Ralph Woodbridge's 16-year-old grandson considers his iPod handy and edgy. At 76, Woodbridge thinks the iPod is old news. After all, Woodbridge has no need for an iPod; he can play the same mp3 songs on his watch, which doubles as a USB-compatible flash drive and an inconspicuous audio recorder, and it's still a sporty Quartz.

Woodbridge is one of a growing number of grandpas and grandmas utilizing electronic gadgets their grandkids haven't even heard of, a trend senior analysts say will only increase as the baby boom generation continues to age.

"As we get older we have more time to learn and enjoy technology," says Mary Furlong, who heads a company which tracks and predicts senior tech trends for businesses of all sizes.

Furlong says seniors have more money to buy products and more time to find them. Such was the case with Woodbridge, a Valley retiree who never thought he would need an mp3-playing watch, but now can hardly imagine life without it.

"It's so nice to be out at night, looking at the full moon, listening to 'Moonlight in Vermont,'" Woodbridge says of the watch. Woodbridge was not even looking for an mp3 player, but he could hardly pass up the Xonix watch when it was featured for half price on woot.com, one of his favorite Web sites.

Of course, his current play list, Greatest Piano Music, is generations away from the songs on his grandson's iPod, but Woodbridge does own some of the same gadgets used by his grandkids, like a PC with the latest software, a digital camera and a cell phone. Still, it was Woodbridge who introduced the grandkids to Skype.com, a Web service that offers unlimited, free worldwide computer-phone conversations.

Now his granddaughter Jennifer, a sophomore at Berkley University, uses Skype to keep in touch. "It's a beautiful program as it's free. You can call any place in the world at any time, at no charge," Woodbridge says. "It really saves on long distance phone calls."

Seniornet

When he's not listening to his mp3 player or scouting new electronics, Woodbridge volunteers as a lab technician at Scottsdale Seniornet, one of 270 Seniornet computer labs in the world.

Since 1986, the non-profit organization has been introducing senior citizens to PCs, word-processing and the Web. This summer Woodbridge will teach Seniornet's photo and graphics editing classes.

"These machines get the job done," he says of the 2.4 Ghz towers, complete with large-type keyboards and DVD players. But Woodbridge would really like to see an upgrade: DVD burners and better video cards.

"They'll be using all the latest cameras for their grandkids," Furlong says of the seniors in the near future. Furlong, who founded Seniornet in 1986, says much has changed since then. "Computers have entered the workforce, schools and now senior citizen centers."

A recent Pew Internet and American Life Project survey found 25 percent of seniors use Internet services. But experts acknowledge that many of the remaining 75 percent of seniors are still intimidated by technology or don't recognize a need for it. Woodbridge and other volunteers at Scottsdale Seniornet agree.

"We're in a different place with the baby boomer," Furlong says. The Pew study found only 25 percent of Americans 65 and older use the Internet, but that number jumps to nearly 50 percent when you reduce the age seven years to 58 and older. Reduce the number another 10 years to 48, and the number jumps to 64 percent.

Technology Meets Baby Boomers

As the largest demographic in the world's wealthiest country, the baby boomers have long commanded consumer markets. Now the tech-market is tuning in to their needs.

"Ninety-one percent of net assets are in the hands of the 40-plus market," Furlong says. "Seniors are the fastest growing part of the technology boom. Because people are living longer, it's an enormous marketplace."

Seniors have the time, money and motivation to use technology. Adding to the vast technology market, in two years the top of the baby boom generation will turn 60. In the next few years 78 million more baby-boomers will follow. "Sony and Apple both see this as a huge market," Furlong says. "The trends are not just technology, but fashion, passion, play, gardens, kitchens."

Senior Webbing

Seniors use the Web primarily for email and communication, while researching health information and reading news are also common. "Over 100 million people now use the Internet for health research," Furlong says, and that number is expected to increase as Americans age.

Furlong adds that the activities of older life are especially suited to Internet resources. "Emarketer just released a study showing that the Internet is graying and growing faster. It's ideal for handling finances, family history, trading stocks, running a small business, all the activities of older adult life."

Like Woodbridge, about half the seniors on the Web shop at e-commerce sites. Izzy Fromm, director of Scottsdale Seniornet, is old enough to tell stories of Pearl Harbor and has been using computers since 1969, when the IBM in his Mutual of Omaha office took up an entire room. Fromm says the advent of the PC is like nothing in history. "It's the greatest thing in the world. I do not write checks. Literally, I do not write one check," Fromm says.

Fromm also says fear of the unknown keeps many seniors from enjoying PCs. "Real beginners come in. They're fearful and afraid they're going to break something. After three or four lessons, they start to smile."

Furlong adds that she does not notice the same fear coming from baby boomers. "A couple variables make seniors good users of technology. Those factors will increase as baby boomers age."

Those variables include having more time and money, but more importantly, as the most educated generation in U.S. history, boomers are more attracted to technology, increasing the likelihood that Web sites like WebMD.com will grow in popularity.

Tomorrow's Technology

But the senior technology of tomorrow will likely extend well beyond traditional Internet and wireless uses. Lifestyle technology will take advantage of Bluetooth and other short-wireless applications, which are already making the SmartHouse of the future a reality.

In fact, Furlong was headed off for a SmartHouse demonstration when she finished our interview. A group of seniors from the United Kingdom recently moved into one of the first SmartHouses. The house features alerts for overflowing faucets as well as voice commands and memory reminders.

In Japan, toilet manufacturer Toto is already building a toilet that records and graphs urine and stool sample results. Another lavatory reportedly sends the results to a user's physician. Whether or not Americans ever sit down to such technologies, analysts like Furlong predict the senior houses of tomorrow will continue to meet their emerging needs.

In addition to health and safety applications, Furlong says technology providers will continue to devise ways to help seniors cope with loneliness. "Computers already can provide partners for Bridge and even personals for dating," she says.

Many senior romances have been sparked on the Web. Marge and Dick Piaget, both 74, began their successful relationship in a chat room. "I first got to know Marge in a Seniornet chat room," Dick Piaget says. "Later, after exchanging emails, I invited her to meet in person at a local Seniornet event."

The event went well and marriage followed. "Computers have really opened up a whole new world for us," Marjorie says. "Thanks to computers and the Web, I don't feel 70. I feel 40."