LITTLE ROCK — Whenever I see a promotion targeting senior citizens, I always wonder if it offers something really helpful or if it’s just pitching to some marketing maven’s caricature of real-world elderly. Eldergadget - a site that provides information on a wide range of products for the elderly - seems to be in the first category rather than the second.
Eldergadget’s basic premise is to evaluate products in terms of “elderly friendly features.” In general, that means products that are easy to use for people with some combination of limited mobility, dexterity, strength and vision. I’m happy to report that the site does not adopt the attitude of some marketers that senior citizens are stupid, backward and unwilling to adapt to new technologies.
Eldergadget covers several categories of interest to travelers, including cameras (still and movie), cell phones (these days, “wireless” is more accurate), global positioning systems, luggage and shoes. It also covers a lot of nontravel products and services, but those are not in my purview.
The site’s organization is a bit confusing. A long subject menu on the home page leads to recent posts about each topic, but not to any sort of systematic comparison. If you want that, you have to click on “guides,” where you see a shorter menu of topics for which Eldergadget has posted a comparative analysis.
When I spot-checked some of the listings, I found generally useful information but with some important gaps.
Cell-phone listings focus on recent news and releases; the most recent product comparison was from a year ago - an eternity in the wireless universe. Then, the site based its evaluations on simplicity, large keypads, bright displays, a panic button, and built-in GPS. Unfortunately for travelers, the site doesn’t touch the subject of overseas use options at all.
Camera listings (still) and guides (camcorders) stress such “senior friendly features” as large LCD screen, ergonomically friendly controls, operational simplicity, weight, image stabilization, durability, and availability of a viewfinder.
GPS system evaluations stress ease of use, good interfaces, and clear voice prompts.
Luggage listings and the guide for rolling bags are based on “elder friendly” features like multiple handles, well-spaced wheels, accessible compartments, color contrasts, easy-to-operate features, and size. I agree with most of those, but I take two serious exceptions: (1) I can’t imagine rating luggage without considering weight as a major factor, and (2) I prefer fewer individual compartments in luggage, not more.
Shoes are important to a traveler of any age, and the guide compares several popular brands of walking shoes in terms of weight, shock absorption, easy grip tongue, beveled heels, flexible outsole, removable insole, and - for people who need it - slip-on design.
Overall, I can’t fault the site’s choice of elderly friendly features - for the most part, they’re about the same ones I’d use.
Eldergadget doesn’t show list prices, but for many products it provides direct links to Amazon for prices and purchase. Even if you don’t buy through Amazon, those links show about what you could expect to pay just about anywhere.
Some of the reports verge on the “gee whiz” or Popular Science approach to product news. Eldergadget commented on a new camera from Germany that rates the quality of each picture you take, for example, or a new wireless phone that can test your eyes. Neither is now available. And it reports on a self-powered rolling suitcase that trundles itself along as you guide it - maybe a good idea, until you get to the part where it weighs 27 pounds empty - interesting, maybe, and harmless, but not useful.
Although new to me, Eldergadget has been around awhile and can show a reasonable backlog of evaluations and analysis. And although the site is not specifically focused on travel, it does include items of interest to travelers. Log onto eldergadget.com if you’re interested in checking out these and other items.
Send e-mail to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net
Travel, Pages 55 on 08/29/2010