Tag Archive for: AARP

New Tech, Old Problems At Silvers Summit 2012

Blog.AARP.org

Posted on 01/13/2012 by // AARP Blog Author

We know that baby boomers are a big group of people. We know that in a 3-month period over this last year, baby boomers spent an average of $367 online every month, more than double the amount of those ages 18 to 22 spend online. We know that the dollars spent on caregiving every year can easily beat the number of dollars spent on the average wedding. So, if there’s this market of moms and dads and grandparents and caregivers putting their hearts and wallets into these statistics, where’s the venture capitalists? Where are the tech blog journalists with their miniature cameras?

You might be surprised.

The Silvers Summit, held during the mother-of-all-tradeshows, the Consumer Electronics Show, has run for the past 8 years. In 2012, it doubled in size. It exhibited a wide variety of products, hosted 39 speakers talking about everything from gaming to customer service, and awarded an inaugural Sterling Award to five companies in five categories. It had a hashtag. Over just one day, 117,430 people on Twitter.com saw coverage of its exhibitors and quotes from its speakers.

You might have expected to see ClearSounds here – my father, at 59, is dependent on products like theirs after early hearing loss – but you might not have expected to see Sterling Award winner LiveMocha, a “language learning community.” I’ve always wanted to visit Istanbul; given the time, I could join LiveMocha and not only take language lessons, but connect with others doing the same thing. Maybe I’d end up meeting a great travel partner; maybe I’d just get to practice my new Turkish with someone across the country I’ll never meet.

Much like the Nintendo Wii’s crossover appeal to older adults, Sterling Award winner AutoVerbal – aimed at helping kids with autism communicate with the help of pictures – has an obvious appeal for anyone struggling with muscle memory and vision. For caregivers, Sterling Award winner GrandCare’s all-in-one-sytem is invaluable – it’ll remind you to take your pills, could alert your caregiver that your blood pressure is out of whack, or – simplest of all – makes it easy for you to send your granddaughter a Facebook message. Made-for-seniors computing system MyGait, a Sterling Award winner in the “Entertainment” category, simplifies all that clicking into an easy-to-use PC system – and for our money, the best part is the keyboard. (It’s the simple things.) Check it out – big keys, bright colors!

Sometimes, great products for the aging are just well-designed versions of things we’ve known all our lives. In the “cause-worthy”

http://blog.aarp.org/2012/01/13/new-tech-old-problems-at-silvers-summit-2012/

CES 2012, Day One: Stay Connected, Live Longer

Posted on 01/11/2012 by // AARP Blog Author

The Consumer Electronics Show, held every year in Vegas, promises the newest, best, and the flashiest gadgets. New sparkly TVs may not quite make your lunch, but they will let you order takeout online; for $129, a robot can read your Facebook feed to you. (What? I’ve always wanted my friends’ political speeches and baby updates enunciated in robot voice.)

Robots and 3D TVs aside, what you might’ve seen at the Silvers Summit took all that gadgetry and reduced it down to something very simple: stay connected with your friends and family, live longer.

 

It’s no Facebook robot, but GrandCare‘s all-in-one system could remind you to take your pills, might alert your caregiver that your blood pressure is out of whack, or – simplest of all – makes it easy for you to send your granddaughter a Facebook message.

Made-for-seniors computing system MyGait simplifies all that clicking into an easy-to-use PC system – and for our money, the best part is the keyboard. (It’s the simple things.) Check it out – big keys, bright colors!

LiveMocha makes it possible for you to learn a new language with your friends – or meet new ones while absorbing those complicated Mandarin letters. Shiny gadget? Nope, but what if you met a few new friends while learning Russian together? We’ll take that over any shiny gadget.

As an OnStar rep aptly put it yesterday, “It’s not about adapting our lives for tech, it’s about adapting tech for our lives.”

That’s Day One. Tomorrow, we’ll look at smart fridges that know when you’re out of milk, smart washing machines that buzz your smartphone when they’re done, and smart fingernail clippers. (Maybe not the last one, but this is CES – you never know.) Stay tuned – you can bookmark all our CES blogs right here.

