Americans who are 100 years old or older are making surprising use of up-to-date technology, according to a recent survey of 100 centenarians. They’re listening to iPods, watching videos, and even playing video games, just like their great-grandchildren.
According to the survey, one in seven of those polled have played video games, while nearly a third of those asked have watched reality shows and a quarter have watched MTV or other music video channels.
The respondents’ results aren’t entirely up to date, however; the survey’s choice for favorite talk show host, Johnny Carson, retired in 1992 and died in 2005.
The survey, called “Evercare 100@100,” was issued for the second straight year by Evercare, a subsidiary of United Health Group which primarily serves the “elderly, disabled, and chronically ill.” The survey is meant as a “snapshot” of the lives of America’s nearly 80,000 centenarians, and is not a truly scientific poll.
Source: eGear
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Keeping up with the times key to successful aging
Whether it's listening to an iPod, playing video games or keeping up with the news, staying in tune with the times may help people live to 100.
That's some of the advice from a poll of elderly people who were questioned about the secrets of longevity.
Spirituality, a healthy diet, no smoking and being happy were also high of the list of what is important for a long life.
"They very much paid attention to both technology and current events," Dr John Mach, the head of Evercare which conducted the poll, said about the elderly respondents.
Evercare, which provides care coordination programs for the elderly and disabled, surveyed 100 people who were 99 years and older.
"It is all about successful aging and trying to understand what are the key drivers for successful aging," he added in an interview.
Centenarians do not embrace technology as much as middle aged people or younger groups, but Mach said he was surprised by the extent to which they had been exposed to it.
More than 30 percent of the elderly questioned in the poll said they had watched reality television shows, 24 percent had bought CDs and 15 percent had played video games.
Six percent had used the internet and four percent had listened to music on an iPod.
"Certainly we know that social interactions make a difference over a lifetime, so maintaining those social interactions ... in emails, the Internet and being able to converse about current events, that does contribute to the overall social wellbeing of people which we know contributes to successful aging," Mach added.
Better healthcare, vaccinations, improvements in water supplies and a drop in child mortality have contributed to the soaring ranks of centenarians.
They are thought to be the fastest growing segment of the population in the United States and other industrial countries.
There are nearly 80,000 centenarians living in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The number is expected to soar to 580,000 by 2040.
Spirituality was also a consistent theme in the survey, according to Mach. When the elderly respondents were asked who they admired or trusted most, 34 percent named their priest, rabbi or preacher.
The majority of those questioned said they either lived at home alone or with a spouse. Thirty-four percent said they would choose a better memory over having fewer aches and pains or losing weight.
Most of them had never smoked. Of those who did, 21 percent managed to kick the habit. Nearly 40 percent said they think they eat a better diet today than they did 50 years ago.
Among the greatest medical achievements during their lifetime, the centenarians ranked heart bypass surgery, pacemakers and cancer treatments on the top of the list.
Source: Reuters
That's some of the advice from a poll of elderly people who were questioned about the secrets of longevity.
Spirituality, a healthy diet, no smoking and being happy were also high of the list of what is important for a long life.
"They very much paid attention to both technology and current events," Dr John Mach, the head of Evercare which conducted the poll, said about the elderly respondents.
Evercare, which provides care coordination programs for the elderly and disabled, surveyed 100 people who were 99 years and older.
"It is all about successful aging and trying to understand what are the key drivers for successful aging," he added in an interview.
Centenarians do not embrace technology as much as middle aged people or younger groups, but Mach said he was surprised by the extent to which they had been exposed to it.
More than 30 percent of the elderly questioned in the poll said they had watched reality television shows, 24 percent had bought CDs and 15 percent had played video games.
Six percent had used the internet and four percent had listened to music on an iPod.
"Certainly we know that social interactions make a difference over a lifetime, so maintaining those social interactions ... in emails, the Internet and being able to converse about current events, that does contribute to the overall social wellbeing of people which we know contributes to successful aging," Mach added.
Better healthcare, vaccinations, improvements in water supplies and a drop in child mortality have contributed to the soaring ranks of centenarians.
They are thought to be the fastest growing segment of the population in the United States and other industrial countries.
There are nearly 80,000 centenarians living in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The number is expected to soar to 580,000 by 2040.
Spirituality was also a consistent theme in the survey, according to Mach. When the elderly respondents were asked who they admired or trusted most, 34 percent named their priest, rabbi or preacher.
The majority of those questioned said they either lived at home alone or with a spouse. Thirty-four percent said they would choose a better memory over having fewer aches and pains or losing weight.
