About TimOnTech

Tim "The Tech Man" Taylor has a passion for technology and especially for technology that affects boomers & seniors. Tim loves the outdoors, and loves long walks with his constant companion "Beavis". From Tim: "I love interaction with my audience so please comment - even if you don't agree with me" :)

myHalo Fall Detection Coming Soon (Again)

March 20, 2013 by TimOnTech Leave a Comment

New myHalo pendants If you follow the medical alert industry like we do, you may have asked yourself the question: What every happened to myHalo fall detection company? myHalo was one of the first to offer true technology-driven fall detection. Well… the truth is myHalo was purchased by MobileHelp out of Boca Raton, Florida, and then seemingly put on ice for a while. In fact when myHalo disappeared, The Senior List contacted a company representative at MobileHelp who told us that we would indeed see myHalo again soon. He indicated that they were working through some initiatives before rolling the technology back out to the market, and they would be back soon. Well, it wasn’t “soon”, but it’s good to see their fall detection technology coming back.

It looks like it’s only a matter of time now… If you visit the MobileHelp website you’ll see a teaser announcing that the myHalo® Auto Fall Detection Pendant is COMING SOON. What’s myHalo chest strap not clear is whether there are other form factors (what ever happened to the chest strap?) and/or whether this is a mobile/cellular based system or not… (Ya I know… it’s a teaser… it’s supposed to make you ask the question…)

The fall detection technology under the hood at myHalo was solid, so it will be interesting to see what MobileHelp does with it. Kudos to MobileHelp for rolling out new technologies that might impact boomers and seniors in a positive way. Lot’s of questions need to be answered but we’ll be standing by and reporting when the information is available!

Rating: 8.0/10 (6 votes cast)

Filed Under: Medical Alert Systems, Odds & Ends, Product Reviews, Technology Tagged With: Medical Alert Systems, Technology

Study: Backlighting On Tablets May Help Reading Speed And Comprehension

February 28, 2013 by TimOnTech Leave a Comment

The Senior List has long touted the new e-readers and tablets as being increasingly “Senior Friendly”. Now a small study out of Johannes Gutenberg University (Mainz, Germany) has shown some stack of books results that add some science to this notion. It appears that back-lighting from tablets may make it easier for seniors to read on these devices vs. traditional printed materials. In the study, seniors (age 60-77) AND their younger counterparts (age 21-34) overwhelmingly preferred traditional books over the electronic versions. But when the researchers looked at the scientific evidence (in this case combined EEG and eye-tracking measures) they noticed some contrary clues worth noting.

Among the older adults, digital measures “showed shorter mean fixation durations and lower EEG theta band voltage density – known to covary with memory encoding and retrieval – for the older adults when reading from a tablet computer in comparison to the other two devices.” In layman’s terms… The back-lighting from the iPad allowed the older adults to read faster, and comprehend more. This is quite interesting indeed, considering the built-in bias toward traditional printed materials. More scientific data is probably warranted, but this certainly raises some eyebrows.

“In the rapidly changing circumstances of our increasingly digital world, reading is also becoming an increasingly digital experience: electronic books (e-books) are now outselling print books in the United States and the United Kingdom.” Kretzschmar, Pleimling, Hosemann, Füssel, & Bornkessel-Schlesewsky, et al.

Could tablets become mainstream devices or “must haves” for aging adults? Some would argue (including us) this evolution/revolution is already happening. Emarketer.com predicts that the highest growth rates among tablet users will come from users under 12 (huh?) and adults age 65+. With an intuitive user interface (UI), video conferencing capabilities, multi-media at the fingertips, and email… Tablet growth and new applications (apps) will push even more tablets in the hands of aging adults.

Rating: 10.0/10 (2 votes cast)

Filed Under: Apps, Mobile Phones, Technology Tagged With: Apps, Tablets, Technology

BugMe! Pro Giveaway

February 27, 2013 by TimOnTech Leave a Comment

The Senior List is giving away the Pro version of BugMe!

The fine folks at Electric Pocket have provided The Senior List a number of Bugme! Pro App coupons for you to use at iTunes. If you’d like to download the Pro version of the BugMe! sticky-notes-app (for free), let us know on our Facebook page. Just “like” The Senior List (if you haven’t already) and let us know you’d like a coupon for the BugMe! app at iTunes. (Note: We only have the app coupons available for iOS/Apple products… Not android).

