Invention Helping Seniors Get Plugged In

The Washington Post:

Two young inventors, with the help of hands-on testing at a retirement community, have created a device that they say might change the way older Americans get news and entertainment.

Using modified MP3 players, computers and large touch-screen monitors in high-contrast colors for people with impaired vision, Charles De Vilmorin and Herve Roussel have created a digital kiosk that serves as a sort of iPod for older people.

At the kiosk near the cafeteria in Vinson Hall, residents can download big-band music, spoken books, audio news taken from print media such as the Economist, cooking lessons with Julia Child and on-air dramas such as “Dragnet” that played in an era when “wireless” referred generally to AM radio.

Users don’t have to log in, remember passwords or strain to read and type on a tiny screen, De Vilmorin said. Instead, they receive a small MP3 player that can be plugged into the kiosk, allowing them to choose material from a menu on a large touch-screen.

Photo by The Washington Post.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *