Tech Shout!

If you are looking out to buy your grandparents or older relatives a silk scarf or maybe a fruitcake for the holidays, then think again. A new survey that was conducted by Harris Interactive and commissioned by Nintendo revealed that 52 per cent of grandparents and 68 per cent of baby boomers, who celebrate the holidays, would be thrilled to receive a technology product as a gift this holiday season.

What is fascinating to know is that at least half of that group, i.e. 27 per cent of grandparents and 34 per cent of baby boomers said that they would love it if they received a portable video game system, such as a Nintendo DS Lite.

“These results confirm that even as folks get older, they still want the same cool tech toys as everyone else,” says George Harrison, Nintendo of America’s senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. “A 2006 survey by the Entertainment Software Association revealed that 25 percent of all gamers are 50 or older. Fortunately, we have titles like Brain Age for Nintendo DS to satisfy all the grown-up kids on your shopping list.”

Nintendo continues to reach out to new audiences, including grandparents and baby boomers, with games like Brain Age(TM): Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day. The hit game, made for the hand-held Nintendo DS Lite system, helps users keep their minds sharp while they have fun with a variety of word, number and memory puzzles. It was the hit of the AARP’s recent “Life@50+” expo and attracted many grandparents to Nintendo World in New York for a Grandparents’ Day battle of the brains. Baby boomers and seniors worldwide use it daily as a fun way to keep their minds sharp.

So all you tech heads who had absolutely no idea what to get your grandparents this holiday season, well now you know. Don’t be surprised if they ask to play on your Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 for that matter.