Boomers everywhere. So there were 22,000+ attendees average age 62.8, according to AARP. They slogged around the mammouth Orange County Convention Center, stopping by exhibits only when they weren't a mile away (same building) listening to the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Larry King, Rob Reiner, Cesar Milan, Dave Barry, and Newt Gingrich. No question -- AARP puts on a great party.

Lots of tech exhibits. Some new vendors, in particular, described the equivalent of a floor-based focus group -- explaining, demo'ing, getting feedback, perhaps from the target market buyer/influencer about the needs of the target user (the buyer's parents in many cases). A few vendors described situations where the baby boomer attendee even returned to the booth with her mother to learn more.  A quick snapshot of new offerings:

• Computer Support Buddy.  This computer support and advice for anyone 50+ bills itself as a telephone support service (800#) to: "answer computer questions, screen share for questions or fixes, and work with the same Support Buddy every time you call." Learn more at ComputerSupportBuddy.com [1].

• InTouchLink.  Launching at the event, InTouchLink is described as 'Simple-to-Use Web Communication for Seniors'. The software provides 'e-mail, Internet, calendar and appointment book, photo album, news, greeting cards, and entertainment." Learn more at InTouchLink.com [2].

• Readeo. A family-focused app for those already comfortable with computers and video, Readeo offers a video-chat application designed to enable long-distance grandparents to read books to their grandchildren using a Readeo library of books. Learn more at Readeo.com [3].

• SilverCare.  Described as a 'Daily-Living Assistant', the SilverCare PERS-style offering includes a pendant or digital watch with a 'dedicated button to reach 911 and two-way voice, pre-dialed phone numbers, receive medication and event reminders, get phone calls while seated away from the phone'. Learn more at GoSilverPlus.com [4].

• Sonamba.  Launching at the event, this 'well-being monitor monitor for independent living' is described as a "7-inch touchscreen LCD display-based device with built-in sensors. It has built-in cellular communications technology and does NOT require technical expertise to operate or special broadband or WiFi access." Learn more at: Sonamba.com [5].

• Telikin. Available later this fall, this "family computer combines video chat, photo sharing, e-mail into a touch-screen device, also providing a tech support buddy for remotely accessing the device." Learn more at Telikin.com [6].

In addition, AgeTek [7] vendors were present and their execs were accounted for in an AgeTek product overview panel presented on Saturday, including Dakim [8], PositScience [9], BeClose [10], GrandCare Systems [11], and eCare Diary [12].

And finally, the big guns -- gigantic HP and Dell areas for looking at the latest laptops, large booths for Sprint and Hamilton CapTel captioned telephone service [13] for hearing-impaired, a United Healthcare truck with Cisco's telepresence remote consultation, a super-sized Symantec truck, a giant NASA exhibit area with what looked like half of a space ship, and on-and-on-and-on. 

And that was just the tech pavilion.  :) 

The AARP Orlando@50+ event presentations and sessions will be viewable on AARP's website for the next six months -- check it out at AARP's Digital Event website. [14]