28 Innovations for Seniors (SUPER GALLERY) Edit

Want to be a more savvy senior? Cutting edge and hip aren’t just adjectives to describe things geared at younger generations; in fact, there are incredible innovations for baby boomers and seniors too. At trendhunter.com, we’ve featured plenty of fun things geared directly at older generations including cell phones and social networks. There are seniors who have used the internet for entrepreneurial start ups like a rental granny service. In fact, there are even several self-made senior celebrities whose claim to fame has YouTube to thank.

You won’t believe it ‘til you’ve seen it, and neither will a lot of folks, which is why this cluster of trends holds so much appeal. The next time your grandma shies away from technology, she’ll have a tough time arguing after you show her this one! No generation is incapable of being tech savvy!

Internet

Movie Reviews By Seniors on YouTube - Reel Geezers (VIDEO)

What happens when you ask two former movie critics, now in their senior years, to review modern films like Superbad? You get Reel Geezers, as seen in the video below. Together, the male and female duo have over 80 years of experience in the movie business… and varying opinions. She doesn’t see a… [More]

Senior Cyber Celeb - 95 Year Old Blogger Has 60,000+ Readers (VIDEO)

Maria Amelia Lopez became a hit with web surfers at the age of 95, thanks to her grandson who gave her a blog for her birthday! With 60,000 regular readers so far, Lopez’s homely mix of memory and chat, available at http://amis95.blogspot.com/, attracts regular readers from around the world and has… [More]

Seniors On YouTube - Jewish Grandma’s “Feed Me Bubbe” Podcast (VIDEO)

Senior citizens are taking making their presence felt and posting videos. Take this Jewish grandma who decided that even young people might be interested in what she has to offer….Maybe some chicken soup or some mandlebread? 

Bayla Scher’s, who prefers to be called Bubbe, monthly podcast is ca… [More]

Hire a Granny - NetGranny Knits You Custom Socks (GALLERY)

I have just discovered Swiss-based Netgranny, the brainchild of the designers Tarzan, and I love it. In brief, Netgranny allows you to choose your favourite sock pattern and then hire a granny to knit your heart’s desire. The website feature photos of all the grannies, along with the socks they c… [More]

Older Web Users - New Startup Creates Portal for 50+

The new internet boom is in the 50+ segment of internet users.  Accordingly, Monster.com founder Jeff Taylor is launching a new portal aimed at that market. From the Boston Globe: At 45 years old, Jeff Taylor, founder of the popular Internet job-search site Monster.com, is too young to sign up for … [More]

Social Networks For Boomers - 55+ Communities (VIDEO)

Those looking to setting up new social networks are turning to the boomer generation. Until now, most have targeted Generation X; Facebook and MySpace are a huge hit with the younger demographic, but marketers are coming to recognize the loyalty of older web users. Eons, Rezoom, Multiply, Maya’s Mom… [More]

Cell Phones

Cell Phones for Seniors 2 - Easy Mobile Calling (GALLERY)

The EMC (easy mobile calling) phone by designer Matthias Pinkert is targeted at growing baby boomer demographic. As they age, designers are trying to come up with products and designs to keep them up to date with technology while still taking their age into consideration. The EMC phone features fou… [More]

Cell Phones for Seniors - ClarityLife

It’s a geezer phone! Clarity, a company that makes stuff so older people can communicate better, introduced the ClarityLife, a new easier to use cell phone. It’s a simple phone with a large display and prominent buttons. Sound is amplified, and it features a one button emergency response feature. … [More]

New Phone Targets 50+ Crowd (GALLERY)

Sure the iPhone gets all the buzz, but what if you don’t need your cell to do a thousand things? Targeting the 50+ crowd who may not want a complicated piece of technology, the Life Phone doesn’t have an MP3 player or camera but it does have an extra loud ringer and easy to read screen that should s… [More]

MS2000 Easy5 Mobile Phone For the Elderly

It’s like a phone, only without all the confusing buttons.  The MS2000 is a simple mobile phone with 5 speed dial keys and no numbers, which makes it easy to use.  I guess it’s meant to be used as a security device, unless you are trying to actively limit the number of people your grandparents call … [More]

Other Tech

iPod Case For Old Ladies - Grannytunes

Granny tunes clears the chasm between youthful geek fetishism over the iPod digital audio player, and the antique flavors of an 80 year old woman. The tassel makes this design a must have. The concept of the design is to create a protective iPod case that has a handmade crocheted look which may ju… [More]

Computers for Boomers - Microsoft Senior PC + Ad-Funded PCs

Microsoft UK unveiled plans for a “Senior PC” at the recent Digital Inclusion conference in London. The machine, which Microsoft is developing in partnership with charities Age Concern and Help the Aged, utilizes a simple and intuitive interface that caters to older users. The machine targets over 1… [More]

Robot Nurses - uBOT-5

With baby boomers making the transition into the 65-and-older crowd, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a robot that can help in case of a medical emergency. What can this droid do - use a stethoscope, call for an ambulance, and facilitate a video call with a docto… [More]

