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Useful Apps:  Older Adult Perspectives

The Impact Theme series: Longevity Explorers Discuss.

Our Longevity Explorers like to seek out useful Apps and share them with each other and with you.

We are looking for Apps that can help make life as we grow older a pleasure not a burden.

 

 

Hear what Older Adults Think: Useful Apps

Self-Publishing My Memories

San Francisco Explorer Ron explains to the group how he has saved his memoirs and created some other special self-publications.

Listen to: "Self-Publishing My Memories "

 

Self-Publishing My Memories

 

Fill in Your Health Data: App Tips

Explorer Lynn reminds the group that the valuable health information stored in the emergency or health app on a smartphone can save precious time when accessed by first responders during a medical event.

Listen to: "Fill in Your Health Data: App Tips"

 

Fill in Your Health Data: App Tips

 

Video Conference Apps: Susan Reports

Susan Reports that her favorite apps are those used for videoconferencing.

Listen to: "Video Conference Apps: Susan Reports"

 

Video Conference Apps: Susan Reports

 

Google Maps: App Demo

Explorer John tells the group about a favorite app - Google Maps, and lists what he considers to be the more useful features:  

  • Turn by Turn directions to a place in an unfamiliar area.
  • Point to point distances, both in time and in miles (Walking, Driving, Public Transit,
    • ...

Listen to: "Google Maps: App Demo"

 

Google Maps: App Demo

 

Apps for Covid Boredom @ SF

For those who find that time passes slowly during the Covid shutdown, the San Francisco explorers discuss the apps, websites and other things they find useful to to fight boredom. 

Listen to: " Apps for Covid Boredom @ SF"

 

Apps for Covid Boredom @ SF

 

Evernote: SF Explorer App of the Month

Explorer Rich reports on Evernote, an app he has found useful for years and especially now when his memory seems not so reliable as in the past.

Listen to: "Evernote: SF Explorer App of the Month"

 

evernote app

 

More on Video Games - Xbox

By: djcoffey

Wishing for new sights and sounds, I purchased an Xbox One X this week.

Realizing that I was more into games in the 1980's and have been left far behind since, it's quite a leap to try the Star Wars game that was included in my package.

Space Invaders and PacMan were all the rage... Read More. Add your Opinions

 

Gratitude Log - An Alexa Skill To Help You Focus On Your Blessings

By: Bob Kolock

As we socially distance during this time of stress, it is only natural for each of us to think about & be thankful for our true blessings, our family, friends, & the many things in the world around us that make life worth living. Some of you may write these down in a journal... Read More. Add your Opinions

 

Essential Apps for Elders @ Providence

Led by Ronda Sciolto, a member of the Steering Committee of the Providence Circle, the June meeting focused on technology, particularly on apps (or applications) that are particularly useful. Ronda worked in technology for many years and is the founder of “Help Me, Ronda,” a business that has the goal of helping non-digital natives thrive in a digital world by reducing barriers to using the tools of technology and making it simple.

Listen to: "Essential Apps for Elders @ Providence"

 

Useful Apps, by Ronda Sciolto

 

Who Prefers a Taxi vs. a Car for Hire?

Explorer Lynn starts the discussion by voicing a preference for the Flywheel taxi smartphone app. 

Listen to: "Who Prefers a Taxi vs. a Car for Hire?"

 

transportation apps, cars for hire

 

Show Me Some Useful Apps for Seniors

The group discusses Explorer Joe’s topic: seeking useful apps for older adults.

Listen to: "Show Me Some Useful Apps for Seniors"

 

apps for seniors

 

An App to Meditate, Improve Mindfulness and Focus: Explorer Report

Explorer Karen tells the group about an Apple app she uses at the start of each day to help her relax and get off on a positive footing.

Listen to: "An App to Meditate, Improve Mindfulness and Focus: Explorer Report"

 

meditation app

 

Siri Endorsed for Navigational Skill

Explorer Lynn describes her initial introduction to Siri as a most helpful navigation aid while driving.

Listen to: "Siri Endorsed for Navigational Skill"

 

Siri, Artificial Intelligence

 

Update on Food Delivery Services in S.F.

