Posted by Peter Radsliff on Tue, Nov 10, 2009
Presto has this phenomenal product and service that is in essence an email machine that delivers email for seniors. It is resoundingly loved by Presto subscribers (adult children) and users (seniors) as is evidenced by customer satisfaction surveys we have conducted and user reviews on Amazon.com and Drugstore.com.
But what is the best way to inform people who could benefit from Presto and how it helps combat elder loneliness and facilitates long distance caregiving? Presto has advertised on television, on radio, in newspapers, in magazines and online. We have been on The View, The Martha Stewart Show, Montel, iVillage and many other TV and radio shows.
All of these things have brought us success, but they are expensive for any company to pursue. We've also done lots of direct mail and email campaigns and these, too, have been successful. But in this economy, it's very difficult for any company to continue to have expensive advertising campaigns.
So I thought I'd open up this question to you! What do you think we should do to spread the word about Presto to people who could use it? Please put your comments below. I'll send something nice in return for any one we use.
Posted by Peter Radsliff on Mon, Oct 26, 2009
It's funny how people in the high tech sector refer to the target recipients of elder technology as "those people who didn't grow up with technology." Nothing could be further from the truth. I'd like to see how the Facebook generation would cope with the first telephone, the first automobile, the first airplane, the first telephone answering machine, or the first electric typewriter…all within the first half of their lives. And what about the first calculator, the first teletype machine, the first facsimile, the first computer terminal, and of course, the first personal computer.
I actually think of my Dad's generation as the original "early adopters" of technology. Think about it, besides all of the marvels listed above, in his lifetime, he has seen the building of the Interstate highway system, international air travel, jets, space travel and man setting foot on the moon. Not to mention the Apple I computer, the PC AT and XT, plus DOS, Word Perfect, CalcStar and Lotus 1,2,3.
But after a certain age, people get lumped into the “they just don't ‘get it’” category not getting credit from the technorati of the day for their mastery of the phenomenal forward strides in technology they experienced throughout the 20th century.
So before we write-off our seniors as being too dimwitted to “get” Facebook, remember that they had "party lines" when they were kids and they knew how to socialize and make new friends in person, and they even knew it was the chicken's way out to send a “Dear John” letter (and it's still wrong to do so, even by text message).
Some of them choose Presto computerless email, because they think it's “cool” to get letters and photos faster than snail mail and without the hassle of Windows 7 upgrades, virus definition updates or Comcast triple play fees. And they might just know what they're doing using a system that let's them get incoming email without any expectation of written responses.
So cut grandma and grandpa a little slack. Recognize them for being the cool, early adopters that they were. And maybe listen closely when they don't get all excited about the latest tech gadget unveiled on Gizmodo (maybe, just maybe, it really wasn't that “cool” to begin with).
Posted by Peter Radsliff on Mon, Oct 19, 2009
[photo by PhotoDu.de used under the creative commons attribution license]
One of the more difficult discussions a child can have with their parent is when it is time to “take away the keys” because it’s unsafe for them to drive anymore. This is a emotionally charged issue. Not only does it signal a major change in lifestyle and independence, it also presents a difficult interpersonal situation for both parent and child. Here is a great article on the topic from geriatric expert Doctor Marion: [article]
But how about those other keys that may be bringing grandpa or grandma into a danger zone: the keys on their computer keyboard? Unlike the car, these keys don’t need to be taken away. But as he or she ages, they may need more help because of eyesight problems, arthritis, memory issues, or just the same issues we all deal with keeping our computers virus-free and running smoothly.
What I’ve done for the two elders in my life is get them each a Presto computerless email system in addition to their regular PCs. One of them wrote to tell me, “At first, I questioned the value of having another “gadget” in my house when I can already access emails on the computer. But I am here to tell you that at 86 years old, it is nice to have notes and pictures delivered to me with no effort on my part.” She went on to tell me, “I put the pictures on my coffee table or on the fridge. It gives me great pleasure to see them again and again throughout the day. I also love being able to carry them with me when I visit friends.”
When I asked how often she checked email, the answer I got was, “Once a week, or so.” When I asked if she ever printed out any photos that her six kids or 13 grandkids would email to her computer, she said, “No.”
If you’re a child of an elder loved one who is worried about them becoming lonely or disconnected from their broader family and friends, you may want to consider a computerless email system such as Presto as a supplement to their personal IT infrastructure. At least you’ll know that you can always get messages and photos to them, regardless of their PC’s condition, or their abilities.
