http://www.etcentric.org/aarp-experts-discuss-development-of-wear...

http://www.etcentric.org/aarp-experts-discuss-development-of-wearables-for-seniors/

At CES in Las Vegas, AARP vice president of innovation and product development Andy Miller brought together experts who look at the design of wearables for seniors. “Experience wins with regard to product design,” he said. “Are you looking through the lens of experience when you build products — or the features?”

Nuheara vice president of global sales Bruce Borenstein replies that his company manufactures a hearing aid that doesn’t look like one. “There’s a stigma to wearing a hearing aid,” he said. “With our product, you can wear earbuds and look cool.” Wearables and similar tools are the technology to help older adults “stay young and feel young” as well as aid in the transition to senior status.

“But let’s not make the mistake that every 50 year old or 75 year old is the same,” Borenstein said. “You can have a 75 year old who’s very robust and a 50 year old who isn’t. It can’t be categorized — it’s individual.”

Fitness technology in 2020, said Borenstein, will show “more convergence and simplification.” “It’s not inconceivable to bring biometrics into the equation,” he noted. “I have no clue what shape it takes. But convergence will happen.”