Trends & Technology

FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!! Older adults want tech companies to focus more on their needs. By Natalie Missakian, AARP. Published September 25, 2024. Most people 50 and older now own a smartphone, but once they get it home, setting up the device and figuring out all the features can be tricky. Instead of asking your kids for help or muddling through on your own, what if you could have a conversation with an AI-enabled voice assistant to help you personalize your device so it works well for you? https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2024/age-friendly-smartphones.html

FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!! AgeTech Collaborative focuses on ways to transform aging. By Rick Robinson, AARP. Published September 09, 2024. Technology changes everything about our lives, including how we age. Sometimes great new tech ideas need help to rise above the clatter. Since late 2021, AgeTech Collaborative from AARP has sought out companies with great products that make aging easier, burgeoning businesses that need help shaping and in some cases financing their ideas through the start-up stage. The AgeTech Collaborative invites entrepreneurs to pitch their products or technologies to experienced panels that select a handful of the best from thousands of entrants. Those winners get access to the AgeTech accelerator program, which connects them with professionals who can refine the product and think through how to best deliver it to the market. https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/agetech-collaborative-helps-o

Am I the only one?! I've tried to find advocacy through AARP for this. They referred me to my local government advocacy people who at least gave me some sympathy but no satisfaction. Here's the dilemma I presented: Getting quick answers to simple questions has become about impossible. Websites provide choices of many questions which don't often include the one I'm asking. They link you to other site pages telling you to click on some link that isn't on that page. They provide a chat session that only knows how to assume you want something you don't. You follow more links or try some that might (but don't) lead you to something helpful. The same thing happens if you're lucky enough to get a phone number. Press this or that number for what you want. If it's not on the list, and luck provides a something else choice a real person has only enough answers for the usual questions, not mine. In this morning's project to investigate a health issue claim, the health provider refe

H Has anyone else encountered Amazon's latest money making move?The last time I accessed my PURCHASED streamed movies from Amazon, I encountered commercials!I would have thought that, seeing as how I PURCHASED these movies I would not have to put up with commercials.I mean, do I own these movies, (that I paid for), or does Amazon?And if I own said movies, is there any way to access them without going through Amazon?I am already paying for Amazon's   PRIME  and now I have to put up with commercials?

I realy don't need the magazine mailed to me.  Is there someway to just get a link to the current issue so I download a machine readable copy?

FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!! Apps open a world of episodes on topics you’re interested in, can learn from. By Chris Morris and Lexi Pandell, AARP. Published August 19, 2024. Since the release of the popular true-crime podcast Serial more than a decade ago, podcasts have exploded in popularity. About 42 percent of Americans age 12 and older have listened to these on-demand audio programs in the past month, according to Pew Research Center estimates. And in the past year, 42 percent of adults 50 to 64 have listened, plus 28 percent of adults 65 and older. https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/podcast-guide.html

Recently, my Facebook account was disabled due to a linked Instagram that's not mine. My REAL Instagram account name is "AirforceMVP".  I get this FB error message: "Your Facebook account was suspended because your Instagram account "nguyenminhngoc7481717" doesn't follow our rules. You have 166 days left to appeal. Log into your linked Instagram account to appeal our decision."  I've tried complaints to Instagram with no response. I'm going in circles trying to find how to file an appeal using the FB "Form" that I can't find. Anyone also have this problem?  Any advice on how to fix?  Any expert out there that can help me with this?  Frustrated is an understatement!!  

FROM ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!! 6 Steps to Help You Create Strong Passwords. Be random. Never repeat. Make them long and complicated. By Marc Saltzman, AARP. Updated July 01, 2024. Published January 03, 2023. Smartphones and computers make life convenient. Shop online and your device stores the data. With one click, your name, address, email, phone and payment choice pop up on a site. But with that ease comes serious risk, and the first mistake can be how you gain access to a site. A username and password combine to form one of the biggest gateways to a data breach. https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2023/build-better-passwords.html

Again this month your system could not keep up with people doing quizes and videos. As other people experienced, I sufficed the Extra Credit requirements all for naught!!! I spent 45 minutes retrying to REDEEM a gift card. Then I gave up. The response was always "We are experiencing technical difficulties in processing your request. Please retry in a few minutes. Thank you for your patience." This happens EVERY MONTH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAN'T YOU FIX THIS ???????????? IS MANAGEMENT AWARE OF THIS HUGE PROBLEM ????????

Have to admit this one made me chuckle inappropriately...I know healthcare facilities were affected and that is NOT funny. Microsoft/CrowdStrike Falcon Global IT Services Interruption The incident, however, highlights the undue influence of Competition in the current marketplace and reminded me of the frustration of being the D.R. liaison for my work group back in the 1990's. Profit margin and short sighted focus on immediate, obvious financial returns were always the chief obstacles to implementing and maintaining a robust, effective contingency plan. The irony was palpable. 