GrandCare among “The Top CE Products for Americans Age 50+ Honored at First Annual Sterling Award Ceremony at Silvers Summit During CES”

Award Winners Represent the Best In Class When It Comes to Technology and the Lifestyles of Boomers and Beyond

PR Newswire

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 10, 2012  /PRNewswire/ — In its first annual Sterling Award competition, sponsored by AARP, Silvers Summit organizers today unveiled the five category winners, Silvers Choice winner and Innovator Award recipient during its 4th annual Silvers Summit conference held here at Consumer Electronics Show.

Award winners were chosen by the expert panel of judges in the following five categories:

  • Health & Wellness – Company: GrandCare Systems, Product: GC HomeBase
  • Education/Continued Learning – Company: LiveMocha, Product: LiveMocha
  • Entertainment – Company: My Gait LLC, Product: My Gait Senior Computer
  • Relationships/Family Caregiving – Company: No Tie LLC, Product: AutoVerbal
  • Cause-Worthy Product/Service – Company: Great Grabz, Product: Unique Touch Grab Bars

The top five winning entries were posted to the Silvers Summit website and Facebook page. The competition relied on social media to invite the public to choose their favorite among the five to select the “Silvers Choice” award.  The people’s choice vote winner was GC Homebase by GrandCare Systems.

In addition, Silvers Summit producers chose Martin Cooper, chairman of Dyna, LLC as the first Innovator Award recipient. Known as the “father of the portable cellular phone” which he created in the 1970s while at Motorola, Cooper is a renowned innovator in spectrum management.  He is widely regarded as one of the leading visionaries and inventors of our time and has spent most of the past five decades creating some of the world’s most important business and technological concepts and offerings. He is also an activist who seeks to shape public policy in the U.S. and globally having testified before various committees and serves on the U.S. Department of Commerce Spectrum Advisory Committee that advises the President of the United States on spectrum policy.

“We were thrilled with the response to our first annual Sterling Awards call for entries and we thank the participation of our expert panel of judges,” said Sherri Snelling, executive producer, Silvers Summit. “All of our Sterling Award winners – the companies and our Innovator Award recipient Martin Cooper – offer unique ways to enrich the lives of the 100 million boomers and silvers in our society today.”

“These award winners, and all of our excellent award entrants, understand the importance of a market that has huge growth potential over the next 20+ years,” continued Snelling.  “We hope these annual Sterling Awards become a showcase for ways that technology can help us stay healthy, happy, and connected to family and friends, living in our homes longer, and making a difference in the world as we age.”

“By sponsoring the Sterling Awards, AARP recognizes and encourages the important role that innovation and technology play in the lives of people 50 and older,” said Jody Holtzman, senior vice president of Thought Leadership at AARP.  “We applaud the winners, the judges, Silvers Summit organizers and especially the people who chose their favorite among the top winners.  Innovation around technology is empowering, and it allows the 50+ population to live life ‘re-imagined,’ which is what we at AARP work toward every day.”

For more information about the Sterling Award individual winners, click here.

Click here for more information about the Sterling Awards judges.

The 4th Annual Silvers Summit at the 2012 International CES is where the thought leaders on aging and technology come together.  The one-day conference addresses trends, innovations and strategies in the areas of social media, gaming, driving safety, mobile technology, universal design, smart homes and communities, and customer service addressing the largest and most influential demographic in our society today – Americans age 50+.

Follow Silvers Summit on Twitter for news and updates: twitter.com/silverssummit.

About Silvers Summit:

The Silvers Summit at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is where the thought leaders on an aging society and technology come together.  The conference and exhibit assembles companies, distributors, journalists, research firms, and think tanks, to demonstrate the products and services that will help consumers age 50+ stay engaged, empowered and help enhance their lives. The Silvers Summit and Exhibition is presented by Living in Digital Times, producer of the following summits and exhibitions at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show: Digital Health, Fitness Tech Summit, HigherEd Tech Summit, Kids@Play Summit, MommyTech Summit, Mobile Apps Showdown, and Last Gadget Standing.  For more information about The Silvers Summit, visit: http://silverssummit.com/.

