Professor Names Grandparent Holiday Gift Ideas

With the holiday season underway, George Mason University professor Andrew Carle has released his third annual list of the best high-tech gifts for grandparents and other seniors. Carle, director of Mason’s Program in Assisted Living/Senior Housing Administration, is internationally recognized for coining the term "Nana” Technology to describe microchip-based products that can improve quality of life for older adults.

“New technologies are providing greater independence and autonomy for seniors, and this is a trend that will continue as the general population ages,” says Carle.

The top 5 "Nana" technology holiday gifts for 2008

1. Locator: Allows location of up to four “radio tagged” items at distances up to 600 feet. A handheld remote provides audio and visual indicators that direct users to within one inch of the item’s actual location. “We’ve all spent too much time trying to remember where we parked the car, or left our keys or wallet,” says Carle. Retails for $189. Available from brickhousesecurity.com.

2. SmartShopper: A “best of show” winner at the 2007 International Home and Housewares Show, the 7x4x1 inch device attaches magnetically to a refrigerator and then uses voice recognition technology to identify and record up to 2,500 grocery items. A list that is categorized by grocery department can then be printed for easy shopping. This tool can also record, save, and print commonly run errands. Retails for $99. Available from smartshopperusa.com.

3. Celery: Computerless E-mail: A Popular Science “Best of What’s New” Award Winner, the centralized service allows use of a tabletop printer/fax and standard phone line for converting and sending handwritten notes via e-mail. It can also convert e-mails and photos that are received from family and friends into printed, faxed letters. “E-mail has become too important a part of our world to have grandparents left out,” says Carle. “This puts them in the loop without the need for a computer, or even the Internet.” Printer/fax available from Celery for $89 with monthly service for $13.98 (color) or $8.98 (black & white). Available from mycelery.com.

4. TVEars: Wireless headset and recharging base uses patented technology to enhance television dialogue and reduce background noise without affecting other listeners. The device also automatically adjusts the sound down when commercials come on. Retails from $99 to $249. Available at tvears.com.

5. GEM Car: For those wanting to go all out, the GEM car provides transportation in a miniaturized, electric vehicle that is street-legal up to 35 miles-per-hour in most states, and has a range of up to 30 miles per charge. “We need to get seniors out of unsafe golf carts and into vehicles that will allow them to safely run their daily errands,” says Carle. Base models start at $6,795. Available at gemcar.com.

The list above reflects Carle’s opinions and is not based on formal criteria.

Reported by George Mason University.