We’ll give them away on Friday, so make sure you check back to see if you’re a winner! Thanks again to the developers at Electric Pocket (you guys rock!).

The Senior List is on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TheSeniorList

- Tim “the tech man” Taylor

Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

Filed Under: Apps, Product Reviews, Technology Tagged With: Apps, Mobile Phones, Technology

Product Review: The iStand Fall Prevention Exercise App

February 23, 2013 by TimOnTech Leave a Comment

On February 12th HoliVision launched a new iPad app for seniors called The iStand Falls Prevention® Exercise Program. iStand is a fall prevention/exercise app for your iPad that allows users to follow along AND exercise with… “Brenda” (the instructor). Brenda leads the user through a number of exercises (including a warm up and cool down) via video modules. These videos are easy to follow, and the production quality is very high. (We were quite impressed.) The iStand App would be a very nice addition to the other iPad apps in your “wellness” folder, and it’s free to folks that can put up with advertisements (we certainly could). For 99 cents you can buy the Ad-Free-Version, and for $4.99 you can add the iStand Tai Chi module.

About HoliVision:

HoliVision was founded by Mazy Holiday (COO). HoliVision specializes in falls prevention exercise (and education) for seniors. They also focus on the latest technology and design in walking aids for rehabilitation and mobility. Mazy notes that there isn’t a nationwide fall prevention program currently, which is strange because of the number of seniors who are severely injured due to falls each year. This was a driving factor behind the iStand app for iPad.

The iStand Fall Prevention Exercise App:

What: iStand fall-prevention exercise App for the iPad (you won’t find it for the iPhone yet)

Cost: Free (.99 for the ad-free version, and $4.99 for the Tai Chi module)

Recommendation: Senior List Approved – We think the iStand fall prevention/exercise app is worth downloading. It’s very professionally done, and has some additional value-adds like “If You Fall” tips, “Walking Tips”, and a “Home Safety Checklist”.

iStand fall prevention app for iPad

HoliVision also makes an iStand DVD which is currently available on Amazon.com. Holiday says future plans include making iStand available across multiple platforms, and on a global basis. Click thru if you’d like to read HoliVision‘s press release for the iStand App.

Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

Filed Under: Mobile Phones, Product Reviews, Technology Tagged With: Fall Detection, Technology

Safety Tips For Your Upcoming Cruise

February 23, 2013 by TimOnTech 2 Comments

Image of Costa Concordia Beau Prichard (from USA Today.com) published a list of safety tips for beginners that are preparing for an upcoming cruise. In the wake of the overturned Costa Concordia, and the crap-covered Carnival Triumph it’s important to pay closer attention to emergency measures AND general safety precautions when getting ready for your “vacation aboard”. Remember these tips for smoother sailing on your next vacation!

Here are Beau’s 7 safety steps for cruising:

“Pay close attention to your safety briefing” – We’ve reached a point when you can’t take anything for granted anymore. You are responsible for you (and your family)… Pay close attention!
“Take care of your health” – Beau warns against using public restrooms, but if you wash your hands and practice good hygiene protocols this shouldn’t be a problem. We recommend that you try to get some exercise in during your cruise. At least an hour per day should keep you feeling more alert, help with your sleep, and allow you guilt-free indulging.
“Wear appropriate shoes” – This one is obvious, but worth noting. Ladies don’t need to haul around 4 pairs of high-heals. Get comfortable, and find yourself a quality pair of sandals, and be sure to bring some tennis shoes (or some quality walking/running shoes).
“Leave valuables at home” – Love this one… and frankly, it’s a good rule-of-thumb for any travel (abroad or otherwise). Unless you feel the need to show off (and it’s OK if you do) leave the jewels at home in the safe. Thieves and schemers love to prey on the naive and on the wealthy. When they spot both (in one person) they know they’ve hit the mother-load! IF you can afford to lose it, no big deal… but if you can’t, better safe than sorry. Just leave it at home.
“Keep your money out of sight” – See above (same applies).
“Do not travel alone” – There is safety in numbers. Enough said.
“Drink in moderation” – This is a tough one, because some folks want to cut loose when on a cruise. Once you’ve reached the point where you can’t drink responsibly you’re at your limit, and it’s best to back off.

There are so many more to mention that we’ll be doing more of these lists in the future. (Here’s a preview… “Make sure you use that sunscreen!”) If you have tips you’d like to share, please do so in the comments below.