DISCLAIMER:

AARP does not endorse or promote any of the Sterling Award winners.

The Sterling Award is produced by Silvers Summit, a property of Living in Digital Times, Inc. Silvers Summit and Living in Digital Times do not endorse or promote any of the Sterling Award winners.

Silvers Summit and Sterling Award are service marks of Living In Digital Times, Inc.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/544470#ixzz1jACLTMWe

GrandCare Nominated for the Silver’s Choice Award

Welcome to the Silvers Choice (people’s choice) in our first-ever Sterling Awards for the Silvers Summit at CES.

GrandCare has been selected as one of a few technologies to be nominated for the People’s Choice/Silver’s Choice Awards at CES, sponsored by AARP. We would love your vote!  Please take a moment and vote here: http://silverssummit.com/silvers-choice-awards/

Vote your Silver’s Choice Award

Education and Learning: Livemocha by LivemochaCause-Worthy Product: Unique Touch Grab Bars by Great GrabzEntertainment: My Gait Senior Computer by My GaitHealth and Wellness: GC Homebase by GrandCare SystemsRelationships and Family Caregiving: Auto Verbal by No Tie

The purpose of the inaugural Sterling Awards is to identify the peerless products (design, functionality, purpose) that enhance, empower and exemplify the lifestyles of the Boomer and Silvers audience.

All companies with a product or service that meets the following criteria may enter for a chance to be an award winner:

Product or service must solve a problem/issue and have relevancy for the lifestyles for those age 50+:

      • Limited mobility and agility
      • Limitations with eyesight or hearing
      • Cognitive thinking skills/brain health
      • Communication, education and engagement

Product must enhance one of the following for those age 50+:

      • Health and wellness aiding longevity
      • Intergenerational interaction and learning (includes family caregiving)
      • Safety (in the home, car, community, etc.)
      • Social connectivity or networks (help in eliminating isolation)
      • Engages user in social or environmental cause

Awards will be given in the following categories:

    • Entertainment
    • Health & Wellness
    • Relationships and Family Caregiving
    • Education and Continued Learning

The Sterling Awards are sponsored by AARP.

A Connected Living Boom for Boomers

An article from viodi.com
June 21st 2011
By Ken Pyle, Managing Editor

Declining population and an aging demographic are challenges for many rural U.S. telecom operators and their communities. These challenges may be even greater in other countries, such as China where it will only take 26 years for its population aged 65 and over to increase from 7 to 14% of the general populace (as compared to 76% for the U.S.). Where there are challenges, there are also opportunities and the focus of last week’s 8th Annual Boomer Venture Summit at Santa Clara University was on the opportunities to serve an aging population through new devices and services.

Greg O’Neill, PhD, of the National Academy on an Aging Society, indicated that as societies move from an agricultural to industrial to service economy and get wealthier, they also make a demographic transition from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates. There is concern that some of the developing countries will make this transition too quickly and that they will, “Grow old before they grow rich.”

Panel at 8th Annual Boomer Venture SummitOne implication of this demographic trend is that China will not be the low-cost labor competitor in 10 years. O’Neill thinks there is an opportunity to create products and services for the growing senior market, whether in the U.S or internationally. The challenge may be making these products and services affordable.
Panel at 8th Annual Boomer Venture Summit

Scott Collins, president and CEO of Linkage, which is essentially a buying organization for senior living communities, warned of “A wave of poverty coming down the road.” He said that affordability is a key need.

