Life has been busy lately and, between the rush and race of the daily duties and the mental burn out in the evening, I haven’t been able to string together enough thoughts to create a sentence. This is just a brief stop to share a random idea.
While I don’t seem to be able to form a coherent vision regarding any of my own businesses, I have moments of genius when it comes to other peoples’ stuff. The latest of those amazing insights is about the iPad.
A little back story (bear with me, I’m writing on 2 hours sleep and 2 fairly large glasses of very cheap chardonnay). During a recent business networking meeting one of the attendees gently chided another attendee for checking email and texting during the meeting. The alleged offender responded by showing everyone that she’d been taking notes on her iPhone. (Later she emailed the notes to the entire membership, thereby showing us all just how cool the whole technology thing is.)
Now for this to make any sense, assuming there is any chance its going to anyway, you need to know that many of the members of this group are on the far side of 50, some further than others. The e-note taker is in her 30’s. Why is this relevant?
The eyes!
If you don’t know what I mean, you’re in that 30’s and under demographic, but just wait. As my grandmother used to say, “You’ll be old someday, then you’ll see” (but not too well.) One day you’re squinting a little or adding just a little more light. The next day you have 6 pairs of half-eye readers stashed all over so you don’t actually have to wear them, just have them handy for the small print. Then you need stronger ones, but only for a few things, so certain ones have to stay in certain places. It can get very complicated. A tip from one who knows, make sure they all look different.
Back to the iPad (at last). It’s the large print version of the iPhone. No readers required. It’s a whole untapped market.
See – genius!
Ha… I feel you, my sister!! I feel you!! Glasses and bright light are my best friend (and even sometimes they let me down LOL)
NOW I finally get the ipad! thanks Kerry!!
Haha – not there yet but at 50 can’t be far away. Good excuse (like I need another one) to get the ipad. Saving up as we speak.
I can’t imagine taking notes on the iPhone with my big fingers. But an iPad or other tablet device will do just nicely…and be a good excuse for business presentation!
I am in my 40’s and can not see all those things …. LOL but it is irrelevant as I can not afford to buy one LOL But great read, really drew me in quickly.
Good idea and insight for Apples next marketing campaign. I hope you can sell them the idea and make a buck or two off it.
And on the eyesight as you get older thing, I am now approaching 50 and sure am glad that almost all apps on my laptop have a feature to magnify the display. My arms got way to short about 10 years ago. Now where did I put those glasses? ;o)
Kerry, I have to laugh at this. I finally broke down and went to the dollar store and bought reading glasses for every room! I love this post and your candid comments about your lack of sleep and drinking wine. Awesome.
LOL! meaning laugh out loud, not lot’s of love as I used to think it did, HA! Yes, I’m over 50, and yes I do wear readers, but that is one of the reasons I most love my MAC products….Big screens, change font size etc. So, once again…I say LOL! HA
I am so glad to know there are others out there having the same struggles with multiple pairs of reading glasses, getting squint lines without them, wishing that everyone would use larger print. Now I am thinking an iPad would be great after all! I enjoyed reading this; live your writing voice!
oops, I meant, LOVE your writing voice!
Great post. I was having a discussion about how many different pairs of glasses I had depending on the activity I was doing. Today a 30 year old co-worker handed me his iphone to show me a new app he had. I couldnt see it because I had the wrong glasses with me.
I am holding out for an ipad. you can enlarge the print on that. I can then read the books in any size font I want.
ha! I can relate to stashing the readers around the house (in the car, the purse….). As I quickly approach 50, I think the only downside is the inability to read small print, every other part of “midlife” is brilliant!
Hmmm, so it is! What a great post, Kerry! I loved your references to being over 50 and needing the readers. I wear glasses so have trifocals (which are old, so I can barely read the computer…) Anyway, I thought you were going to talk about how people over 50 are scrambling to get aboard the tech bandwagon! There’s another topic to blog about… 🙂
I have heard somewhere that the ipad is actually catering to the later generation from the big letter keyboard to “finger-typing.” I know another person who actually uses Skype on ipad so they can use it as a cellphone too. What a clever idea from Mac!
Now all they need to do is figure out how to make it fold up and fit in a pocket.
Follow and see the difficulty. Older eyes glasses for me and my small print. I heard people tout the Ipad as the greatest invention for the aging population . I guess they think we need pads in all kinds of places. I love the idea of glasses in every room, I always tell my clients to set up their spaces for how they live, so be sure to stock up on pretty glass trays or boxes for all that eye stuff !
Jennifer Duchene
The Home Makeover Mixtress blending cool and cozy style.
I have a hand made pine needle basket on the dining table for my newspaper and laptop glasses, plus the crossword puzzle pencils. In the office its a coffee mug from Hawaii, by my living room chair I use a Mug Boss. Very handy.
That’s a good point about iPad being a large-print iPhone. During the last legislative session here in Kansas, there was an important hearing on mental health funding. One of our advocates took notes through the entire meeting on her phone and e-mailed them to us in real time. We were able to take action next day. Amazing. The iPad would have made that easier for her.
The technology can be amazing – but only if you can see it. Then there’s all that thumb-typing. I want a device like an iPad that will either fold up or roll up to fit in my pocket.