Problem: Technology has become a device for the storage of information rather than using our own memory, and without this info we become lost.

So: With technology becoming the means of our memory we produce less brain, mind exercise or activity that creates less stimulation, brain activity. Exercising the mind is just as important as exercising anything else. As one ages the means of exercising the brain becomes very important.

Reason: PDA's and cell phones store bits of information that are important to us. Instead of seeing and remembering the names, numbers, and schedules ourselves, technology has made us make it as simple as pushing a button.

So: As one becomes dependable on this assistant to organize one's life, one's memory only depend to press a button to see what needs to be done or how to do something.

Problem: Once this assistant is lost, broken, stolen, or misplaced, one doesn't remember what to do at 4:30 or how to call ones friend or relative.

Question: How can the use of technology become ones use of memory storage without the means of diminishing ones own use of storage with their own mind?

Concept: Throughout research, a study found that writing out images, numbers, or letters helped improve ones memory by means of actively doing something and by seeing visually a set of images related to their action. Create a cell phone or perhaps a PDA that to input information or even to retrieve information one only needs to write it out.

How is it different than a cell phone or PDA? As one inputs information into a cell phone or PDA, numbers are easy to find and remember, but as for letters when spelling names or telling you where to go at 4:30 on Tuesday the 29th, it becomes rather complicated. For letters on a cell phone, letters are represented by sets of numbers where 2=abc, 3=def, 7=pqrs, etc. Rather than typing in letters, one relies on their knowledge that to input the letter B one needs to press the number 2, twice. And to put the letter C after the letter B one needs to press a skip or directional button telling the computer not to put the letter C in as the only letter. Now that was already difficult enough to explain. Imagine explaining to a person how to spell their name on these devices such as the name Fred. Would you rather write the name Fred or type in the numbers 33377733>3. Even to call a person could be easier. Write down "Call Bobby" rather than pressing "Names, 2,2,down a few times, then press talk."

Okay, then how about the PDA? Okay, this is a slightly better use of inputting information but it still is not what all people know what to do. In order to learn this language called "Graffiti" one can learn it rather fast. But it still is a new language. The letter "T" is now half of a T or an upside down letter L. The letter A is the letter A now without the line in the middle, or an upside down V. The letter F is only half of an F or as like the letter T an upside down letter L, only facing the other direction. The letter K is now some a graceful loop. This has been a great invention but for people that do not want to learn a new language it is rather difficult to understand.

What other advantages are there to this Pen-Cell besides the memory issue? Well, several! Through research and observation as people age they lose their sense of feel or touch. The tactile feelings in their fingers diminish. So when it comes to pressing buttons it hurts and they don't know if they are pressing the right buttons since cell phone buttons are so darn close to each other. Also as one ages, they slowly lose their vision. Even I sometimes have a hard time reading the text on the buttons of a cell phone. I asked several senior helpers and volunteers if they trusted in what they wrote without looking. As I figured, all of them were fine with it. In fact a few went into a dark room with a pen and wrote down a few sentences. They said they were surprised about how accurate their writing was. Writing is something that we grow up doing. We know it like touching our nose. The use of writing rather than typing is comforting for seniors when it comes to portable devices. I still know people that are scared of the keyboard. They would always wonder why the letters a, b, and c were not next to each other. Other advantages that I have figured out while creating this product is the ability to have more privacy, or at times be able to communicate. As one becomes older their ability to hear decreases. Even now people have a hard time hearing their cell phone in a busy mall, a busy road, at a club, in a congested area, or just somewhere that is louder than their phone. Since this device recognizes handwriting, it means that it can convert voice to text or text to voice. Let's say one person is in a busy mall and another is in a quiet restaurant. Lets say one person prefers to talk but the other person can't hear a thing they say. Well in this product, as one-person talks, that voice is translated into text for the other person to hear. The person that is in the busy mall could then reply by writing, which in turn would convert into a voice. Have you ever had a phone call at the wrong time? Perhaps when you were at a movie, gallery, conference, restaurant, classroom, museum, or something of that nature? Of course you have if you own a cell phone. What did you do? Most likely you huddled into the corner of a room to whisper or you answered then hung up. Did that person repeatedly call back? Yeah, a few times. Well why not answer the phone and tell them that you are busy, will call them in 20 minutes, say no or yes to a brief question, I am located on the second floor of this building, or anything else, all silently. All that is needed is to write. Speaking in a restaurant on a cell phone seems rude to many. Well, it is in a sense. Talking to someone that is not there. Or perhaps you don't want to talk because you don't want anyone to hear what you have to say. Write it down. This device could even be a cell phone for the deaf.

