Gadget Gurus - Jitterbug Offers Wellness Calls for Seniors

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Jitterbug Offers Wellness Calls for Seniors

Written by Rich McComas

An onslaught of new wellness features coming out in 2011 will no-doubt make Jitterbug the first vertical market consumer cell phone to provide enough service and software innovation to actually make seniors go out and buy what is otherwise an unremarkable cell phone.

The Jitterbug phone is easy-to-read and easy to use, a perfect phone for seniors and others who may otherwise be technology phobic. What sets the phone apart, however, is not the hardware but an evergrowing slate of services which back up this unique offering.

Right off the bat, users will appreciate that pressing 0 or 611 doesn't just connect you with a computer voice, but instead, this phone is supported by 24 hour live operators who are immediately available. Give them a new phone number for a friend or family member, and they will program it into your phone's memory for you, or ask for help with any feature of the phone or service.

During 2010, instead of leapfrogging hardware like most phone developers, Jitterbug will be focussing their development energy on a variety of new health offerings, beginning with a weekly phone call offering a new health tip, followed by a couple of yes-or-no questions about your emotional and physical health. The answers to your questions are available at myjitterbug.com for seniors to evaluate their progress or for family members to check on from time to time. MyJitterbug.com is also available to family members who may be a bit more tech-savvy to program your speed dial numbers for you etc.

Also coming soon are features such as a medicine voice call reminder which asks you to confirm that you have taken your medicine with Yes or No response, again with tracking information on MyJitterbug.com. Also, subscribers can request a daily wake-up call or check-in call just to make sure you are doing OK.

Jitterbug plans range from $15-30 per month. Some of the higher level subscription plans also include roadside assistance and other services, making Jitterbug a one-stop shopping solution for seniors.

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TECH2 LAKE HOUSE

UPDATE - The exterior of the Technology Lake House is complete and we are now working on interior finishing and electronics. Last year, San Francisco's Channel 7 ABC News ran a special video report on the construction progress of the Technology Lake House, and we expect them back for a follow-up soon. Click HERE for a DLINK Live Video Feed with pan and zoom features (userid=user, no password, daylight hours only).

Ron Rosberg's current project home, the Technology Lake House, is currently under construction on the shores of Clearlake in Northern California. Even though the house is a wireless demo house, we have installed more than seven miles of wires in the walls for dozens of flat panel TVs, speakers, control panels, and sophisticated lighting. So far, more than a dozen technology and fixture manufacturers have agreed to sponsor this project, which has been simmering in Ron's head since he attended the first CES show in New York in 1967. The 7,500 square foot project (plus three existing rustic cabin guest houses) is being built on a five-acre Honeymoon Cove resort with 500 feet of beach directly across from Konocti Harbor Resort. This summer retreat will host technology gatherings annually, inviting Western states home builders, contractors, and technology consultants for a live open house showcasing the latest in home technologies. There is room to park plenty of boats, so plan on coming up for some lake fun after the project is complete. For more info, send email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call 707-995-2683. To see the latest photos, visit Ron's Flickr gallery.

We are currently looking for products to evaluate in these areas:

Home automation: lighting, security, and entertainment
A/V technology for the 500 SF home theater media demo room

Hot News on Cool New Features: The ENTIRE front of the home is made of 21 sliding NanaWall glass panels that fold into the walls, opening the entire home up to the lake during demo days.

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