Cecily O'Connor
RedwoodAge.com
Boomers, the early settlers on the tech frontier, will lead the way over the next decade by shaping advances in healthcare, elder care and green living.
That's according to results from a series of focus groups sponsored in four cities by AARP and Microsoft. Those groups found that boomer values and ideals - not just checkbooks - count when it comes to consumer tech development.
By 2010, one-third of the US population will be over 50, reinforcing that boomers' sheer size gets their tech preferences noticed.
"That's close to 106 million Americans controlling 50 percent of the country's discretionary spending, and outspending younger adults by $1 trillion in 2010," said Michael Rogers, report author who led the focus group sessions, in the report. "Consumers in their 50s show the highest intent to purchase consumer electronics among any age group."
When boomers start using new technologies, such as texting or personal videoconferencing, they are "enthusiastic, engaged, and quick to share with their peers," the report found.
For boomers, technology can be contagious - especially when it comes to online activities like social networking. Boomers represent the fastest-growing age segment on such social-networking sites as Facebook, and many log on at least once a day. While not the early adopters, they have been warming up to it, drawn in by younger family members and business connections.
Altering Technology
Given boomers' unique relationship to technology, they are actively shaping the
latest devices, software and services. For example, in 2019, when the youngest
boomers turn 55, Rogers predicted that older adults and other consumers will
wear sensor-equipped exercise clothing and GPS-enabled running shoes during
workouts to monitor their physical condition, and track calories burned.
Down the road, caregiving also will benefit from technology through the use of sensors that alert boomers to changes in their elderly parent's behavior or routine, Rogers said. Up until now, most caregiving resources have focused on advice, education and emotional support.
Some of the newest advances today have elder care information applications appearing on the iPhone and IPod touch, signaling greater awareness of boomer and Gen X users who may soon need to provide some form of care to an older loved one.
"Baby boomers appreciate cool software and devices as much as anyone, but they also believe technology has the power to help bring about positive social change, and they want to make that happen," said Adam Sohn, director of integrated communications for AARP.
Other boomers will have prescription glasses that connect wirelessly to the Internet or other networks and display information in the lower half of the lens, or carry mobile devices that can function as electronic wallets, even project large-format images on the wall.
Boomers also will use computers to control energy use in their homes as the Internet starts connecting with furnaces, lights, refrigerators and other appliances.
