Discussion Continued...

I agree with Scott that the ideas put forward are all valid but I also feel that the mobile is the most appealing idea. I can relate to it most as my grandparents often struggle for some sort of simple communication technology that keeps them intouch with each other, keeps them safe and allows us to contact them. This device will be both practical for their use and beneficial for "Keeping tabs" from my families point of view.

I have a fiew more ideas that I have though of related to the over sixities pitch as spending time with my grandparents I have noticed some things that they do and the following ideas can tackle these problems.

• A tempurature monitor - This allows the core tempurature of the individual to be read and then compared with the surrounding tempurature. Then the device warns them if a drop in tempurature might affect their persons health. Neumonia is the biggest killer to old age pensioners with poor insulation in old houses and their neglect for their own health as they feel they can handle the harsher weathers in the winter. This is unlikely the case as their bodies metabolisms do not produce enough heat for their bodies to remain in a safe core tempurature for their organs to function properly. Loosing this will probably result in neumnoia and then a coma. It is very benificial product and implementing it will be fairly striaght forward in terms of hard ware and software. It will also be cheap to manufacture and therefore cost effective. A definate life saver that would be encourage by schemes such as the NHS and other council support groups.
• In ear DAB - Digital radio has recently been taken on in the home by my family and their relatives who are in the age range 50-90. It allows them to listen to good quality radio of their choice with ease and no interfearence from other radio frequencies e.g. power cables, and the ability to transmit other data forms (RDS Radio data service allows the transmit text, pictures etc.). The idea of having a personal digital radio recieveer built into the hearing aid will allow them to take their radio with them anywhere. RDS can also inform, them with the aid of a simple channel changer, when they have moved from one station to another.