explore the scenarios in which different types of location devices and trackers for dementia and mild cognitive impairment can be useful, and look at a variety of specific product types and individual products to see which are most suitable in different life situations.
Automatic Pill Dispenser Evaluations: Hands-on
Automatic pill dispensers can help when a person has trouble adhering to their medication regimen, or when filling pill boxes with complex combinations of pills becomes a burden. Learn which products are best for various personas, life situations, and physical and cognitive conditions.
Smartwatch as Medical Alert?
For years we have been hearing older adults complain about how ugly and stigmatizing medical alerts are. As one lady told us: "My medical alert button makes me look like I escaped from the Intensive Care Unit. So I hardly ever wear it".
A handful of medical alert watches have come to market that look like smart watches, and have some or all of the functionality of stylish smartwatches, but also work as medical alerts. We wanted to see how well they worked, and set out to test them — hoping they might change this dynamic. Here are the results, updated for 2021.
Hearing the TV Better: Older Adults Explore
The community of Longevity Explorers are exploring different hearing gadgets — to see which ones help in various situations, and to share products individual explorers have used and wish to recommend. This article summarizes what we learned thus far about gadgets that can help people hear better while watching TV and movies.
Amazon Echo Show: Older Adults Explore
Our Longevity Explorers have been testing the Amazon Echo Show and exploring its capabilities. With the ability to make phone calls and video calls on request, Alexa and the Amazon Echo Show have added important capabilities since our community of older adults first explored Alexa back in 2017. Learn what these "seniors" think is (or is not) useful about it; what questions they have; and what they think needs improvement.
Spends too Much Time on the Couch
If you are looking for a way to help grandpa in remembering to get up and stretch, I have a solution for you. In fact, I’m guilty of spending most of my day on the couch and use this solution to remind me to get up and stretch at least once an hour. I’ve been using this for about a year now and... .........Read more
Ideas for Music Source for Memory Care Person
Thanks always for the newsletter which I find very interesting.
My husband now lives at the Memory care unit at the CCRC where I live. He loves classic music but that’s one kind of music they do not play in that section of the CCRC.
My hope is to provide the classic music in his... ....... Read more
My Mild Hearing Loss and Air Pods Pro
This is about my experience with different types of earbuds, especially Apple earbuds. In particular, it is about a discovery I made that let me use the AirPods to compensate for my mild hearing loss.
If you like listening to music or podcasts, or regularly talk on your smartphone, you... ....... Read more
Fridge for Forgetful Senior
We have several problems relating to a fridge and a forgetful senior who lives alone. We worry that she will leave the fridge open by mistake and that the food will spoil and make her sick. We worry that she forgets to throw out food as it gets old, and that the food in her fridge includes food... .........Read more
Forget to Turn Water Off
As people grow older they often become somewhat forgetful. We start to worry about questions like "Did I leave the water running?" How do we make it so these sorts of questions are not things that we need to worry about? .........Read more
Hearing Loss and Loud TV: Explorer Report
Problem: My wife has lost some of her hearing and she turns up the TV volume loud to hear.
Solution: We bought a BeHear Proxy Neck Speaker and a HearLink Plus in a bundle.
Here is my report of our experience with... ....... Read more
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Joy for All Walker Squawker
Walker Squawker from Joy for All is an animatronic bird intended for companionship and to assist the user in remembering to use their walker.
Dose Health
Dose Health offers the Dose Flip medication management device that is intended to help organize and dispense medicine with reminders and optional alerts to designated others by text or call if a dose is missed.
BurnerAlert
BurnerAlert is a safety device that is attached under the control knobs of many gas or electric stoves and is designed to prevent leaving the stove on for longer than intended by emitting alerts.
Kuhn Rikon Jar Opener
This product was one of the top performing jar openers in the Longevity Explorer jar open explorations. It helps with grip and leverage.
CookStop
CookStop is a safety device intended to prevent unattended stovetop fires on electric ranges..
Talking Bible
The Talking Bible is a battery powered digital player using an MP3 file and is intended for use by low vision persons as well as people of all ages who enjoy hearing the Bible being read aloud.
Yo Link Smart Home Products
Yo Link smart water leak sensors are intended to detect the presence or absence of water in the area where they are installed.
VoiceBooster Voice Amplifier
VoiceBooster is a small portable amplifier with a microphone and charger.
FireAvert - Stove Automatic Shut-Off
FireAvert is a device intended to protect the user from dangerous stove fires by turning off power (or gas) to the sstove when it hears a smoke alarm.
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