Posted by Peter Radsliff on Tue, Sep 22, 2009
Here are ten reasons to get a Presto computerless email system for your grandparents this Holiday season:
1. It will let you contact grandma or grandpa when you really don’t have time for a 30 minute phone call.
2. You can eliminate excuses from extended family members for not staying in touch with the grandparents.
3. You can send digital photos to "gran" so you have something to talk about the next time you see her.
4. It's easy to send a list of important dates and events (birthdays, graduations, etc.) so grandma and grandpa don’t forget.
5. You can finally create and deliver Google map directions by email when they call to ask how to get somewhere.
6. You can also forward an authoritative article that proves to Grandma that you were right all along.
7. You are able to give the gift of bragging rights over their neighbors in the retirement village by sending same-day photos of their grandkids doing something spectacular.
8. Buying Presto for grandma and grandpa as a gift this holiday will save the family from enduring more “You never call” guilt trips.
9. You will make your grandparents the envy of all of their friends.
10. And finally, in finding the perfect gift for grandma or grandpa, you are also finding the perfect gift for you and the rest of the family, because you will never again need to get photo prints from the drugstore and send them via U.S. Mail. In fact, you can snap a photo with your iPhone, and email it to Grandpa who will get it a few hours later. And for grandma, how cool is that?
Posted by Peter Radsliff on Tue, Sep 22, 2009
Although the term nana-technology was coined in 2004 by Professor Andrew Carle of George Mason University, a pertinent question is whether this type of technology, focused on improving the quality of life for older adults, is working? As the country faces questions of fundamental access to health care, is the quality of life for seniors being lost in the shuffle?
As the CEO of a company that creates a "nana" technology, I see more and more pressure put on families trying to raise their own kids while helping take care of aging parents (the so-called “sandwich generation”). I also see more and more companies springing up with different variants of products and services to address this burgeoning market. But what I don’t see is any of those companies gaining any serious attention within the debate about restructuring healthcare.
When you consider the cost savings of aging-in-place versus moving a senior to an assisted living facility, even a delay of one MONTH would pay for a LIFETIME of Presto computerless email service. Considering that many caregivers live far from their parents, one would think that a tool that allows them to schedule medication or appointment reminders, send Google maps or web articles—not to mention photos of the grandkids—would be of high importance to help parents age-in-place while easing the work of caregiving. Besides, whether at home or in an institution, enabling extended family members to be only an email away from Grandma or Grandpa is priceless.
So if the value is so obvious, why isn't the government looking to Presto or any of the other nana-technology companies to help drive down the costs of caring for our aging population? Is it because the greatest generation is also the invisible generation, like so many elders have become before in American society?
Let's stop talking about “death panels,” and start talking about LIFE-panels, and investigate those nana-technologies, from Presto and others, that are ready and waiting to improve the quality of life for both grandparents and their sandwiched kids. Let's get the word out, and help millions of families in need know that help is available if they need it.
Posted by Peter Radsliff on Tue, Sep 22, 2009
Hi everybody! I'm Peter Radsliff, CEO of Presto Services Inc., developer of the Presto computerless email solution for seniors. It’s very important to me to let you know about the latest news about the Presto solution, the company itself, and other advances in technology that can help our elder loved ones age-in-place. So this blog is where you can find all sorts of information on these topics. In fact, we are continuing to focus on other extremely exciting caregiving-focused solutions that we will premiere in late 2009. So I recommend subscribing to the Presto Blog RSS Feed to stay abreast of developments in the field of elder technology.
If you are unfamiliar with the company, here is a bit about Presto…
Presto was founded in 2004 to find a better way to connect families using communication technologies that had been widely adopted by all but 58% of Americans over age 65* who don't go online. Since the initial launch of the Presto Mail service in late 2006, hundreds of thousands of people have finally enjoyed the ability to deliver to their elder loved ones a simple email with digital photo attached on the same day it was sent. As amazing as this sounds in 2009, getting email is still a revolution in independence for the majority of senior citizens.
Since Presto’s initial launch, we have found that many people use Presto to aid in remote caregiving of their parents, using Presto to deliver medication reminders, online maps and directions, boarding passes, and tax forms—the things the rest of us take for granted. In November of 2008, the company provided a system-wide upgrade called PrestoConnect. This provided an entire set of online tools to enable remote management of the Presto system, whole-family communication monitoring, pre-scheduling of future email deliveries, delivery confirmations and much more. In essence, we shifted Presto's features to be a tremendous aid for family caregiving, in addition to family communication.
I'd like to give my thanks to all Presto users who have turned this wonderful system into the vibrant ecosystem it is today. And, thanks to the dedicated people at Presto Services Inc., who come into work every day thinking of new ways to make the world better for our elder loved ones. You guys rock!
Peter Radsliff
*source: Pew Internet & American Life Project