A little bit of research told me that there are tons of information and new technology and products out there designed for seniors. From robotic health aids to simply fun technology, the choices are many and a lot of them look like fun. Here are a few I found that might be of interest to ages from Boomers to older seniors with some levels of disability.
Fitbit. The Fitbit Ultra Wireless Activity Tracker displays stats such as stairs climbed or the number of steps taken or calories burned. All ages can benefit from this little bit of technology. The Fitbit Ana WiFi Smart Scale tracks weight, body fat, and body mass index. www.fitbit.com.
BeClose. An aging in place technology helps seniors stay in touch with family or caregivers. Wireless sensors are placed around the senior’s home and BeClose tracks the senior’s daily activities and routine. If there is a disruption in routine, help is summoned. www.beclose.com.
Toilevator. This device gradually increase the height of the toilet from the bottom up.
Uni. A two-way communication device that helps the deaf using speech and hand gesture technology. It is a tablet with an attachment that “leverages” motion sensing cameras and voice recognition to translate American Sign Language into spoken words and the words into text. www.motionsavvy.com.
Morpher®. This is a new innovation bike helmet that folds. Sounds perfect for bikers who want to be able to fold and unfold their helmet quickly. The company’s website states that it “surpasses all relevant safety standards” and is completely recyclable. The site says that the company’s new helmet is all about saving lives. It is meant for all ages and would certainly be convenient. www.morpherhelmet.
Smart Sox. Designed for people with diabetes, the University of Arizona researchers are testing Smart Sox, which use fiber optics to detect excessive pressure and misplaced joint angles that could cause foot ulcers. Diabetics often suffer from neuropathy and have little to no sensations in their feet. I haven’t found a website for this product as yet.
XStat. A group of scientists and engineers from an Oregon company, RevMedX, created a syringe holding tiny sponges that can be injected into a wound, where the sponges expand to stop the bleeding. Police are using these to help stop bleeding in gunshot wounds.
I found several other items that show promise but either are still testing or not yet in production. There are shoes that help prevent falls. They use vibrating insoles to improve the wearers balance. I also found shirts that administer CPR. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is creating this special shirt but it is still a few years away. It’s nice to know that as we grow older, we can still take advantage of the technical world around us.