Most of them had never smoked. Of those who did, 21 percent managed to kick the habit. Nearly 40 percent said they think they eat a better diet today than they did 50 years ago.
Among the greatest medical achievements during their lifetime, the centenarians ranked heart bypass surgery, pacemakers and cancer treatments on the top of the list.
Source: Reuters
Monday, March 05, 2007
Gadgets for graying set
Baby boomers demand - and get - big-button TV remotes, no-frills cell phones and computers that start with a touchWhile conducting a computer seminar recently at Sun City Lincoln Hills, Terry Rooney heard murmurs of approval when he showed off a Windows Vista feature that allows users to magnify selected portions of a Web page.
"They were very impressed," said Rooney, president of the retirement community's computer club. "Being able to easily read the screen is a concern for a lot of people."
Indeed, as the aging American population increasingly peers through reading glasses, fumbles with keys and begins to ponder life with hearing aids, technology companies are gearing up new products or adapting existing ones to capture a potentially huge and profitable demographic -- baby boomers.
Read the entire article on SacBee.com
The gadgets include oversize TV remote controls, simplified cellular phones and computers that ask for a thumbprint instead of a password.
"Baby boomers have driven the economy and consumer demand for about every decade they have existed," said Andrew Carle, director of the Assisted Living/Senior Housing Administration program at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. "As long as they continue to control the money, they will continue to drive the products that are being developed."
Monday, February 12, 2007
Top 10 'must have' home technology trends
According to Dow Jones 'Market Watch'
The most technologically savvy homeowners bask in crystal-clear television screens when they're home and can control the lights while they're out of town. Without moving an inch, they can decide what music is playing in each room and can monitor the well being of their aging mother in a different city.
Making the list:
A home theater or media room. A home theater is a room dedicated solely to the viewing of movies and programs, designed with aspects such as sound quality in mind. A media room is incorporated in a home's living space and is more of a multipurpose room, where a homeowner can watch television, read a book or play a game. Home theaters can run anywhere from $15,000 to $150,000 and more depending on the components; one package displayed at the show from Lifeware included a media center, audio-video receiver, 200-disc DVD changer, 50-inch plasma television, six speakers, automated lighting control, remote and software for $31,000.
Home health-care products and installation. As the population ages, there's more demand for health-care products that take advantage of advances in technology. Patient-monitoring systems can allow a caregiver to check up on an elderly loved one from afar. Biometric monitoring devices can keep constant watch on a patient's vital signs.
Media Center Edition (MCE) computers. This audio/visual computer can help manage a home's various media sources, providing such features as surround-sound processing, as well as access to Internet radio and the one-touch recording of TV shows. A top-of-the-line Dell media center system fetches at least $5,500. Hewlett-Packard's HP z565 Digital Media Center starts at $3,000.
Microdisplay-based televisions. High-definition televisions are hot, including LCD (liquid crystal displays), DLP (digital light projection), LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon) or LCD-based rear-projection TVs. Depending on size and type, prices for these products run the gamut.
Lighting and automation. Homes can be set up with the ability to control lighting and other features throughout the house from any room -- and any part of the world. Systems can also create lighting schemes and automation that might, for example, turn the lights down and close the curtains when a DVD is started, Hoshaw said. Honeywell and Home Director are two companies that offer such systems. Lifeware's deluxe system, which includes audio, lighting, HVAC and security controls in addition to its media capabilities, is priced at $54,000.
Security systems. New systems can protect a home while the owner is away by taking a snapshot of light usage in the house over the past two weeks, then mimicking the series while the owner is out of town.
Media servers. Homeowners are increasingly loading all of their media, including music and movie files, on one server, making files accessible in a central location. Hewlett-Packard has developed its HP MediaSmart Server, with the capability to handle 10 accounts on your home network, although the product is not yet for sale.
The iPod revolution. Many people have the popular music player from Apple -- or a competing mp3 player -- but increasingly homes are adding docking systems that allow more flexibility in using the device's media libraries. The Keyspan AV Dock for iPod, for example, will connect the device to a computer, stereo or TV and retails for $64.99 on Amazon.com.
Smart sound systems. Multiroom, multisource sound systems allow a homeowner to control the sound piping through rooms. Often with a touch of a key pad, a homeowner can control what's playing in each zone, independent of the rest of the house. Bose installed such whole-house systems in two of the showcase houses built specifically for the builders show.
