Top Ten Intriguing Electronics for Aging in Place

Laurie Orlov Aging in Place TechPert
Laurie Orlov

AIPatHome.com Tech Advisor Laurie Orlov attended the 2009 Consumer Electronic Show and identified the following products as having an interesting appeal to the boomer and beyond market:

Audéo — identified as a personal care assistant, from Swiss hearing aid company Phonak Group, this is a stylish hearing aid, probably designed for young people, but could make wearing a hearing aid far more appealing to seniors. Available in multiple colors and styles that use two digital microphones to filter out room noise.



ClearSounds — a line of telephones for hearing-impaired from a woman-owned Illinois company. Includes amplified telephones, neckloops for cell phone users, portable phone amplifiers, wireless TV headsets and alarm clocks. Tag-line: “Hear how good life can be.”

Doro — a line of attractively designed phones for seniors. Land line phones have light-weight receivers for those who find traditional phones too heavy, uncomplicated mobile handsets with good “easy-grip” buttons, FM radio and speaker phone. Doro also has amplfied products. Tagline: “makes life easier”.

Vidtel — Just launched. A video phone and service combined. Receive audio and video messages, video requires another Vidtel user (like D-Link), uses the Internet connection, no PC required, ability to zoom in and zoom out, see both sides of the conversation on your screen. Tagline: “Video calling made easy.”

Myine Electronics — Just launched. Commercial-free FM radio, Wi-fi Internet radio, “manufactures high-quality electronic audio products that make music accessible to consumers with limited time or technological sophistication.”

IngeniumCare — Not yet launched. Colorado-based Home monitoring solution of wireless sensors configured through the home that tracks and monitors health status and activities. Partnered with Control4 home automation controller, as well as a wireless touch screen, wireless network camera, and wireless motion sensor. Also will incorporate wearable pendant/badget with fall detection and geo-location.

HaloMonitoring — Just launched. Wearable personal emergency response system with fall detection that sends an alert without prompting by the wearer, via phone, e-mail, or text message. Tag-line: “Independence redefined.”

MedSignals — Woman-owned business electronic pillbox and reminder container with 4 bins for 4 drugs (also has a multi-pack option), displays messages, including food warnings. No internet-required, it can be configured directly or through the web, connecting statuses to the web by auto-dialing an 800-number.

GenerationOne — Mobile, customized personal health solution, this is a telephone-based personal health management network, enabling consumers to use the phone network to help manage their own chronic conditions through employer health plans and with their healthcare provider networks. Tagline: “Manage Your Health, Don’t Let it Manage You.”

HeartMath — Makes the emWave Personal Stress Reliever (PSR), a winner in the CES “Last Gadget Standing” competition, works when you “place your thumb on the sensor or attach the ear sensor. After your pulse is detected a breathing pacer synchronizes to your heart rhythms, enabling you to reach a higher level of coherence.”

For updates to this article please go to Laurie Orlov’s blog

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Chuck Oakes

    Great new products! As an author of “Making Your Home Senior-Friendly”, I am always searching for awesome new ideas!

  2. Lynn Allen

    Our flagship product the Allen Pole is Geriatrician Invented and meets four benchmarks: No moving parts, mimics biomechanics, promotes fluidity and leveraging of movement, and meets FDA Work Safety Group Guidelines. See our product on Boomercaretech.com.

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