Happy cruising-

Tim

Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

Filed Under: Caregiving, Travel Tagged With: Baby Boomers, Transportation

FBI Raids The Scooter Store

February 21, 2013 by TimOnTech 2 Comments

150 Law Enforcement Agents Converge On The Scooter Store

150 law enforcement agents executed a search warrant on The Scooter Store earlier today. Critics believe “government fraud” may be leveled as officials pull evidence from The Scooter Store headquarters in New Braunfels, Texas. The Scooter Store is notorious for it’s advertisements claiming that; “We’re experts at getting you the power chair or scooter you need. In fact if we qualify you for medicare reimbursement, and medicare denies your claim, we’ll give you your power chair or scooter… free.”

Ironically, The Scooter Store claims on it’s website that “In 2010, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the company was selected as one of their legitimate quality suppliers to provide medical equipment and supplies to beneficiaries in Round One of the Medicare competitive bidding program at competitive bidding prices. The company subsequently announced that it accepted contracts to provide multiple products and related services in Round One bidding areas as a “contracted supplier”.”

I’m sure there will be a lot coming out over the next few weeks and months, so we’ll all have to take a wait and see attitude as this unfolds. I’m going on the record with a prediction that Scooter Store sales of power chairs and scooters will decline over the course of the next few months, but they’ll bounce back one way or another. The only question left to answer at this point is… What the heck are they going to do with all those free lighted magnifiers now???

Rating: 9.5/10 (2 votes cast)

Filed Under: Caregiving, Mobility Scooters, Odds & Ends, Product Reviews Tagged With: Caregiving, Scooters, Transportation

Top 10 Pet Peeves For Air Travelers

February 20, 2013 by TimOnTech 1 Comment

Boeing airplane One of our co-founders travels a great deal for work. In any given week he can be on the East Coast, West Coast, north or south… Some weeks his schedule is plain hard to keep track of! One thing we get a kick-out-of are his stories of fellow passengers, and the things that frequent travelers deal with on a regular basis. We asked Chris to give us his top 10 list of things NOT to do while traveling by air. *Note- Some of these suggestions are from fellow passengers that Chris interacts with while he hops across the country… We hope you enjoy!

Top 10 Pet Peeves for Air Travelers:

Don’t take your shoes off- I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been on a plane and had a passenger beside me slide their shoes off because “ohhhh these dogs are barking”. First, if “those” dogs are barking, I sure has heck don’t want see or hear them (let alone smell them). This one is just plain disgusting (fellow travelers will back me up here) and it happens more often than you think.
Don’t have more than 2 (alcoholic) drinks- OK 1 drink I get… 2 if you’ve had a stressful day… Fine… But anything over 2 is a head-scratch-er for most of us sitting around you. Also, after a few drinks you get too chatty and frankly, we could care less what your batting average was in high school, or how many pounds you gained after your first-born.
If you’re going to chew gum, chew with your mouth closed- Didn’t your mother teach you any manners? This isn’t just younger kids mind you, but it can be full fledged corporate types. Maybe it’s lower oxygen levels or the altitude, but for some reason passengers lose their mind the minute they pass 10,000 feet. None of us want to hear your gum snapping while you type on your overly-priced MacBook… (PS: You sound like a 16 year old girl.)
Don’t Be A Loud-Talker- OK, this one is a little less offensive depending on the nature of the conversation. Frankly, it can be quite entertaining. IF you don’t know if you’re a loud-talker (or not)… you might be one. Most frequent travelers keep their voices down as a courtesy to those around them, but some folks just have a loud voices in general (even when they whisper). Just make sure you know that you’re sharing your son’s sexual escapades with 6-10 of your closest seat mates when discussing “Nicky”…
If you snore… Try not to fall asleep- This one is a funny one for about 2 minutes, then it gets old real quick. The last thing any of us wants to do is give mouth-to-mouth to the guy with sleep apnea in row 22… Once this nuisance starts, it’s tough to get it to stop. A few loud coughs is what we try (maybe even a shoulder nudge) but after that it’s up to the (noise cancelling) headphones to do their job. Yes that $300 I spent on those Bose headphones was worth it!
Don’t blast your music- Clearly some folks don’t care that they are causing themselves permanent hearing loss by blasting their iPods directly into their tympanic membrane. I know you’re a big fan of Rick Astley… but trust me when I tell you, it sounds awful to the rest of us. Please turn down the volume…
If your carry-on is too big to fit in the overhead bin… Check it! This one kills us frequent travelers. I don’t know how some folks get past the first 2 gate keepers (security and the gate crew) but it happens all the time. Someone gets to their seat only to find out their “carry-on” is stuffed so full it won’t fit in the overhead bin. When this issue occurs it’s painful because the guilty party will try smashing it in there for at least 2 minutes while everyone waits in the aisle. Finally, if they haven’t torn their bag, or broken the overhead latch, the bag has to make it’s way back to the front of the plane to be checked. Ever driven the wrong way on a one way street?
Don’t emphatically recline your seat without checking behind you- This is another one that happens too often. If someone behind you has a laptop open and your seat suddenly lurches back, that laptop is at grave risk! Not to mention when you recline, you’re almost laying in the other person’s lap. If you must… look behind you and let the person know you’re coming back. Then do it slowly.
Don’t lather on the perfume (or cologne) we don’t care- You’re traveling on a plane with a hundred strangers that don’t care that you’re wearing Sex Panther cologne. Leave it at home or in the bag… We really don’t want to taste it.
Your kid isn’t Pele, don’t let him kick the seats- For the record we love kids, and travel with them a lot. One thing we don’t allow is kicking the back of the seats. It’s so annoying for others, and we’ve seen folks come unglued because of it. If you can’t keep your kids from leaving boot marks on the tray-table, request a bulkhead.
(BONUS Pet Peeve) Lighten up… You were a kid once too! One of our biggest pet peeves is the uptight traveler that immediately gives the traveling mom (with toddler) a dirty look, and then sighs deeply at every chance they get… Lighten up Francis! Or better yet, lend a helping hand!

