These are tech transition times for everyone – including seniors and their devices. In case you didn’t see it, the Pew numbers about smartphone use are out – 27% of the 65+ have smartphones, up from 19% last year. Given the date of that data (from last fall), let’s just assume that this number is actually lower than today's reality. So why should a PERS reseller or manufacturer care? First because carriers don’t want to sell feature/clamshell phones any more. They make it difficult to even find them. They are selling smartphones to people who don’t want or use all of the features they have, but they’re buying them anyway because that is what they’re being sold. In retrospect, Philips Lifeline might have seen the near term PERS future – and it could be a smartphone – and thus an app. And thus -- why have more than one device? And why not pair a tiny pendant or clip to a smartphone? Or make a watch?
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL--(Marketwired - May 22, 2014) - Personal security and safety are things everyone values, but they're often taken for granted. Today, VSN Mobil introduces the V.ALRT, Personal Emergency Alert Device, a small wearable device that works with a smartphone to send out urgent calls and texts at the touch of a small button, summoning help wherever and whenever someone should need it. The V.ALRT is available for purchase starting on May 29th at www.VSNMobil.com and Amazon.com for $59.99.
Should smart watches target and serve seniors? Erik Wicklund observed in mHealth News that the smartwatch hype about Apple’s rock-the-world has mesmerized the media. He mentions Microsoft Band and Pebble. Really from a hype-opmeter perspective, that was gracious, but those products already shipping are not generally thought of as ‘MAGICAL.’ Do seniors need a Smartwatch? Does anyone need all the smarts being invented? Let’s just call that a rhetorical question for now. Note these five smart watches for seniors, in alphabetical order, information from websites or reviews. These are available now or planned to be released soon:
Nyack, N.Y. – Burg, the maker of cellphone-equipped smart watches, is targeting its latest wearable to kids and seniors.
The $129 Burg 31, which comes with analog hands, incorporates GPS to track kids and seniors. For emergencies, it provides one-touch 911 calls and speed dialing of up to three pre-set numbers without the use of a Bluetooth-connected smartphone.
ADT Corp.'s year-old health business grew this week when it launched an emergency response device developed by another Boca Raton firm, MobileHelp.
The On-The-Go Emergency Response System is a small, wearable mobile device that allows users to press a button for emergency assistance, no matter where they are.
LAS VEGAS — January 5, 2015 — In order to provide consumers with a more comprehensive monitoring solution, Honeywell (NYSE: HON) Life Care Solutions, a global leader in health management technologies and remote patient monitoring, and MobileHelp, an industry leader in mobile medical alert technology, today announced they have expanded their existing business collaboration.
Honeywell Life Care Solutions is joining forces MobileHelp to offer consumer-facing platform for patients to monitor vital signs, share with providers.
The mHealth Summit held last week was an ever-more HealthIT (along with Digital Health and mHealth brethren) and the mobile/app aware, digital vision for the future, an extravaganza of technology advancement -- sounding vaguely familiar. Hey, there’s the renamed Patient Centered Medical Home, at this conference, called the Intelligent Medical Home). There were all of those Games for Health, behavior change, patient engagement, care coordination, and quite a few pharma-sponsored sessions. As is typical of an event like this, a plethora of investment-related, venture fund and startup-type sessions could be found.