Explorers report their recent experiences with home grocery deliveries.

Listen to: "Update on Food Delivery Services in S.F."

 

delivery services

 

Explorer Reports on GoGo Grandparent

Explorer Barbara tells the group about a service that allows people without a smartphone to use a cell phone or a wire line to call to summon a ride from Uber or Lyft.

Listen to: "Explorer Reports on GoGo Grandparent"

 

GoGoGrandparent

 

Food and Dining Delivery Apps: Catching On?

Explorer Kristen asks whether food delivery and dining apps are being used by the senior community.

Listen to: "Food and Dining Delivery Apps: Catching On?"

 

food and dining apps

 

Things We Wish Our Smartphones Could Do

These explorers brainstorm about things they wish their smartphone could do for them in the future.

Listen to: "Things We Wish Our Smartphones Could Do"

 

smartphone functionality

 

What are Some Good Food Delivery Services?

The group discusses online ordering and delivery of food and prepared meals, and compare notes about some they like.

Listen to: "What are Some Good Food Delivery Services?"

 

home deliveries, food delivery

 

Driving Test for Older Adults: Do We Want It?

This group talks about how to decide that it is time to stop driving. Who should decide? And would an "App for that" be useful?

Listen to: "Driving Test for Older Adults: Do We Want It?"

 

driver testing app

 

Aging in Place MeetUp - September 2016

This Meetup followed our normal format, with the theme of "Smartphone Apps That Older Adults Might Actually Want"

Listen to: "Aging in Place MeetUp - September 2016"

 

AIP Meetup

 

Do Older Adults Care About Pokemon Go?

The Longevity Exporers are asked their opinions on the Pokemon Go craze that is now so popular.

Listen to: "Do Older Adults Care About Pokemon Go?"

 

Pokemon

 

Food and Meal Delivery Gains in Popularity

SF Village Explorer Barbara has shown interest in grocery delivery services. Now she updates the group on her latest discovery, Envoy Personal Concierge Service.

Listen to: "Food and Meal Delivery Gains in Popularity"

 

 

Let a Navigation App Be Your Eyes in the Sky

Explorer Arthur describes his family's recent experience with an online map service when on a trip to Disney World.

Listen to: "Let a Navigation App Be Your Eyes in the Sky"

 

 

How Apple Brings People and Places Face to Face

Explorer Marilyn answers Lyle's question, 'What is FaceTime'?

Listen to: "How Apple Brings People and Places Face to Face"

 

 

Video Calling Further Discussed @ SSF

Sequoias San Francisco Explorer AnnieScott leads off the discussion by saying that she would like to use Skype, but feels hesitation about the aesthetic aspects of a picture that may be unflattering.

Listen to: "Video Calling Further Discussed @ SSF"

 

 

Topic Hub

Useful Apps for Seniors and Boomers

Useful Apps: Older Adults, Seniors & Boomers

Discover Useful Apps for Seniors and Boomers. Reviews, analysis, tutorials for older adults who want to turn their smartphone or tablet into a useful tool.

Read: "Useful Apps: Older Adults, Seniors & Boomers"

 

 

Our Research

"Useful Apps for Seniors" Club: for seniors, boomers, older adults.

The "Useful Apps Club" for Older Adults

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: "The "Useful Apps Club" for Older Adults"

 

 

About the Impact Theme Series

Our Longevity Explorers (hundreds of older adults with ages ranging from 60-95 years old) meet regularly to discuss topics at the intersection of aging and technology.

Among the many topics we discuss in these meetings, we have been exploring some specific themes which we think are going to be very important for older adults in the future, and which in our opinion are ripe for innovation. These make up our Impact Themes, and Useful Apps is one of these themes.

In these discussions:

  • We share how we do things today;
  • We explore and critique existing products;
  • We talk about challenges we have that we wish products could solve; and
  • We dream up product concepts we wish someone like you would develop.

If you are developing products or services for older adults in the category of Useful Apps, listen to the Longevity Explorer discussions on this page to get insights about how to develop better products and services for older adults.

More Explorer Discussions

 

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Topics (broader coverage of this theme): 
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