One organization that is morphing to reflect a changing environment is AARP. Jody Holtzmann, SVP of Thought Leadership for AARP, emphasized how AARP has to be mission driven, instead of organization-driven. Their mission of improving the quality of life of all, as people age reflected the conference exhibitors and speakers who offered up products and services such as:

  • A Cellular radio-based, inexpensive Personal Emergency Response System, from SurePod, that provides mobility and a two-way voice connection to a call center in the event of an emergency.
  • Body Area Networking – ReFlex Wireless, a start-up has developed a series of wireless sensors for monitoring parameters such as pulse, heart rhythms, position and envisions applications both within the hospital and at home.
  • More than just transportation, SilverRide provides companionship and personalized activities for their customers. Reliable transportation is an important element in helping people age at home.
  • Flipper Remote – a simple, six button remote control. Their new model promises to tune Internet video programming as well.
  • Home Health Tech – a distributor to dealers of technology that helps people live independent in their own homes. Home Health Tech distributes products from GrandCare Systems and Presto were featured in this video interview at CES 2011.
  • Cookstop – stovetop fire prevention, which turns off the stove if motion isn’t detected in a user-determined amount of time. They are finding that it has use from seniors to college students.

The Cookstop product is indicative of a design approach that AARP advocates in their recently issued report, “Connected Living for Social Aging: Designing Technology for All.” In the forward to that report, Holtzmann suggests that, “the ‘lens’ of every user group must be a conscious part of the design function.”

An underlying assumption to the report is the availability of some form of wired or wireless broadband. AARP sees broadband, coupled with new devices, transforming the way people volunteer, socialize and work in their senior years. The report advises vendors to move forward with better products that will help baby boomers stay connected and live social lives; echoing the theme of the 8th Annual Boomer Venture Summit.

GrandCare’s VP Marketing, Laura Mitchell, Selected to speak on “Go To Market Strategies” at Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit June 15th

For the Eighth consecutive year, Mary Furlong & Associates, in collaboration with Santa Clara University, Leavey School of Business , will produce a premier event for individuals and organizations in business to serve the 50+ market. At the 2011 Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit and Business Plan Competition entrepreneurs, the venture community and business leaders in the field of those who meet the needs and wants of the 50+ population, will come together to discuss business ideas uniquely focused on the 50+ market.  The Summit will identify the most talented and innovative and emergent entrepreneurs in the industry who will showcase products and discuss trends and services that will be industry leading and influence the return on marketing investments of the future.

This Conference will provide a forum for:

  • New directions in Designing Technology for ALL
  • The latest strategy from venture capitalists investing in design and technology for all
  • Distribution models for reaching and serving the boomer, senior and caregiving marketplace
  • Private / public partnerships strategies that have worked in launching brands and building revenue in the non profit sector
  • Go to market strategies for entrepreneurs
  • Networking with key players investing in the 50-plus and social media markets
Watch Steve Jurvetson, managing director of early-stage venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson, explain why he attends the Boomer Venture Summit:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZnkTizspI2k]

SV Boomer SPEAKERS

Lori Bitter - President, Continuum Crew
R. Scott Collins - President and CEO, Linkage
Andy Donner - Director, Physic Ventures
Hartmut Esslinger - Founder, Frog Design
Joanne Handy - CEO, Aging Services of California
Jody Holtzman - Senior Vice President, Thought Leadership, AARP
Kurt Hulander - Platform Leader, Health Solutions, Best Buy
Bill Johnston - Director of Global Community, Dell
Stephen Johnston - Founder & CEO, Fordcastle LLC
Nancy Kamei - Sector Director, Intel Capital
Jeff Makowka - Senior Strategic Advisor, Thought Leadership, AARP
Laura Mitchell - VP Marketing, GrandCare Systems
Alexandra Morehouse - Former Chief Marketing Officer, AAA
Peter Radsliff - CEO, Presto Services
Peter Ziebelman - Partner, Palo Alto Venture Partners

Laura Mitchell will be speaking on: Optimal Go to Market Strategies  

 With the aging of baby boomers and beyond, companies are going direct to consumers to sell products in healthcare. Learn what the aging of the baby boomers and beyond companies are using new and innovative strategies as they go to market. Learn about group purchasing as a distribution channel and discover how large health care organizations are forming partnerships as they go to market. . Discover how mobile, online, and print are used to reach customers. Discover what other service based businesses also serve the baby boomer and senior market. Entering and succeeding is not easy: our hand-picked industry leaders and experts will share their go-to-market wisdom and advice.

