Top 10 Gifts For The Tech And Gadget Lover

Amazon Echo – WhiteGreat Fathers Day Presents – Gifts For The Tech And Gadget Lover

Fathers Day is rapidly approaching and it’s time to rack your brain for exactly what that special senior citizen man would like as a present.

My own father was difficult to buy for as he had everything he wanted. But, I know that he would have loved any and all of these gift ideas for the tech and gadget lover; Dad sure did love his gadgets.

So, without further ado, here are my top 10 picks for gifts for the tech or gadget lover (I should know as my husband, like my father, owns every new gadget that comes on the market!).

1. Amazon Echo

I’ve chosen the Amazon Echo as my #1 gift for a tech or gadget lover because, well, I just adore the thing. And, when it comes to being functional for the elderly, you can’t beat the Amazon Echo or Amazon Dot.

Recently, the Amazon Echo family got even more valuable with the ability to place or answer phone calls. How cool is that? No more running to get the phone when your favorite senior citizen friend can answer from their chair!

To see more details about the Amazon Echo, please check out my article: Amazon Echo, Amazon Tap, Amazon Dot

 Amazon Echo – Black Echo Dot (2nd Generation) – Black + Philips Hue White Starter Kit Amazon Tap – Alexa-Enabled Portable Bluetooth Speaker Amazon Echo: Master Your Amazon Echo; User Guide and Manual (Amazon Echo Updated 2017 User Guide)

2. Smart TVs

Smart TVs are one of the best gifts for a senior citizen friend for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the ease of use. Another bonus is there’s only one remote needed to watch shows on HBO NOW, Netflix, Starz, etc.

Apps are being added every day for smart TVs; Mom loved the weather and world news apps the best.

If you purchase the Amazon Fire TV, your favorite senior citizen can also watch any Amazon Prime subscription movies or TV shows provided they have an Amazon Prime membership ($99/year and free shipping on Amazon – well worth the money).

 All-New Element 50-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV – Amazon Fire TV Edition LG Electronics 55LH5750 55-Inch 1080p Smart LED TV (2016 Model) Sony KDL48R510C 48-Inch (47.6 Samsung UN40J5200 40-Inch 1080p Smart LED TV

3. TV Streaming Devices

Perhaps your senior citizen friend has a newish TV and doesn’t really need a smart TV. That’s where streaming devices come in.

My favorite streaming device is the Amazon Fire Stick. It just plugs right into the back of the existing TV through a USB port.

And, like the Amazon Fire TV, if you’re an Amazon Prime member, all Amazon Videos are free to view!

The Apple TV is also a good streaming device, particularly if you have a lot of Apple devices or use iTunes.

 Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote | Streaming Media Player Roku Streaming Stick (3600R) Amazon Fire TV | Streaming Media Player Apple TV Box Digital HD Media Streamer (3rd Generation) A1469 MD199LL/A

4. Smart Watches

My husband has a smart watch fetish and now owns four of the things. He loves each one and is always scouting for the newest, best smart watch.

A basic smart watch will have apps such as heart monitor, GPS, and, of course, a clock! More advanced smart watches even let your senior citizen friend answer the phone right from their wrist – shades of Maxwell Smart (if you’re old enough to remember that reference….).

 Apple 42mm Smart Watch – Space Grey Aluminum Case/Black Band Samsung Gear S2 Smartwatch – Classic Garmin vívoactive Black Pebble Time Smartwatch – Black

5. Noise Cancelling Head Phones

Particularly if your elderly love one lives in an institutional environment, like a nursing home or retirement center, noise cancelling head phones can provide a sense of peace and quiet that they were lacking.

 Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones, Noise Cancelling – Black Cowin E-7 Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth Over-ear Stereo Headphones – Black Sony MDRZX110NC Noise Cancelling Headphones Philips SHB8750NC/27 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones, Black

 6. Drones

My husband hopped on the drone wagon the very minute they became available. His is the first generation and is rather large so I’m sure another smaller drone is on his shopping list.

Operating a drone from a back porch can give your senior friend a whole new perspective on their yard, a sunset, or even the roof of their house. And, they’re a whole bunch of fun!

