Computer Tablets Put Seniors In The High-Tech Game

Gadget companies created a new segment of the computer market when they introduced tablets in 2010. I bought my first tablet at launch and fell in love with it. Now it is a must-have device in my daily life. Today, there are various brands and models of tablets on the market and consumers have many more options.

While I know from experience that my tablet (loaded with games and apps) could be a popular icebreaker when meeting tech-savvy kids, it’s only recently come to appreciate that such devices are also a game changer for shy older people to the technology. They have often been left out of the consumer technology equation. At best, streamlined versions of popular devices or services, such as email that doesn’t require a PC and single-function cell phones with large buttons, have been launched as an afterthought for older consumers. Computer tablets are different; They have changed the technology landscape for older people.

Usability even with disabilities

For seniors, tablets address some of the biggest traditional barriers to technology. Arthritis and other impairments often limit an older person’s fine motor skills, a disability that is not compatible with mouse and keyboard requirements. The tablets offer touch screen technology, which makes it easy to use and minimizes user frustration.

Tablets have a simpler design than computers, usually with a single button to switch programs. They are easy to use and not intimidating. They are portable and don’t take up much space. They allow users to easily connect with friends and family, especially grandchildren, through email, video calls, photo sharing, or social networking websites like Facebook. Once users are comfortable with tablets, they can surf the web, watch the news, and even shop online. And once they discover the joy of downloading and using apps, their lives will be transformed. For example, they can train the brain, learn a new language, get new recipes, play solitaire, and check baseball scores. In fact, they are included in the new digital world.

Tablets also offer an improvement over printed books. For people with vision problems, an activity you once enjoyed, such as reading, could be a thing of the past. However, a tablet would change all that. Downloading books avoids a trip to a bookstore or library. Seniors can also easily adjust the screen brightness and text to suit their needs.

Use health care tablets

Tablets also allow greater independence for older people through remote monitoring and evaluation. From the diagnostic side, tablet-based mobile assessment tools provide a rapid assessment of the patient’s ability to complete mobility-related tasks. Tablets also allow for ongoing care. In addition, there are applications that can be downloaded directly for your own health care use, for example, to measure heart rate, monitor food intake and exercise, or set a reminder diary to take medication.

Tablets are an enabling tool for ‘aging in place’, which means having the ability to live in your own home comfortably, safely, and independently as you age. This is the wish of most people. According to one study, 78% of adults between the ages of 50 and 64 report that they would prefer to remain in their current residence as they age. The aging trend in place is also desirable from the perspectives of society and the economy. It fosters intergenerational connectivity and minimizes the cost of institutional care.