8:00 – 8:45 am

Lucas Hall, Classroom 3, Santa Clara University

See the entire June 15th Conference Agenda <a href = “http://www.scuboomerventure.com/agenda.html“> here </a>

 

GrandCare’s VP of Marketing, Laura Mitchell, selected as Venture Boomer Summit Business Plan JUDGE

http://www.scuboomerventure.com/competitions/judges.html

Business Plan Competition!!!!!

PRIZES

Best Business Plan
$10,000

Best App
$1,000

Finalists will present their business plans to a panel of industry experts at the Summit on June 15, 2011 and the winners will be announced at the end of the day.

JUDGES

Leaders in the field of aging, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and industry analysts will provide valuable feedback on the entrepreneurs’ boomer business plans and apps. Check back soon for the list of judges participating in the 2011 event.

Finalist Judges

Andy Cohen – CEO and Co-founder, Caring.com
Andy Donner – Director, Physic Ventures
Jody Holtzman – Senior Vice President, Thought Leadership, AARP
Kurt Hulander – Platform Leader, Health Solutions, Best Buy
Nancy Kamei – Sector Director, Intel Capital
Xander Mahony – Analyst, Draper Fisher Jurvetson
Jeff Shoemate – Vice President of Innovation and Business Development, United Healthcare

First and Second Round Judges

Susan Ayers Walker – Managing Director, SmartSilvers Alliance
Laura Mitchell – Vice President, Marketing, GrandCare Systems
Michael Sarfatti – Managing Director, SmartSilvers Alliance

Calling all Aging Start-Ups!!! Business Plan Competition!

BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION CRITERIA & RULES

Do you have a business plan or startup venture that shows significant business potential for the burgeoning baby boomer market, which represents more than $2 trillion in spending power? We invite you to enter your business plan for the 2010 Silicon Valley Boomer Business Plan Competition. From early-stage ventures in medicine to media, fashion to financial services and beyond, the 2011 Boomer Business Plan Competition aims to generate the best ideas from the best universities and tap into the business expertise and creativity of entrepreneurs around the globe.

Based on the feedback received from some participants, we are announcing slight changes in the competition format and dates. We have consolidated Round 1 and Round 2 of the business-plan competition. For the combined round, we will accept up to a 20-page business-plan (page-count includes the executive summary and financials) until May 12, 5 PM PDT.

We would love to know the people behind these business-plans, so we would prefer (not required) if you could submit a short (up to 2 minutes) video. (You can email the video, or upload a You Tube clip).

Guidelines

  1. You are welcome to submit a 2-minute video or a You Tube clip (turn the settings to private) which includes:
    1. Entrepreneur name
    2. University affiliation (if any)
    3. Elevator pitch, including statement on why this product fits boomer market
  2. A 20-page business plan, which includes the financials and executive summary. We will accept your entries till May 12 at 5 PDT. Please email your plans to svboomerventure@gmail.com.

Read more

Why you should attend the Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit

The Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit & Business Plan Competition is for entrepreneurs & venture capitalists who serve the baby boomer market. June 15/2011

This year, GrandCare’s VP of Marketing (Laura Mitchell) will be attending as a judge for the event.

This is another of Mary Furlong’s events and NOT TO BE MISSED!  Just finished attending the “What’s Next Boomer Summit” last week in San Francisco!  It was not only incredibly well organized, but fantastic speakers, panels and great networking!  Sponsored by AARP, United Health Group, Continuum Crew, Southwest Airlines, First Street, Caring.com and First Republic Bank.

