ETHOS is holding a contest for the best video to explain online risk to elders. The winning team must consist of current IU students, and will receive $1000 in gift cards. See the rules of the contest. Deadline for letter …
The bus schedule ON your housecoat?
Researchers in Northern Ireland take technology to the shirt on your back, finding new ways to support health and independence in later life. The story can be found here.…
Ambient Clock Announced!
A new project that has been in the works at ETHOS has been announced! The Ambient Clock, an iteration of the Ambient Plant, is a device that is designed to help seniors and their loved ones (and care givers) connect …
Senior Wii bowling
Seniors using the Nintendo Wii for bowling:

With the success of Wii Fit, Nintendo really seems to be focused on fitness and health oriented products (referred to as lifestyle games by the company). Take for example Walk with me! a new release coming out on the …
CES: marketing to seniors
At this years Consumer Electronics Show the industry focused on the senior market. A wide range of technologies were displayed: monitoring systems, remote diagnostic systems, cognitive exercise programs, readers, and other tools that attempt to make it easier for …
NRC report on technology and healthcare
The NRC recently put out a report on the major challenges for how to use technology for “effective” health care (prepublicaiton version). They have a lot of good things to say, including a focus on patient empowerment. It …
Can you teach your old robot new tricks?
Inspired by service dogs, inventors at Laboratory for Perpetual Robotics at the
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, have created the uBOT-5, a helpful, uncomplaining, no-shed robot to help aging adults remain independent. The uBOT-5 can carry out simple tasks, monitor …
Reality Check
Here’s a nifty little idea: http://www.susannahertrich.com/html/realitychecking.html.
It’s a display which contrasts perceived v.s. actual risk. I think the visualization is quite nice, showing how much we, as a society, fear things that are highly unlikely. I really like their proposal …
FitBit… sounds too good to be true.
Here’s a new product to help measure physical activity… and even sleep cycles: http://www.fitbit.com. The FAQ claims that you can wear this thing anywhere and get over 95% accuracy for step counts. I don’t think any pedometer on the market …