Offered for about $1300, these HP desktops or laptops come with stripped down software like a simplified browser and word processor, medication adherence software, printers, and, of course, bigger keyboards/trackballs upon request.

And it all sounds great, really, until Microsoft claims, "This complete package is specifically designed for seniors who have had little or no experience with a computer. "

These systems are Vista PCs. And from what we can tell, there's no handy icon skin to make the OS easier to navigate. (Instead, Microsoft relies on its Ease of Access Center including magnifying glasses and audio cues.) Don't read this as some cheap shot against Vista; realize that any full-blown OS seems ridiculously complicated for a first-time (senior) computer user who just wants to learn to check email. Sorry Microsoft, but a simple Linux OS with about five icons is the way to go here. Or just hide Vista. [Senior PC via TechDigest]

Here's how it works: In the initial setup, you program a time limit—say, 20 minutes—for your future bathroom. From that point on, whenever you close the door and activate the alarm, the Help Lock will sound a preliminary alarm after the allotted time, giving the bathroom inhabitant 30 seconds to deactivate it. After that, the doorknob will initiate an alert call to whatever number you've chosen to enter, whether it be a neighbor or emergency services.

The concept seems like a pragmatic approach to a real problem for senior citizens, but begs for one minor modification. Does forcing an old person to scramble from a bathtub to deactivate an alarm that your forgot about sound like a good idea? Throw another minute on there and we've probably got a winner. Check out a more in-depth description of the Help Lock's functionality at [Yanko]

Other features that don't annoy the person who's calling you are text-to-speech for email and web page text and a pedometer to figure out how much you're exercising. If you ask us, we'd just insert this function into those dish washing robots and have them follow us around as a bodyguard/companion. – Jason Chen

What's that you say? Phone for seniors slows down voices, eh? [Digital World Tokyo via Textually]

Pretty interesting choice, seeing as these robots are designed to help seniors with household chores as they grow older and become unable to care for themselves. As Japan's population shifts to the late life, researchers are picking up the pace and developing robots to care for them when they retire. Perhaps when you think about it, designing a robot that looks like it can fight may be useful if they ever need to add security and self defense functions later. Not so great for the "companion" functions though. – Jason Chen

Japan mixes robotics with tea time [Yahoo News via Spluch]

It's hard to be a caregiver from far away. Before, when Riedel called her mother on the phone, Kimmel couldn't always remember what she had done that day. Now Riedel phones and checks on the computer a few times a week.

"I can track her weight," Riedel explains. "I can tell how much time she spent in bed. I can tell how restless she was. There's a graph that keeps track of that."

Interesting stuff. They could use this same type of technology to monitor children in day care centers so their parents can keep an eye on them from work. – Jason Chen

Home for Seniors Trades Privacy for Security [NPR via MedGadget]

With all the emphasis on phones that are thinner and more feature-rich, Emporia is targeting a different demographic with the EmporiaLife handset. Think of it as the large-print Reader s Digest version of the Razr. Big buttons and an easy to read LCD make it easy for someone with failing eyesight to operate the phone. Among the other features are a big red emergency button to call for help and the ability to run off AA batteries if the Li-Ion battery runs out of charge. The phone is even hearing-aid compatible. My Grandma s first text message will be U kds git off my lawn! l8r!

EmpriaLife Handset [via MobileBurn]