Is there anything else? Of course! Another thing that I found during research was that people hated to lose their cell phone or PDA because of all of the precise information that was on it. Well the memory issue could help a little here but some people have lots of phone numbers and names to remember. So what could be done that could ease their life into this gizmo? Information is generally stored in the cell phone or PDA. Well, I propose information to be stored in a local server instead or as well. Information would be stored in the little gizmo for quick access but whenever new information is added, that information would be stored in the server's memory bank as well. So if you do lose you cell phone one day, you could purchase another one and access all of your information again. A lost phone is just the phone, not the information.

Does this do anything else? Yes! Since the information is stored in a server, you can access your account or address book from anywhere. Let's pretend you forgot your phone on vacation with some buddies. You want to make a call but you don't want to run up you buddies bill. In this situation you could log on to your own account with his phone. It would be like an E-mail account. Using a computer to access your account. To log in to your account perhaps the owner would have to sign in and write share with David. Then David could sign-in and use his account rather then his friends.

Is there more? Well, if you need it. Another complaint that I found while interviewing and surveyed people about the use of their cell phone was that there was too much information on them. My proposal is that during the purchase of the Pen-Cell one would customize what is wanted. Everything in the future will be customized to almost everything the user needs or wants. Other abilities could be the ability to translate languages, having the capability for the Pen-Cell to also be a notepad, or perhaps a phone that converses with the user. Even the idea to have the Pen-Cell recognize an image or a sketch as a person. Perhaps you don't want to remember a friend by a name or a number but rather by a sketch of a happy face. Maybe there could be an option to add on a scanner to read small text in a book or a magazine; it could quickly upload images and text of a business card to your home computer. Could this device also be ones credit card or an I.D? Sure! A credit card is basically a piece of plastic with a little info and your signature. Why not use your pen as your card, as you probably use it to sign a card anyway.

How will the design of the form benefit a senior user? That is something that has definitely been considered! From the very start, studies into the ergonomics for the actively aging were made. Several ergonomically built pens and other hand-held devices were assessed. Studies of what the most comfortable grips and widths for an older person to use were also made. Most importantly was the transition of the user or the actual movements while using the Pen-Cell. Pulling it out, to holding it, to writing, then viewing, to putting it up to ones head, to even the trust factor of designing to communicate the trust of the product. Little things like making the phone angled so that people felt like they were speaking more directly into the microphone. Even putting small bumps onto the side of the phone so that the need to pinch the phone is reduced and instead the phone would rest onto the users fingers due to the bumps. The design of the Pen-Cell will be one with style that all age groups will enjoy. Seniors do not like it when younger people do not buy products that they use. They want something that younger people use as well and that can benefit them. When a younger person has a product that a more matured adult has, they feel younger and a great deal better about themselves. This product was created to enhance the life of the actively aging with the challenge to also catch the attention of a younger audience to improve their lives.

Why did you choose a combination of orange and white with silver? When I sent out surveys requesting information about preferences on materials and colors, I also asked for them to give me a theme or something. Many people gave me answers but a few gave me scenarios like "I wanna walk down a hallway and whip out my phone so that everyone looks at me", "I want to be able to make people jealous of me because I don't need a notepad, pen, and cell phone but rather just this gizmo", " I want to be able to tell my friends that I know they said that to me on the phone!!!" Surprisingly the seniors that I contacted wanted a cool, looking new gizmo since it was a great idea. Why orange? Well I feel that orange makes a great deal of people feel good and happy. The form and play with lines on the final shape are partly playful and a better means of communicating where to hold and where to speak into. The silver tip and the back button of the pen are to accent the whimsical shape with a high tech feel and look. It was also made to echo the silver buttons and tips of classical click pens.

Conclusion The Pen-Cell started out with a really deep idea that would probably not sell great in the market, but with the technology that it contained it offered a great amount of other uses that would help people of all ages. From being able to communicate with out hearing, the ability to communicate without having to speak in perhaps a public area, quickly being able to input information rather than squinting and pushing buttons, to being able to share or access one's information from anywhere. The project started out for a certain age group but the task to generate interest for a younger generation and that did not specifically seem made for that certain age group became the real problem. To create a product that can help one and even perhaps make one feel more comfortable about jumping into this technology trend is a large benefit that can make one feel more comfortable and less dependant on others to learn.