Electronics geared for Baby Boomers

January 15, 7:39 AMBaby Boomer ExaminerPaul Briand

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Show floor in Las Vegas.

The recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas featured an array of new technology, some geared specifically for Baby Boomers.

The show, held Jan. 8 to 11, featured a day-long "Silvers Summit" that, according to the web site, featured "products and services that keep boomers engaged, entertained, connected and healthy."

Here are just a couple of innovations from the show, courtesy of USA Today:

The SeniorPC
From HP and Microsoft, according to USA Today, "these are standard HP laptops, desktops or TouchSmart (touch-controlled) computers with a few extras. Notably: software that adds a shell on top of Windows with simple icons for browsing the Web, listening to music and sending e-mail. HP also includes memory games and prescriptions-management software to help track when and which medications are taken. Buyers can outfit the machines with options (some from third parties) such as a larger keyboard or trackball mouse."

Health Databases
Both Microsoft and Google are getting into the act of making your personal health information available in a secured online form. This would include patient records from your doctor and the hospital and medications. "Prescription info might be imported from the pharmacy, or data can be uploaded from blood pressure cuffs, heart rate monitors and so forth," said USA Today.

Brain Games
The idea here is online and computer games that keep the brain active against dementia and other mental degradations. AARP says its own gaming area is the most-visited part of aarp.org.

Smartphones
These cell phones have larger, easier to read button and enhanced volume capabilities. One featured phone, the ClarityLife C900, according to USA Today, "A one-touch emergency-response button on the back of the phone lets seniors quickly summon assistance; the phone calls and texts up to five contacts, cycling through each until someone is reached. A siren lets users know the feature has been activated."

Why all the fuss? When there's a market as big as the Baby Boomers, companies are bound to tailor products to tempt that market.