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Will technology help senior drivers stay behind the wheel longer?
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Mature drivers embrace enhanced safety technology in cars, but theyre leery of becoming too reliant on it, according to a new survey.

The Hartford and MIT AgeLab surveyed more than 300 drivers ages 50 to 69 to see what technology in their motor vehicles theyd be willing to adopt. The mature drivers said theyd be most willing to pay for tools to help them stay out of accidents.

The survey found that the vast majority were more than happy to consider reverse backup cameras required in all cars by 2018 as well as systems that monitor blind spots, so-called smart headlights and collision-avoidance tools including lane-departure warnings.

But more than 4 in 10 worried theyd become too dependent on parking-assistance technology, while a quarter expressed the same concern about adaptive cruise control. And while 75 percent were interested in seeing and learning about a self-driving car, just 31 percent said they would buy one, even if it didnt cost any more than other cars.

This is the latest in a three-year series of studies with MIT on evolving vehicle technology, said Jodi Oshevski, lead gerontologist and executive director of The Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence, which studies issues of interest to a mature market and recommends products to the insurance and mutual fund company. "We looked at the top technologies, which are becoming more available, not just in high-end cars. It's important drivers learn about them and how they work especially mature drivers. The question has been, how do we help older drivers stay on the road safely for as long as possible? We think these technologies are important."

Age-related change

Scott Fischer, owner of a Chicago-based recruiting firm, is not so worried about his own driving skills at age 55. But he has college-age daughters he wants to keep as safe as possible and he believes technology may help that.

He's also watched his 83-year-old dad face the need to scale back driving to match changes in his capability. Night driving for his father is harder than it used to be, so he tries to avoid it. And he doesnt like to drive too far these days, so he keeps his travel pretty local.

Sandwiched between two generations, Fischer was happy to be included on The Hartford/MIT AgeLab panel. He said he believes that improvements in technology will make it possible for older drivers to drive longer safely and put off, at least temporarily, giving up their car keys.

But he has not yet reached that inevitable moment with his father.

"Dad doesnt want to give up driving. Technology has options that would definitely free us from some of the worry and allow him to drive longer," he said.

Thats a growing dilemma that multiple generations of families face. By 2030, 70 million-plus Americans will be at least 65, and more than 90 percent of them will have a driver's license. For some of them, because of health or vision problems or even limited physical flexibility, the decision to drive will be risky. The Deseret News earlier looked at the challenges posed when it's no longer safe for someone who's older to drive.

Tech to the rescue?

For several years, The Hartford and MIT have been looking at the intersection between driving and aging to see which technologies will benefit aging drivers, said Jodi Olshevski, lead gerontologist at The Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence.

One of the good news stories is that many of the technologies can help enhance driving for some of the normal changes that occur, especially around flexibility and range of motion, she said.

Simple inability to turn the head or twist around adequately to check blind spots can pose real risks, she said, noting not all the solutions are high-tech. Some basic flexibility exercises can also preserve ability and make driving safer. But tools, tech or otherwise, only work if you use them. The survey revealed attitudes toward technology and whether drivers were willing to take advantage of it.

One of the misperceptions is that the older consumer is resistant to new technology, Joseph Coughlin, director of MIT AgeLab, told the Deseret News. Ninety percent were willing to have at least one (tech tool) in their car maybe more. As new generations that are more technologically advanced age, even more will be willing to give it a go, he said.

While a few study participants had backup cameras in their cars, the survey subjects were deliberately, for the most part, those with little in the way of technology in their vehicles, said Olshevski. Faced with so many new choices, they consistently said yes to two: the blind-spot warning system and reverse backup cameras.

Coughlin said he believes as people become more use to the technologies and better informed about their capability, it will lead eventually to a reinvention of the driving experience.

Its critical, we think, that drivers as they age learn to adopt these tools, said Olshevski. The hope is these technologies will help to enhance driving.

As for Fischer, he was stunned by the techology opportunities available and those that are in planning stages. As a guy who's on the road a lot, he said, he'd wait for the driverless car and other advanced tech options to be tested out thoroughly. But the idea of technology that would "give me the ability to access my office while I'm driving is something I am really excited about."

