Post 50 post50technologyHealth Post50

Nearly Half Of All Boomers Are Gaming, Survey Shows

Nearly Half Of All Boomers Are Gaming, Survey Shows
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The generation that honed its gaming chops with Sega and Atari is still playing, a new survey shows. Just under half of 1,800 post 50s said they play video games, in a survey conducted by the Entertainment Software Association.

“There is no longer a ‘stereotype game player,’ but instead a game player could be your grandparent, your boss, or even your professor. I suspect that the percentage of older adults playing video games will rise as baby boomers enter retirement, increasing the focus on positive effects of playing games," Jason Allaire, associate professor of psychology at North Carolina State University, said in a release.

Still, post 50s are getting some help from younger people when it comes to gaming. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said the children in their house help them decide which games to purchase and 62 percent said the kids are helping them learn new games and technologies.

But while they may have embraced Nintendo and Playstation, it's unlikely they're playing "World of Warcraft" or "Grand Theft Auto." The most popular type of games among older adults were card games, followed by puzzles or logic games, and trivia or word games.

The best part is, beyond just being entertained, post 50s can actually improve their cognition with video games. A University of Iowa in Iowa City study found just 10 hours of playing a specially designed video game helped to delay natural cognitive decline in post 50s by as much as seven years. Participants in the study who played a specialized game were found to have faster mental processing,

Another study Allaire co-authored at North Carolina State University found that older adults who played video games even occasionally reported better social lives and general well-being than those who did not.

"Across all game platforms and genres, Americans age 50 and over are exercising their minds and bodies, connecting with family members, and having fun with video games," ESA CEO Michael Gallagher said in a release.

Clarification: Language has been changed to reflect Baby Boomers' early experience with video games more accurately.

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Before You Go

Iphone Apps For Post50s
It's Done!(01 of10)
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When things become routine, the problem no longer becomes if you remember to do it, but rather if you remember if you've already done it or not. The "It's Done" app allows you to look back confidently that you did indeed take that vitamin or medication, or turn off the oven. It also allows completed tasks to be notified via text message or email, letting you rest easy that mom took her medication or the kids locked the door. (credit:itunes.apple.com)
Eye Reader ($1.99) (02 of10)
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Holding your menu dangerously close to the decorative candles at that new trendy restaurant you decided to try? This magnifying app utilizes the LED light of the iPhone 4 to help reading both small print and print in dark areas. Gently shake your phone once to deactivate the LED light and use Eye Reader on prescription labels or use "Save Picture" to send fine print to your photo roll. (credit:netsoftengr.com)
Pandora (Free) (03 of10)
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Pandora provides you with free personalized radio stations that will create custom stations based around your favorite artists or songs. The app is a great way to discover new music similar to your preferences and stream less-interrupted stations in your car, at work, or at home. (credit:itunes.apple.com)
Park 'n Find ($0.99) (04 of10)
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End your days of wandering aimlessly around parking lots and parking structures repeatedly clicking the "lock" button on your car keys. This app features a map that automatically zooms and pans as you move closer to your parking location and can also remind you when it is time to refill parking meters. (credit:itunes.apple.com)
iTriage (Free) (05 of10)
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This app created by two ER doctors offers a "Symptom-To-Provider" pathway to help you make better decisions and answer the two most common medical questions "What could be wrong?" and "Where should I go for treatment?" (credit:itunes.apple.com)
Mint.com (Free) (06 of10)
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This app serves as your own personal financial advisor, tracking your income, spending and investments all within a password-protected site. Mint also allows you to create preset budgets and will alert you if you surpass the limit. (credit:itunes.apple.com)
Ambiance ($2.99) (07 of10)
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This "environment enhancer" features over 2000 sounds, such as "large wind chimes", to help you unwind, block out distractions, or meditate. The app also allows you to create customize sound mixes and cycle through playlists. (credit:itunes.apple.com)
GasBuddy (Free) (08 of10)
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Never overpay for gas again. This app helps you find the cheapest gas by locating gas stations in the area and allowing you to compare their current gas prices. (credit:itunes.apple.com)
Fandango (Free) (09 of10)
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A must for movie-goers, this app allows you to find what's playing, view high-quality trailers, read rating and reviews, and seamlessly purchase tickets without leaving the app. With participating theaters, you can even go straight to the ticket-taker and simply have your mobile device scanned for entrance. (credit:itunes.apple.com)
AroundMe (Free) (10 of10)
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With a single click, this app locates various points of interest around you including hospitals, ATMs, bars, hotels, pharmacies and even parking! (credit:itunes.apple.com)
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