TOP TEN REASONS TO ATTEND

Meet the venture capitalists and corporate venture capitalists who can fund your boomer/senior caregiving venture

  1. Learn how to accelerate sales in your boomer/senior caregiving venture
  2. Discover how to meet the caregiver customer online and through workforce channels
  3. Learn how to reach the boomer, senior and caregiver through print, online media and partnerships
  4. Discover the latest research about the 78 million-strong boomer market
  5. Meet the angels who fund early-stage ventures
  6. Gain the latest insights how corporations are using cause related marketing to serve the needs of boomers, seniors and caregivers
  7. Find out how to accelerate your AARP partnership; discover their latest market research
  8. Secure the funding base of your nonprofit organization by developing partnerships that work
  9. Network, network, network!

hosted by 

Register to attend: http://scuboomerventure.eventbrite.com/

THE 2011 SILICON VALLEY BOOMER VENTURE SUMMIT

June 14-15, 2011
Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA

AT THE 2011 SILICON VALLEY BOOMER VENTURE SUMMIT…

Network with the leading venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, researchers, analysts and marketers addressing the needs of the 50+ demographic as well as key members of the media who report on aging, health, finance, technology and care giving.
Hear about the latest trends in the field of aging from key strategic partners in the non-profit sector.
Discover the latest in mobile and digital advertising trends; the newest distribution channels in the start-up world; and the tips and tricks that will help you grow your business.

Please join GrandCare at What’s Next Boomer Business Summit after ASA in San Francisco.

GrandCare’s VP of Marketing, Laura Mitchell, will be moderating a social media panel. More details listed below.

What’s Next Boomer Business Summit:

Friday, April 29, 2011
Parc 55 Wyndham, 55 Cyril Magnin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

San Francisco, California

Website: www.BoomerSummit.com

The 8th annual What’s Next Boomer Business Summit is produced by Mary Furlong & Associates, and is the official post-conference of the American Society on Aging (ASA) Aging in America Conference on April 26-30, 2011 in San Francisco.

Event theme for 2011: Dynamics, Deals, Differentiation and Disruption.

Join us where America’s leading analysts, executive marketers, business leaders, and research experts will gather to introduce new research, products and services that truly represent what is next on the horizon for businesses selling to baby boomer and senior customers today.

  • Learn new go-to-market strategies and tactics
  • Access new research
  • Understand ways to reach caregivers
  • Get methods to creating online baby boomer communities

Keynote speakers are:

Guy Kawasaki, Entrepreneur & Author, Co-founder, Alltop; Jody Holtzman, Senior Vice President, Thought Leadership, AARP; Vint Cerf, Vice President & Chief Internet Evangelist, Google and Co-Inventor of the Internet; With featured speakers: Astro Teller, Director, New Projects, Google; Gail Sheehy, Best-Selling Author.

Agenda Tracks:

  • Social Media

 

Maximizing the Online World Build an interactive tool box for marketing your business! From email to Google, Twitter, and what’s in all worlds online to social media platforms, unlock the potential for your company. Our experts show you how to harness the power.

Moderator: Laura Mitchell, Vice President, Marketing, GrandCare Systems

Panelists: Joe Cannella, Senior Account Manager, Google; Nataki Edwards, Vice President, Marketing, AARP; Stephen Chen, Founder, NewRetirement.com

  • Alternate Distribution
  • Mobile, Local and Search
  • Entrepreneurship and Social Entrepreneurship
  • The Evolution of Design and Technology in Serving the Consumer Majority

 

 

 

Who should attend:

  • Corporate brand managers and managers of businesses, association and non-profit leadership where boomers and seniors are the primary customers.
  • Designers for products and services
  • Media, analysts, authors and bloggers, public relation agencies who write and blog and tweet insights and stories that reach and serve the 40+ audience
  • Association and non-profit leadership who want to learn best models and metrics of social entrepreneurship and business partnerships
  • Entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs creating products and services for the boomer and mature consumer
  • Corporate marketing, product and brand managers and business leaders who manage products and services targeting the boomer and senior customer.

Register: http://boomersummit.eventbrite.com/

(Early bird rate ends February 28!)

Agenda < http://www.boomersummit.com/agenda.html>,

Speakers < http://www.boomersummit.com/speakers.html>

Connect with us:

Facebook: Facebook/WhatsNextBoomerBusinessSummit

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/WhatsNextBoomer]

Event hashtag is: #WNBBS2011