New Technology for Older People
George Bernard Shaw is often credited with the quote that “youth is wasted on the young,” and many people believe the same could be said of technology. However, there is a growing number of case studies demonstrating that older folks appreciate the benefits of high tech, and there are applications for people with disabilities as well.
Edward C. Baig reported in yesterday’s USA Today on the first Silvers Summit showcase at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, with product demonstrations from a number of top-level technology leaders.
According to Mr. Baig, there is a strong business case to include older folks in a technology marketing plan. The statistics from Forrester Research indicate an average monthly spend of between $300-430 US, and Amercians over the age of 50 continue to be the fastest-growing online demographic.
Part of this is maturity of the products themselves; such devices as the Wii integrate haptic accessibility with fun activities, providing the opportunity for seniors to maintain a social life. Another aspect is the nature of Boomers themselves, who refuse to think of themselves as “old” in the traditional sense. Skype, Twitter, Facebook, text messaging and mobile computing are becoming increasingly ubiquitous with their life experience.
Accessibility of digital interfaces is a critical component to a product’s success. Microsoft, recognizing that inclusive design is not limited to people with disabilities, changed the taxonomy of their accessibility features for Windows 7:
In recent years, Microsoft has also addressed some of the marketing challenges associated with accessibility and aging. In Windows XP, the company used a wheelchair icon and the term “accessibility” in the control panel. But people without a disability felt it didn’t apply to them. So Microsoft removed the wheelchair icon in Windows Vista and Windows 7 and changed the language to “ease of access.”
In addition, Samsung has introduced hearing aid compatibility to its new line of phones, and more products are being developed to cultivate better holistic health for people as they grow older. Particularly innovative are the streams of research being pursued on behalf of people suffering from degenerative cognitive disorders; one such system helps seniors stay sharp by testing their memory from movies they recall from decades past.
Universal Design isn’t just for those with disabilities. At some point, all of us will reap the benefits of assistive technology in some form or another. It’s great to see these advancements in technology reaching a most receptive audience.
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