Well that’s it for now folks! What are your top pet peeves while traveling?

Rating: 10.0/10 (5 votes cast)

Filed Under: Caregiving, Odds & Ends, Travel Tagged With: Baby Boomers, Transportation

Product Review: The 5Star Urgent Response from GreatCall

February 1, 2013 by TimOnTech 10 Comments

Product Review: The 5Star Urgent Response Medical Alert

The 5Star Urgent Response from GreatCall is a great choice when it comes to mobile medical alert systems. These new MOBILE PERS (personal emergency response systems) are redefining the medical alert marketplace (something The Senior List has been advocating for the past few years). The 5Star device operates on a cellular network (Verizon), and is very simple to use. As you can see, it has one (1) button! Push it once to connect to the emergency call center… Hold button down to connect directly to 911. This unit is priced right, and there are no contracts that keep you locked in.

Product Info: 5Star Medical Alert System

Name: 5Star Urgent Response from GreatCall
Website Info: 5Star Urgent Response from GreatCall
Auto Fall Detection?: No
Equipment Cost: $49.99 (retail) plus a $35 (one time) activation fee
Monthly Cost: $14.99 per device
Features: Lanyard is available (but not posted on website), Belt Clip (available for a nominal charge), Easy to use (1 single) Panic Button, Untethered 24/7 Monitoring on a Cellular Network, GPS Tracking is Available (for family and/or caregiver monitoring), Unlimited Access to GreatCall’s “LiveNurse” program, and an Online Portal to help manage contacts, device features, etc. (called myGreatCall.com).

Review: 5Star Urgent Response Alert From GreatCall

5Star Medical Alert

The 5Star Urgent Response Alert System is a great little device, and 5Star definitely makes our “recommended” list. This is another “untethered” mobile alert device that uses Verizon’s cellular network for coverage (you’re not bound by a connection to your land-line connected device). You’re able to walk around the yard, down the street, or down to the shopping mall (anywhere there’s a cell signal). As you can see there is only one large emergency button… and that’s it. Press once to be connected to the GreatCall call center, or hold it down (for 5 seconds) to be connected to 911. GreatCall’s call center monitors 24/7, they’re located in the USA, and GreatCall claims that their personnel is “trained in CPR and 5Star Accessories other emergency procedures“. There is no limit to the number of times your loved one can depress the emergency call button (says Bonnie- one of GreatCall’s customer representatives). If the user is anxious and needs to be connected to their caregiver, loved one, or nurse… A GreatCall operator will patch them through.