Senior Planet from AARP delivers training programs that are designed to help older adults understand and effectively use technology to achieve targeted outcomes in their social connectedness, health, civic engagement, financial security and creative expression. The Senior Planet licensing program equips local organizations across the country with the tools to help older adults access technology and use it to enhance their lives. The licensing program is completely free and there are over 425 current partner sites participating in the program already. Partners get access to Senior Planet curriculum and training, so that they have everything they need to teach a wide range of technology classes. About Senior Planet - Click here ----> https://seniorplanet.org/about/our-purpose/ Location Map of Classes - Click here ----> https://oats.org/licensing-map/-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Additiona

FROM ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!! States to Get Millions to Close Digital Divide. AARP pushed for resources to help older adults access technology. By Natalie Missakian, AARP. Published July 26, 2024. In the coming months, millions of dollars in federal funding will be flowing to states to help them improve internet access in underserved areas and increase digital literacy skills to close the digital divide. AARP state offices around the country are playing a crucial role in ensuring much of that funding goes to programs that help older adults take advantage of today’s technology. https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2024/states-digital-equity-grants.html

I am wondering if anyone has switched cell phone companies and seen actual savings?  If so I would love to hear about it. 

FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!! Seeking Calm and Focus? Try Some Free Meditation Apps, Websites. Popular apps offer little time before fees, but you can find some inner peace, gratis. By Marc Saltzman, AARP. Published July 22, 2024. Life can be stressful. Another wave of COVID-19, concern about world events, natural disasters, your personal finances, and even family disagreements over polarizing politics have consumed our thoughts — so much so that finding inner peace has become a needed pastime. https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/free-meditation-apps.html

FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE!!! What You Need to Know About Friday’s Worldwide Microsoft Tech Outage. The problem was faulty code, not a cyberattack. By Edward C. Baig, Nicole Gill Council and Elizabeth Agnvall, AARP. Friday’s massive global tech outage that paralyzed airlines, financial institutions, media outlets, health care systems and even the upcoming Paris Olympics, left many older adults fretting about what was happening and, more important, what to do next about their travel, doctor’s appointments and banking. Some summer vacation plans were grounded. Scheduled medical treatments were suddenly postponed. Windows computers displayed the dreaded “blue screen of death,” signifying a system crash, or files in Microsoft’s cloud were unreachable. https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2024/global-it-outage.html

i read your article with great interes but I would like to know if the auto  industry is looking at the distracted driver aspect of all these new technologies particularly if there are no passengers in the car.Does the NTSB consider this when they approve these features. I am also concerned about the cost of repair/replace for these new features.

Hello, and thank you for stopping by our discussion. You are welcome to add your comment by clicking on the reply button below. Nicole 👵

Hello everyone. My name is Kathleen and I am from NJ. Just wanted to warn everyone not to be lured in by Verizon promotions promising a free "gift" card from Target. They make it nearly impossible to navigate the process to apply for the gift card. I have been trying for months and now they tell me the offer has expired and therefore i am no longer eligible for it!. Just hope no one else falls prey to their deceptive marking practices!

Hello, Does anyone know of any AARP online tech training (e.g., videos, instructional pages, etc.) courses/resources for members that DOES NOT involve the use of Zoom, AND which (for video formats) would provide captions for the Deaf?  I feel that AARP should not limit its Senior Planet Technology Training Program courses to Zoom, thereby automatically excluding those who do not wish to use Zoom.  In this connection, does anyone know of an EMAIL ADDRESS through which this complaint can be submitted to AARP.  I prefer not using either chat or text message. Any help for the concerns above would be appreciated.  Thank you!

HELLO, I have been researching cell phone options.   Jitterbug is pricey, I lost data when the phone had to be reset, and there is no way to externally backup the data.  So I started looking at 3rd party apps I could add to an android phone. There seems to be about 6 to 10 different apps available.  However, after trying a few, it seems the "reviews" are not really reviews, but summaries.   I was hoping for some real user experiences and comments.  It would be great if AARP would actually do an indepth review, but I could not find anything.  So far I have identified and some comments where applicable:Grand LauncherHelp Launcher - did not like the un-named buttons - some were obvious, some were not.Big Launcher - same.Elementique Senior Launcher - a newer product, required multiple applications, but a great interface, and uses gmail as the core programs.  However, could not figure out how to turn it off, and current you ca

I was IT before it was "IT"; this disturbed me more than any article I've read regarding scams and hacks: "Facebook hacker poses as retired Clark County official, attempts to sway sheriff" - 8NewsNow.com  I have so many relatives who believe most anything they read on FB, so this worries me tremendously; please read and share?

No devices available that can play MP3's through a component system, aside of using a Blu-Ray player & TV to interface?   Was thinking an old laptop with adapter may suffice, would not want this to be "online" though.  Would have thought a small component with USB input would be available with standard audio out.   

The only subtopic in Technology is "Computer Questions", I get that but seems to be more on phones  here & nothing about newfangled appliances, audio, TV, streaming, AI, or dealing with the evolution of Technology... etc.  So much here to pigeonhole it into one area.

 There has been a good deal of discussion and articles here regarding scams and this one in particular. I decided that this reached a new level for me personally today when i bought a new phone and within the first few hours, i got notifications from Google, both of which where alleged "stimulus" check and free government money ads that are bait to scamming sites. Google has little interest in controlling this because of the enormous advertising profits they are raking in from these scammers... and these were among the FIRST notifications to come through on my smartphone and... they are from the maker of the Operating System which comes on the phone... and they ARE SCAMS!!!. safety and privacy online will NEVER be given to you just because that is what is right...you must protect and educate yourself and your loved-ones on your own, because no one else will do it for you.  NO COMPANY has your best interests at heart whenever those conflict with their bottom-line.&nb

The AARP logo is not showing up in my password manager.  It won't even allow me to manual enter a title.  When looking to log into AARP through my password manager, have to remember it's the slot that has no title.  Every other organization shows a label or I can manually add a label.