WIDGETS by WERCHICK

Tech that makes sense for seniors -- or not

Among other obsessions, Arne is an inveterate collector of techie gadgets which might or might not end up proving useful for seniors, gizmos for geezers as it were. From resources llike Amazon, Walmart, other online electronics and tech vendors, even eBay on occasion, he acquires and tries to enjoy almost any reasonably priced innovation which may prove fun or useful. This page will present occasional discussions and reviews and maybe the occasional warning. Got a widget in mind that needs looking into, e-mail Arne at arnwer@duck.com with your suggestions.

August 2025

Meta Quest 3 VR Device

(Purchased from Walmart)

Quest 3 Headset

Since I'm going to label this a "don't buy", let's open with the pluses. Virtual Reality is truly amazing and no doubt has a great future (just not in this box). According to all the reviews, the Meda Quest 3 VR device leads the pack by far. The headset allows you to look up, look down, turn 360° even looking behind yourself. The technology already has wide military, scientific and industrial applications. In addition to immersive VR experiences, the Meta Quest 3 allows linkage to a computer and to the internet; you can stream all your video subscription services through the headset. You can access and manipulate your computer desktop through the device and the controllers. Sound quality is top notch. I could go on raving about the experience, but you get the point.

Now for a reality check. The Quest 3 Headset plus two hand-held controllers retails for almost $500 (less one penny!) from Meta, Walmart, Amazon or Best Buy, and I couldn't find any discount prices on-line even though the current version of the device has been on the market for two years. (From what I've read, you don't want to settle for Version 2 since the technical improvements do appear to be generational.)

Eagerly opening the box, you find the headset, a USB cord and plug, and two hand-held controllers . . . . and nothing else. No detailed instruction manual, no carrying case, no desktop stand or charging device. There are a bunch of free games available on-line, but for the senior purchaser there's precious little beyond shoot-em-up and three-minute travel teasers. As you begin to explore on-line, what you do find is heavy upselling. Although the head straps seem quite adequate, you might opt for replacement head strap -- labeled as "elite" with an attached supplemental battery since the built-in battery life is quite short -- $129.99, thank you; or you can operate the device with the USB cord plugged in, and a long cord will allow ample movement around the room to enjoy the device, but of course Meta would like you to buy their 16' USB-C cable for a breath-taking $79.99 (although the USB-C cable you have in your spare cable box seems to work fine); a dedicated carrying case is offered for either $50 or $70, depending on size; adding a year to the one-year warranty, plus spill protection, is a mere $50; the Quest 3 desk-top charging dock is $50, but it does come with two rechargeable AA batteries to replace the cheap alkaline batteries supplied with the two controllers; "premium" games will cost perhaps $20, and collections of better games $30 plus.

The demographic data says the principal age group of users is 18-35, but I venture to guess based on the catalogue of apps and games being promoted that it skews heavily toward the younger edge of that spectrum playing Starship Trooper, or Ghosts of Tabor, Pistol Whip, Gorilla Tag, or Angry Birds. Although you can link to your computer wirelessly or with your own connector cord, you may want to invest $24.99 for the Meta Virtual Desktop program (I did not) chiefly, it seems, to reduce the annoying program latency which seems to permeate all of the free activities. (Sometimes you have to click an activity button two or three times to get it to register, and the native software seems painfully slow for a 2025 high techy device.) All in all, purchasing this device at retail can prove annoying and very pricey even if you're prepared to start out at $500.

How on earth a typical 18 year old can afford a Meta Quest 3 is a mystery to me. I am going to continue enjoying Hulu, Prime etc -- but for some reason it keeps hanging up on my Netflix account; I'm going to have to work that one out -- but don't expect a fully immersive experience with video streaming. You can't do a 360° with Paramount+ but to its credit it does seem as absorbing as the old Cinerama movie screens were, and if you're comfortable with the headset the experience is miles ahead of watching even on a large screen tv on your wall. Sorry I couldn't be more affirmative.

Would it have been so expensive to include a cheap carrying case, two AA rechargeable batteries, a plastic desktop stand with or without a charge connection, a decent set of instructions or at least a QR code so I didn't have to dive into AI apps and YouTube to figure out how to turn on the headset?

Without doubt this is the future, but not quite today.

June 2025

Black+Decker Cordless Electric Fabric Craft Scissors

(purchased from Amazon)

Electric Scissors

Don't let the full name of this product put you off -- calling them fabric craft scissors -- because they're one of the handiest $29.99 tools you'll have in the box. Consider how many times you've had to wrestle with a cardboard box your Amazon delivery or some other shipment arrived in or you had to unbox a new large screen tv . Piece of cake with these electric scissors to reduce it to small flat pieces to put into the recycle or trash without filling up the whole container. They work on canvas, multiple pages of paper or heavy paper stock. Canvas. or clothing. Most leather products if not too thick or rigid. Most any fabric or paper goods for which you might have to reach for the huge manual scissors or a sharp knife (dangerous to use to cut up carboard).

