It was exciting to see Eric Taub’s New York Times article Helping Grandpa Get His Tech On. Great to see the growing interest in making technology work for seniors.

We are pleased to announce that BigScreenLive has chosen ezpservices to provide us with photo-finishing services. This will allow Seniors to create an array of high-quality photographic products featuring their favorite digital photos.

For several months, we have been working with a charitable organization in the UK that provides services to seniors, especially those with serious health issues who live in acute-care residential communities. The organization, “Keeping In Touch” (KIT) www.kitorguk.com has a mission of empowering “Care Home” residents through easy access to email and the world wide web, providing better access to friends and family as well as to additional features such as games, hobbies, personal photograph collections and favorite websites. KIT’s patron is the ex-Director of The London School of Economics, Lord Anthony Giddens, a prominent sociologist, who has developed his political agenda - around the concept of ‘the third way’.

KIT has been placing computers in senior care homes for use by the residents on a trial basis. KIT’s corps of volunteers provide equipment set-up, training to the seniors and “high touch” customer care. KIT’s computers are high performing desktop machines with touch-screen, fingerprint reader, large format keyboard, and basic email service and Internet access. KIT’s intent is to reach a broader client base by expanding the capabilities of the computers, improving usability and enhancing security. After evaluating several options, KIT embraced BigScreenLive for their future initiatives and have made it their “standard.”

On September 7, 2009, KIT began to launch a series of 30 day pilot schemes in three Care Homes (with a total of 180 residents) and in a sheltered housing scheme with 220 residents. The results have been very positive – with excellent feedback from residents, family members and the care home staff. One of BigScreenLive’s founders and current directors, Cayce Roy, was in the UK recently on other business, but had the opportunity to meet KIT’s leaders. Given the motivation of the KIT leadership, the impact they have already made in a short period, and the potential they believe exists in the UK, Cayce described the experience as “inspiring.”

BigScreenLive and KIT are now formulating plans for a large scale rollout across care homes in the UK. Under this program, BigScreenLive will release a “localized” version of its software-as-a-service product for use exclusively in the UK — with British terminology, local news, validated British Internet sites, etc. The prospects for BigScreenLive to rapidly secure a significant new base of paying customers in the UK is extremely exciting.

Aging in Place Technology Watch has released a report reviewing the market for technology that will help people remain living in their own homes as they get older. Analyst Laurie Orlov predicts in her 2009 Technology Market Overview Report that the market for technology to assist aging adults will grow from $2 billion today to more than $20 billion by 2020. Fueling this growth is the need for technology that supports communication and engagement, safety and security, heath and wellness, and learning and contribution.

Orlov predicts online seniors will increase from 13.7 million to 25.9 million by 2013. BigScreenLive’s platform provides a simple way for seniors and their families to use PCs for communication and engagement.

BigScreenLive’s simple and affordable solution is available for no-obligation free trial today.

BigScreenLive includes simple email in an easy-to-use interface.

We are fans of Laurie Orlov an ex-Forrester Research analyst who is now leading Aging in Place Technology Watch. Laurie has posted an interesting commentary on the state of internet usage by seniors.

She encourages the industry to get technology into the hands of seniors and thereby get them more engaged and active.