Geek Glasses For Geezers - Eyetonomy SightMate

The Star Trek gizmo really does exist! Well maybe…. if I was almost blind. The Eyetonomy SightMate glasses look unbelievably geeky, but if one had really poor vision these would help restore their sight immensely. The SightMate goggles will also improve peripheral vision. But don’t walk around! … [More]

For Senior Citizen Baby Boomers - Nokia ‘Health Guard’ (GALLERY)

As older people are prone to forgetting their medicine and keeping track of what they should and should not eat, Marcela Kawka and Izabela Cichecka have created the “Health Guard” concept for NOKIA. The Health Guard targets the upcoming generation of senior citizen baby boomers who are tech savv… [More]

Pocket Viewer Magnifier

Baby boomers with aging eyes will be happy to know that new technology is en route!  The new Pocket Viewer Magnifier digitally enlarges to the exact size you’ll need. “Among older people, sight loss is common; Sight loss, though less common, affects one in 12 people in this age group. As more peopl… [More]

Email Without Computer

Boomers have embraced email as a quick and easy way to stay in touch with friends and family.  But getting older aunts and uncles or parents to adopt email is next to impossible.  So how do you include them in the loop? Celery. About Celery: Celery® is a simple device that allows people to be incl… [More]

Lifestyle

Disney Targets 60+ Market - Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Discount Seniors

Live long enough and even Disney gives you a discount. Geezers are used to a dime off their cup of coffee at Mickey D’s, but the Mickey Mouse honchos in Japan decided they needed to do more to attract more seniors. At Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea they are beginning to offer a 22% discount to tho… [More]

Sex In Their 80s - Seniors Know How To Keep It Up (GALLERY)

Who says seniors can’t have fun in the sack? Most people can’t handle the thought of their grandparents getting frisky in their old age, but for a growing number of 70-80-something adults, sex is still an integral part of their relationships. A survey of 3,005 Americans between 57 and 80 revealed … [More]

55+ is the New Generation Sexy - Boomers Rule Australia’s Sex Trade Industry (VIDEO)

”Boomers will put boom-boom back into the sex industry.” The sex industry is booming worldwide thanks to the internet, and a recent article at stuff.co.nz has noted some interesting trends regarding the sexual habits of baby boomers downunder. They’re predicting that in the not-too-distant future,… [More]

Playgrounds For The Elderly

Termed ‘three-generational play’, researchers in Finland have found that the elderly benefit from play normally thought to be strictly for children. Elderly-only playgrounds are being built and Germany is considering a model based on Finland’s lead. Boredom and lack of body-confidence are just two… [More]

Boomer Racketeers Change to Pickleball

Old timers and baby boomers are inventing new sports!  The latest: Pickleball!  The sport, which originated in retirement communities from Arizona to Florida,  is a paddle sport on a badminton court that uses a Wiffle ball. “We lower the net like tennis and play on a badminton court, so it kind of… [More]

Car Signs for Boomers - Geezer on Board

Remember those annoyingly stupid “Baby On Board” signs people had in their car windows? As the boomer demographic ages, the population of older members of society is bulging, spawning a need to put up a new car sign: “Boomer on Board”. “Geezer On Board” is also available. When you see the sign, lo… [More]

Fashion

Targeting “Stylish Elderly” – Trendy Tokyo’s Senior Fashions (VIDEO)

74-year-old Yoko Takahashi was on a shopping spree last week, all gussied up in a fashionable gray fedora and glittering little black dress. Takahashi is one of Tokyo’s baby boomers and elderly that are beginning to dominate the Japanese population. The buying power of these generations has also… [More]

High Fashion Granny Panties - Elle Cover Features Highwaisted Undies

While it’s no shocker to see sexy models in swim wear or lingerie on the covers of magazines, I was completely startled when I discovered Elle Magazine was featuring a pair of over-the-bellybutton-high granny panties on the FRONT COVER of their UK edition. This isn’t a magazine for seniors, folks.… [More]

Belly Warmer – When Granny Fashion Becomes Chic

This winter, you can give some extra comfort to you belly with the latest Japanese fashion called “Haramaki” or belly warmer. Once, Haramaki is known as a granny underwear. Japanese people believe that the center of the human spirit and the source of energy are at the belly. Wearing belly warmer… [More]

Targeting Boomers and Urban Mothers - “Quotations” at Bloomingdales (VIDEO)

Middle-aged women don’t want to look middle-aged, which is why Bloomingdales is launching a new department called Quotations. The new lines will market casual clothes to boomer women and urbane mothers. “The idea is that by pitching to boomers as well as younger women, Quotation will have a hip vi… [More]

Random

Elderly As Actors - 97 Year Old Woman is Hollywood’s Fresh Face

Mae Laborde, who is 97 years old, has only been an actress for four years and her career is skyrocketing.  She played Vanna White for a futuristic MADtv comedy, made commercials, was a cheerleader for ESPN, and is currently acting in a small role for an upcoming Ben Stiller movie. This lady is an i… [More]