Gaming rooms. They're not just your run-of-the-mill ping-pong table in the basement anymore. Video-game spaces have become increasingly common in a home, and are often set up around more traditional games, such as a billiard
The most technologically savvy homeowners bask in crystal-clear television screens when they're home and can control the lights while they're out of town. Without moving an inch, they can decide what music is playing in each room and can monitor the well being of their aging mother in a different city.
Making the list:
A home theater or media room. A home theater is a room dedicated solely to the viewing of movies and programs, designed with aspects such as sound quality in mind. A media room is incorporated in a home's living space and is more of a multipurpose room, where a homeowner can watch television, read a book or play a game. Home theaters can run anywhere from $15,000 to $150,000 and more depending on the components; one package displayed at the show from Lifeware included a media center, audio-video receiver, 200-disc DVD changer, 50-inch plasma television, six speakers, automated lighting control, remote and software for $31,000.
Home health-care products and installation. As the population ages, there's more demand for health-care products that take advantage of advances in technology. Patient-monitoring systems can allow a caregiver to check up on an elderly loved one from afar. Biometric monitoring devices can keep constant watch on a patient's vital signs.
Media Center Edition (MCE) computers. This audio/visual computer can help manage a home's various media sources, providing such features as surround-sound processing, as well as access to Internet radio and the one-touch recording of TV shows. A top-of-the-line Dell media center system fetches at least $5,500. Hewlett-Packard's HP z565 Digital Media Center starts at $3,000.
Microdisplay-based televisions. High-definition televisions are hot, including LCD (liquid crystal displays), DLP (digital light projection), LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon) or LCD-based rear-projection TVs. Depending on size and type, prices for these products run the gamut.
Lighting and automation. Homes can be set up with the ability to control lighting and other features throughout the house from any room -- and any part of the world. Systems can also create lighting schemes and automation that might, for example, turn the lights down and close the curtains when a DVD is started, Hoshaw said. Honeywell and Home Director are two companies that offer such systems. Lifeware's deluxe system, which includes audio, lighting, HVAC and security controls in addition to its media capabilities, is priced at $54,000.
Security systems. New systems can protect a home while the owner is away by taking a snapshot of light usage in the house over the past two weeks, then mimicking the series while the owner is out of town.
Media servers. Homeowners are increasingly loading all of their media, including music and movie files, on one server, making files accessible in a central location. Hewlett-Packard has developed its HP MediaSmart Server, with the capability to handle 10 accounts on your home network, although the product is not yet for sale.
The iPod revolution. Many people have the popular music player from Apple -- or a competing mp3 player -- but increasingly homes are adding docking systems that allow more flexibility in using the device's media libraries. The Keyspan AV Dock for iPod, for example, will connect the device to a computer, stereo or TV and retails for $64.99 on Amazon.com.
Smart sound systems. Multiroom, multisource sound systems allow a homeowner to control the sound piping through rooms. Often with a touch of a key pad, a homeowner can control what's playing in each zone, independent of the rest of the house. Bose installed such whole-house systems in two of the showcase houses built specifically for the builders show.
Gaming rooms. They're not just your run-of-the-mill ping-pong table in the basement anymore. Video-game spaces have become increasingly common in a home, and are often set up around more traditional games, such as a billiard
Friday, February 02, 2007
Shift Left
Mr. Grove says he is alarmed by several structural issues involving health care in America, notably, the huge number of uninsured, who are often forced to get primary care in emergency rooms.To explain "Shift left," Mr. Grove describes the bottom axis of a scale in which products and services grow more full-featured, complicated and expensive as you move to the right. To "Shift left" on this scale is to, in effect, "Keep it simple, stupid."
Specifically, Mr. Grove is a big fan of low-cost, walk-in clinics, the sort beginning to appear in stores like Wal-Mart. He says they provide basic medical care for the uninsured, and also take some strain off of America's overloaded emergency rooms. But one thing missing from this emerging clinic infrastructure is a good system of medical record-keeping.
Mr. Grove, naturally, thinks technology can help. But rather than designing an elaborate and technically sophisticated medical-database system, something virtually every tech company is now trying to do, Mr. Grove suggests the exact opposite. Shift left; keep the record of a patient's visit in, for example, a generic but Web-accessible word-processing file.
Just like the early PC, it will be far from ideal, but it will be a start, and it can get better over time. The alternative, he says, is to wait endlessly for a perfect technology.
Students of business history will recognize the idea of a plain-vanilla medical record as an example of a "disruptive technology," which is initially opposed by powerful incumbents with a vested economic interest in shifting ever-rightward. So which powerful incumbents might oppose him now?
Read the full article on the post-gazette.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