The Hartford has published a guidebook and video quiz to help older drivers learn about the technologies now available in cars. They can be found at thehartford.com.
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How to avoid 'sharenting' and other paparazzi parenting habits
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A recent study revealed parents often spend up to two hours staging a single photo of his or her child to post online. - photo by Amy Iverson
Before having kids, some people just dont appreciate their friends baby posts. But after having a child of their own, three fourths of new parents jump right on the parental social media bandwagon. If you have become a member of this group, there are some rules to follow for posting responsibly.

Much of a parents worry is how to teach their children to use social media responsibly. We talk with our kids about privacy, oversharing, and setting restrictions on their devices to keep them safe. But parents themselves need to look in the digital mirror once in a while. Before having children, it doesnt take as much effort to think about what to post online. Its up to us to decide what we share about our own lives. But once you become a parent, there are many questions to think about regarding what is appropriate to post about your kids on social media.

In a recent survey, kids clothing subscription company Mac and Mia surveyed 2000 new parents to find out how they are documenting their kids lives on social media, and what concerns they may have.

First of all, people without children seem to feel a bit differently about the onslaught of baby pictures online than those who are parents. 18 percent of people say before they had kids, they were annoyed by their friends baby posts. But after having children of their own, 73 percent admit they post progress pictures of their little ones every single month.

Not only are new parents letting the world know each time their baby is a month older, but they are posting about their kids every few days or so. Men and women report they post 6-7 times per month about their baby.

And while 70 percent of new parents say the benefit of using social media is how easy it is to help family and friends feel involved, there are some downsides. Here are a few tips to avoid the pitfall of becoming paparazzi parents.

Dont miss the moment

In the Mac and Mia survey, some parents admitted to spending up to two hours to get the perfect shot of their baby. That seems a little extreme. New and old parents alike should be careful about spending so much time taking pictures and videos that they dont enjoy the moment. Years ago, I decided to never live an experience through my phone. A study by Linda Henkel, a psychology professor at Fairfield University in Connecticut, found that when people took pictures of objects in an art museum, they didnt remember the objects as well as if they simply observed them.

This photo-taking impairment effect can happen to parents as well. If we are so consumed by getting the perfect photo, we can miss out on the moment all together, and our memory of it will suffer.

Dont forget about privacy

60 percent of couples say they have discussed rules and boundaries for posting their babys photos, according to the Mac and Mia survey. Even so, men are 34 percent more likely to publish baby posts on public accounts. If parents are concerned about their childrens privacy, keeping photos off of public accounts is a given.

In the Washington Post, Stacey Steinberg, a legal skills professor at the University of Florida, and Bahareh Keith, a Portland pediatrician, wrote that sharing too much information about kids online puts them at risk. They write that all that sharenting can make it easier for data thieves to target out kids for identity theft. Check that your privacy settings are where they should be and never share identifying information like full names and birth dates.

Dont be paparazzi parents

36 percent of parents say they take issue when their childs photo is posted online by someone else. Responsible social media users will always ask permission before posting a photo of another child. But parents should also think about whether their own children will take issue with their own posted photos a few years down the road.

When parents are constantly snapping pictures and throwing them on social media, it can be easy to forget to pause and make sure the post is appropriate. I always use the billboard example with my kids. I ask them to picture whatever they are posting going up on a billboard in our neighborhood. If they are okay with that, then their post is probably fine. Parents should ask themselves this same question when posting about their children. But they should also ask themselves if their child would be OK with this post on a billboard in 15 years. If it would cause embarrassment or humiliation, it might be best to keep it private.

Once children reach an appropriate age, parents should include them in the process of deciding what pictures are OK to post. Researchers at the University of Michigan surveyed 10- to 17-year-olds and found children believe their parents should ask permission more than parents think they should. The kids in the survey said sharing happy family moments, or accomplishments in sports, school and hobbies is fine. But when the post is negative (like when a child is disciplined) or embarrassing (think naked baby pictures or messy hair), kids say to keep it off social media.
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