Launching at Senior Planet facilities nationwide, this system gives older adults an opportunity to discover and use new tech units in-person
NEW YORK, Dec. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — As a part of its mission to assist older adults thrive within the digital world, Older Adults Expertise Companies (OATS) from AARP is launching Tech Tank, an revolutionary program that enables contributors to have interaction with new applied sciences in a supportive atmosphere. This system, which launched this summer season at Senior Planet facilities in New York Metropolis and Palo Alto, will broaden to Senior Planet facilities throughout the nation—together with in Denver, Plattsburg and Miami—beginning in 2023.
The Tech Tank was created to assist demystify trendy know-how for older adults, too lots of whom are on the improper aspect of the digital divide. By providing an area, freed from boundaries, the place older adults can work together with new digital units with the assist of in-person trainers, this system goals to empower older adults with the abilities wanted to make use of and profit from right now’s revolutionary applied sciences, together with the Amazon Echo 8, VR headsets, drones, telepresence robots, and gaming consoles.
“From day one, our purpose has been to assist older adults harness the ability of know-how. The Tech Tank was born out of that purpose,” mentioned Tom Kamber, Govt Director of OATS from AARP. “By giving Senior Planet contributors an academic atmosphere to the touch, see, and experiment with new applied sciences in-person, the Tech Tank offers older adults the chance to discover digital units that might enhance their lives in transformational methods.”
For the reason that launch of Tech Tank’s pilot program in July 2022, over 50 contributors throughout two Senior Planet facilities have had the possibility to check out new tech units by way of its pilot program. After testing the idea with the Amazon Echo 8, Senior Planet carried out a survey with contributors and located that, regardless of discovering it extraordinarily helpful, over 50% of contributors had by no means heard of the gadget earlier than partaking with it within the Tech Tank.
“As somebody who likes to study, however is not admittedly essentially the most tech savvy, I’ve discovered the Tech Tank to be extremely helpful. It is also been an enormous confidence booster” mentioned Tech Tank participant Dorothy Zelder, an 80-year-old from Queens, NY, who participated within the Tech Tank Pilot Program. “This system gives a much-needed area for older adults like myself who’re desirous to stand up to hurry on new know-how in right now’s evolving digital panorama. I encourage all older adults to get on the market and take a look at it out!”
“I’ve seen older adults who’re on the middle for a category or 1-1 tech tutoring discover themselves exploring and studying about new merchandise organically because of the Tech Tank,” mentioned Heart Supervisor of Senior Planet in NYC Stella Fosu. “It is superb to see the intimidating veil of know-how instantaneously lifted when somebody picks up the performs round with precise merchandise. And it additionally reminds us to have enjoyable with know-how!”
Subsequent 12 months, the Tech Tank pilot will broaden past voice-automated units such because the Amazon Echo to supply its members a spread of latest experiences together with digital actuality (Oculus), Ring Doorbell and Fitbit.
About OATS from AARP
OATS from AARP helps older adults study to make use of and leverage know-how to rework their lives and their communities. By its flagship program, Senior Planet, OATS works carefully with older adults to create extraordinary experiences in-person and on-line. As one in every of AARP’s charitable associates, the mission of OATS from AARP is “to harness the ability of know-how to vary the way in which we age.” To study extra, go to www.oats.org or observe @OlderAdultsTech on social media.
Media Contact: Suzanne Myklebust, [email protected]
SOURCE Older Adults Expertise Companies from AARP