 Cheerwing Syma X5SW-V3 FPV Explorers2 2.4Ghz 4CH 6-Axis Gyro RC Headless Quadcopter Drone UFO with HD Wifi Camera (White) Holy Stone HS170 Predator Mini RC Helicopter Drone 2.4Ghz 6-Axis Gyro 4 Channels Quadcopter Good Choice for Drone Training Syma X5C Quadcopter equipped with HD cameras, 2.4G 6 Axis Gyro Kolibri Discovery Delta-Recon Camera App Drone Tactical Edition (Military Matte Drab Green) U818A-WIFI

7. Smart Lightbulbs

I’ll be the first to admit I had never heard of a smart light bulb until 2 months ago when John appears with one for our den.

Smart light bulbs are wifi and/or bluetooth compatible so you can play music right through the light bulb! If you buy a bluetooth smart light bulb and you have Amazon Eho or any of those components, you can ask Alexa to play whatever you’d like! Also, most of them come with the ability to change the light color so you can adjust the mood of the room.

Also, most of them come with the ability to change the light color so you can adjust the mood of the room.

 MagicLight Bluetooth Smart LED Light Bulb – Smartphone Controlled Sunrise Wake Up Lights – Dimmable Multicolored Color Changing Party Lights Bulb – 7 Watts (60Watts Equivalent) Flux Bluetooth Smart LED Light Bulb, 2nd Generation – Color Changing Lightbulb – Smartphone Controlled Sunrise Wake Up Light – Dimmable Night Light Wowfeel Smart Wifi LED Light Bulb 7W Dimmable Multicolored Color Changing Lights Work with Amazon Alexa, Smartphone Free APP Control Sylvania Smart+ Lightify RGBW Tunable White & Color LED Bulb, 60W A19, Works with Amazon Alexa, SmartThings, 2-Pack

8. Kindles

Kindles are wonderful gadgets for those who enjoy reading. And, since it may be more difficult to get out and about as we age, the ability to buy a book online and start reading in seconds is a huge plus.

Also, as we age, our eyesight usually diminishes, making reading more difficult. But, an E-ready can fix that by allowing your senior citizen friend to increase the font as needed.

Since Kindles are backlit, no additional light is needed, making reading in bed a breeze. No need to get up and turn off that light. And, if one wants to sit in a sunny environment and soak up some nature, they’ll be able to read on any Kindle device as they use E-ink.

 Kindle Paperwhite E-reader – Black, 6 Kindle E-reader – Black, 6 Kindle Voyage E-reader, 6 Kindle Oasis E-reader with Leather Charging Cover – Merlot, 6

9. Wifi Mesh Network

If you ever go visit your parents or grandparents and find the internet s-l-o-w, you can now do something about it!

Wifi mesh networks take the existing wifi signal and makes the coverage more balanced throughout the house meaning your favorite senior friend doesn’t have that dead spot in the living spot where you phone won’t work.  it so it’s like creating another wifi spot (still on the same network).

Mesh networks use small devices that are hot spots and therefore boost the signal of the home wifi. The boosting gives the internet additional speed and responsiveness. And, you can add as many boosters to a home as you’d like.

 Google Wifi system (set of 3) – Router replacement for whole home coverage Luma Whole Home WiFi (3 Pack – White) – Replaces WiFi Extenders and Routers, Works with Alexa, Free Virus Blocking, Free Parental Controls, Gigabit Speed eero Home WiFi System (Pack of 3) – Blanket Your Home in WiFi, Replaces Wireless Router and Range Extender, Gigabit Speed, WPA2 Encryption Linksys Velop Tri-band Whole Home WiFi Mesh System, 3-Pack (coverage up to 6000 sq. ft), Works with Amazon Alexa

10. Home Weather Stations

Even though Mom was firmly rooted in her easy chair, she was always interested in what the temperature was outside and what the forecast one. One of these home weather stations gadgets was right on her side table so, at a glance, she was our weather girl.

We would always ask Mom what the weather was, multiple times a day, as she just really liked having that information for us. It gave her a job to do, and we really appreciated it!

 AcuRite 02064MA1 Pro Weather Station with PC Connect, 5-in-1 Weather Sensor and My AcuRite Remote Monitoring App La Crosse Technology 308-1414B Wireless Atomic Digital Color Forecast Station with Alerts, Black AcuRite 75077 Weather Forecaster with Jumbo Display, Remote Sensor and Atomic Clock La Crosse Technology 327-1414W Color Wireless Wind Speed Weather Station, Black

So, there’s my picks for the top 10 gifts for the techie or gadget person. Did I miss anything? If so, please let me a comment below. I’d love to hear from you.