Gadgets

Our fascination with gadgets is a simple symptom of human curiosity matched with innovation. Chances are, even with the waterfall of new technological advances that poured off the tail end of the 20th century to fill news streams and forums of the 21st, seniors and the elderly can recall with relish the 'lower tech' patents and inventions that made it possible for us to reach this new state of advancement. New and useful daily aids that fall into the gadget category aren't just handy, they fill us with that great wistfulness on which such an innovative country was formed. Hey, it really is the little things that make for big smiles, and innovations like hands free book holders, the latest in hand held vibrating massagers, playing card holders, swivel seat cushions, button and zipper aids, and talking calculators equal hours of fun and easier days. Perhaps one of the more telling items of the age is the ION USB-Powered Vinyl to MP3 Turntable. Now Grandma and Grandpa (or Mom and Dad) can finally hear their favorite crooners and rockers (not the chairs) on the go, letting the bulky, yet entirely unique sounding, LPs stay home to hold down the shelves as they've done so well for decades. Lighted magnifying glasses and even desk lamps with magnifiers are fantastic inventions for those with waning eye strength, while metal pill crushers make taking medication a "much easier pill to swallow."