As you can see from the photo, they come with an extra blade set.. Another big plus: they're USB re-chargeable so you're not filling up the landfill with dry cell batteries.

Highly recommended gadget for geezers.

Solos AirGo3 Helium 2 Smart Sport Sunglasses

(purchased from Solos)

Solos Sport Sunglasses

I have to start with a confession of error: I ordered these delightful looking sunglasses after having read of the exciting virtues of the Solos smartglasses with cameras and other interesting features -- only to realize after the glasses arrived that this is probably the only Solos model without a camera! The other features -- direct access to AI feedback, phone calls, and a multi-language translation tool to work directly through the sunglasses without having to take your cell phone out of your pocket -- induced me to keep the glasses and try out these novel tools.

Solos markets a large collection of smart glasses, all except the Helium models with cameras. Unfortunately, though, all of the camera equipped models look like traditional eyeglasses. Having had lens replacement surgery which eliminates the need for corrective lenses, I wasn’t anxious to resume wearing traditional eyewear, instead preferring more stylish sunglasses that didn’t look so pedestrian. The Helium 2 Solos are quite satisfying in that respect, so the question is whether the other features justify the price. Unfortunately I must report that my experience hasn’t been nearly as satisfying as I had hoped, particularly given the $200 price tag and the emergence of several less expensive competing smart reasonably stylish sunglasses -- with cameras and cell phone link capability. (I’ll do do a separate discussion of smart sunglasses with cameras since that isn’t a feature on my particular model of Solos.)

I regret I haven’t had a chance to utilize the Solos translation feature and will amend this report if I ever do use it. A major limitation I already foresee, however, is that the translate feature will work if the speaker is audible to my phone, and anything I want to say in response requires translating through the speaker of my phone. I’m not at all sure this is much of an advantage over just using Google translate. As for the AI information access or the phone call functions, I find the app too unstable and the eyeglass frame controls too difficult for quick management. I find myself having to take off the glasses to access the control slider and very small virtual button (about 5mm diameter -- my big old index finger is about four times that width), and to me the Solos app seems rather unstable and often drops out. For example, I can listen to radio or music through the eyeglass earpieces but when I am driving, sometimes the sound Bluetooths over to my car speakers and sometimes plays through the Solos earpieces. Since I’m not about to unpair my car radio from my phone’s Bluetooth connectivity, I’ve just stopped using the glasses as an audio device while driving.

Although I initially didn't find cell phone access and an AI app accessed through smart sunglasses essential features, I have concluded they can be fun and do have their place permitting hands-free access. But a problem with the Solos that I have is that they are a true sunglass, quite dark, and not something I'm about to wear around the house. In addition, with Solos I find the virtual button so difficult to access quickly that for me it doesn’t feel safe to use while driving. That means that to make use of the main features, I have to be outdoors standing still in sunshine. Contrast this with the Ray-Ban Meta glasses (which I"ll review another time) or just “Hey Google” which may require that my phone be within voice distance but is much more accessible, and Solos take third place behing Meta or the phone. (I also have both a Google Nest and an Amazon Echo Show on my desk and two other Echo devices around the house, so I’m definitely pretty well covered without needing in-home eyeglass AI access.)

The result: I’ve ended up with a pricey pair of very handsome sunglasses with limited other accessory functions.

Fit King Cordless Foot and Leg Massagers

(purchased from Walmart but widely available)

Cordless Foot & Leg Massagers

My initial purpose in trying these interesting gizmos was for relief of occasional cramping in the feet or calves -- and for this purpose, they are a DO NOT RECOMMEND. Trying to get into these deep velcro-closing devices in the midst of a leg cramp just doesn't work, and even if they are used in time they don't seem to do much to alleviate cramping. What they do accomplish, however, is a very pleasant lower leg and foot massage. This is probably also a way to promote circulation in lower leg blood vessels and might be handy for long flights (as a supplement to the compression socks which you ought to be wearing during those times). The controIs are fairly easy and intuitive, there are multiple heat and intensity settings, and the massagers are USB rechargeable so no battery waste. These are not walk-around boots, just for relaxation -- and you get to look like Gort from the knee down. (And that reference is just one illustration of why this page is for geezers.) I'd recommend these massagers for people who are on their feet a lot and just want relief and relaxation, if the $100+ price tag doesn't break the bank for such of life's small pleasures.