Tech exec lives in senior home for market insights

TORRANCE, Calif. (KABC) -- Dayle Rodriguez, a 28-year-old tech executive, traded his life for one week to live at Brooksdale, a senior living facility in Torrance.

While there, he looked for ways to get senior citizens connected to technology.

"I think often tech companies kind of implement ideas, but they don't really test the market enough," Rodriquez said. "I think we can be too prescriptive of what we do, so I think it's a very good idea to actually come live with residents, see how they interact, see what they want, get their feedback to get a product that actually works for them."

At 97 years old, resident Ofelia Lockman said that although she has outlived most of her family and friends, she is interested in sharing pictures and video messages with those she still can.

"We need to be part of the world as we're living in it. So technology has to be something that we are at least slightly acquainted with, if not more," Lockman said.

During his visit, Rodriquez took with him Sentab, a multimedia device geared toward seniors that hooks up to a television set. Features include phone calls, cognitive games, and social media and healthcare applications.

As smartphones and tablets become increasingly complicated, with a television and remote control, Sentab offers less tech savvy users more of the familiar.

While more tech companies attempt gain shares in the senior market, the greatest hurdle according to Rodriguez is the reluctance to try something new.