BBC: The generation that tech forgot
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32511489
With a rising elderly population, the technology industry cannot
afford to ignore the issue. It is estimated that, by 2030, 19% of the
US population will be over 65 - roughly the same proportion that
currently own iPhones. And by 2050, there will be one retired person
for every two that are in work. Apple is looking to address this -
but not with new hardware. In a joint venture with IBM, it announced
last month it would design "iPad apps" that would be "very easy to use
for seniors". Aimed at the Japanese market, the apps will help
connect millions of older people with healthcare services. "It
assumes that its product is inherently usable," says Mr Hosking.
- - -
And this situation is a terrible shame and waste, because this tech
can bring enormous benefits even to very elderly persons, if the
effort were made by someone with sufficient resources and talent to do
it right. (I'm talking to you, Google.)
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein ([email protected]): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Founder:
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com/privacy-info
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org/pfir-info
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Google+: http://google.com/+LaurenWeinstein
Twitter: http://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com
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