5Star Medical Alert in hand The 5Star can not be used as a mobile phone. After all, there are no numbers to dial out. You either connect to GreatCall’s call center, OR you connect directly to 911. The pricing plan is also simple (which we like). At $14.99 per month, it’s one of the least expensive options for your loved one. For a device with GPS tracking, and a US based (trained) call center The Senior List thinks there is good value here. We also like the fact that when you pay for this unit, it’s yours. All you do is activate it (there is a $35 activation fee) and pay your monthly service plan. You can terminate when you want… and you don’t have to worry about returning equipment, or cancellation fees.

When we pressed the alert button we were connected to a live operator within 6 rings. The sound quality on the 5Star was as good any basic cell phone might be (while on speakerphone). One thing to consider about this unit or others like it: Aging adults that have hearing loss could have trouble hearing the device (although we had no issues with it at all). The operator we spoke with was courteous and professional, and when the conversation ended she reminded us how to disconnect from the call center (by depressing the call button again).

On of the other considerations for the 5Star alert system is it’s use for younger kids. We could see this device being used in lieu of a cell phone for a younger (pre-teen) that doesn’t need a phone quite yet. The 5Star could be used as a back-up device if they get into trouble, lost, etc. AND you could pin-point where they are using the built-in GPS technology on board. That piece of mind is easily worth the $14.99 per month to a lot of consumers out there. Our only concern would be that kids could abuse the call button (showing off for their friends) or they could easily lose the device. It might be worth it though, if you were looking for a safety-net for your child…

The Bottom Line:

We really like the 5Star medical alert system. This is a “must consider” device if you’re looking for a mobile medical alert system. This is not a device that you’d bring into the shower or bath with you. IF you need a waterproof pendant option, this is not for you. In most cases however, this device would be a great solution both inside and outside the home. If you’re looking for a mobile medical alert option with GPS location tracking (in case of emergencies) The Senior List thinks the 5Star is definitely worth a look, and we would recommend this device for someone that needs a mobile medical alert device.

Video:

Product Review: The SureResponse Medical Alert from Verizon

Product Review: The LifeTrac Mobile Protector from SecuraTrac

Rating: 4.4/10 (47 votes cast)

Filed Under: Medical Alert Systems, Product Reviews, Technology Tagged With: Medical Alert Systems, Product Reviews, Technology

New Medical Alert Systems Offer Mobility Outside The Home

January 27, 2013 by TimOnTech 5 Comments

GreatCall 5Star Urgent Response Years ago The Senior List wrote about the need for more medical alert devices to work outside the home. Traditional alert systems worked (mostly) over traditional phone lines. These systems tethered the user to the home or the yard (at best). Today, many folks are moving away from “land lines” and over to cellular networks for improved mobility inside and outside the home. Recognizing a need for increased mobility, progressive medical alert system providers like SecuraTrac, Verizon Wireless and GreatCall are offering truly mobile solutions that offer more than land line based systems.

SureResponse with Lanyard photo The new must-have medical alert system features include GPS monitoring, hearty battery life, medication reminders, access to nursing staff, and more. The Senior List has been following the medical alert system market for a number of years now, and we like where this is going (finally)! Check out our product reviews of the currently available medical alert systems. We’ve previewed the traditional products as well as the newer cell based mobile systems. There’s room for everybody in this growing market, land-line based systems AND cellular based medical alert systems! Competition in this space is welcome, and it will continue to drive manufacturers to innovate and get better. This market will be a lot of fun to watch in the coming years…

Tell us which devices you’d recommend… Or which devices you’d stay away from. If there’s one you’d like us to review, let us know in the comments section below.

Best to all,

Tim

Rating: 6.8/10 (11 votes cast)

Filed Under: Medical Alert Systems, Product Reviews, Technology Tagged With: Medical Alert Systems, Product Reviews, Technology

Consumer Reports Offers Tips On Buying A Hearing Aid (Video)

January 9, 2013 by TimOnTech 2 Comments

Buying A Hearing Aid

Buying a hearing aid for the first time can be a tough experience for many. So many different hearing aid styles to choose from… In-the-ear, completely-in-the-ear, behind the ear… And the list goes on and on! There a number of new companies entering the hearing aid market (such as Costco and Embrace Hearing) that are providing more competition and innovation in this space. This is good news for all!

As we said, buying the right hearing aid is not easy. Fortunately there are a number of resources to help guide you on your quest for better hearing. Our goal here at The Senior List is to bring you information that matters to you and your family. That said, we’re pleased to be able to share a video from Consumer Reports that offers advice on choosing the proper hearing aid. If you have other helpful hints that were successful for you, please pass them along.