We should not accept that we are the product, always sharable. From Amazon Sidewalk bandwidth sharingto always listening devices to smart assistants saving us from typing to recommendation engines (“If you liked this…”). The assumption derived from our behavior with new tech innovations? We have bought in – unless we go to ridiculous lengths to avoid having our data and information used (or abused) online. Consider ways in which algorithms still make mistakes that the individual referenced cannot easily correct.
Consider AARP’s list of flip and smart phones. AARP just published a puzzling guide article about smartphones targeted to older adults. Note the article and the commentary that accompanied it – (and don’t get distracted by the paragraph explaining megapixels). You may be struck by multiple aspects of this article – in addition to the phone makers you haven’t heard of. The IDC VP refers to older adults as senior citizens, for one, the T-Mobile exec lumping older adults into 55+ segment in a sweeping generalization of being ‘value conscious.’ Okay, enough being snippy.
Broadband penetration among adults in the US – is the job done? According to Parks Associates, 88% of US households have broadband. Do you find that confusing? Startling in the face of all of the state and government initiatives to connect more households? Minimum speed issues possibly going to be revised? What speeds are they talking about? Watch a Netflix movie? Participate in a zoom call? Not exactly. Turns out the current speed definitions “aren’t high enough to do anything.” Not a single area of West Virginia is properly served, according to that June 25, 2021 article. Colorado, Virginia – same complaint. Slow speed access is akin to no-speed access. Moving slowly past the speed issue – gets you to the adoption problem for older adults. What’s that you say? 22 million older adults, or 42% of the 65+ population, lack wireline broadband? Shouldn't that matter?
Like the obsessively observant HAL, today's tech is always learning your behavior. You mention a concept or product in an e-mail – and are surprised to see that ‘offer’ (displayed or pushed) in your next interaction. Snoopy software tools like the A-word are persistent with the ‘insights’ gained from perusing your text. I see you have asked about such and so – would you like me to order it? Snooping on your actions is fundamental for advertising and the revenue, uh, continued market valuations of A-words (oh, yes, absolutely, we protect privacy!). Plenty of other privacy issues persist with Twitter, the various G-words (health data too!), and the like. These products build their value by ‘getting smarter’ all the time about you, but there are multiple well-documented and alarming privacy problems.
June was a short, but pivotal month for aging and health. Months of research with executives from 27 organizations resulted in the completion of new report, The Future of Wearables and Older Adults 2021. It was presented on a panel at The What’s Next Longevity Venture Summit in June with 3 of the interviewees, Dr. Hon Pak of Samsung, Jeff Ray of Omron, and Mark Gray of Constant Companion. Although current adoption is relatively low, the future of wearables has great potential for older adults, particularly in alerting to health issues between visits to the doctor. June was a season for new health-related product announcements from Apple and an oddity of an announcement from Amazon. Also during June, preliminary research has begun on another, potentially connected, future report topic about Smart Homes and older adults. Here are the four blog posts from June:
We should not accept that we are the product, always sharable. From 
Consider AARP’s list of flip and smart phones. AARP just published a puzzling 
Broadband penetration among adults in the US – is the job done? According to Parks Associates, 
Like the obsessively observant HAL, today's tech is always learning your behavior. You mention a concept or product in an e-mail – and are surprised to see that ‘offer’ (displayed or pushed) in your next interaction. Snoopy software tools like the A-word are persistent with the ‘insights’ gained from perusing your text. I see you have asked about such and so – 
June was a short, but pivotal month for aging and health. Months of research with executives from 27 organizations resulted in the completion of new report, The Future of Wearables and Older Adults 2021. It was presented on a panel at