While growing up in Florida, Brian Deutsch had plenty of opportunities to see up close how seniors live. He remembers feeling that they did not have the stature that they deserve. So when he decided to form an internet company a little over a year ago, it was clear to him that the company’s goal would be to empower seniors with today’s technology.
One year later, Sageport’s portal sageport.com and its Sagevision internet appliance for seniors are not just very popular with senior surfers, the company’s business model of providing integrated internet services for seniors is also catching on with computer equipment suppliers and investors. “Considering that there are approximately 60 million seniors 55 and over in the U.S. and only 12 million are currently online, there is a lot of room for growth,” says Deutsch.
According to Deutsch, The company is currently in discussion with brand name tier one computer equipment suppliers to distribute the company’s Sagevision internet appliance. Deutsch believes that the appliance is ideal for seniors because of its easy set-up and senior-friendly features such as a custom designed keyboard. The company currently partners with senior independent congregate living providers to deploy Sagevision in senior living communities. Ultimately, it will also be available for home use.
Seattle.internet.com has also learned that Sageport will soon be opening a Sagevision center at a congregate living facility in Sarasota, Florida. The company currently has six Sagevision centers in the State of Washington. These centers, which feature Sagevision terminals, are part of the company’s goal to have an on-site presence to complement its online operations.
The company also conducts focus groups at its corporate offices in Bellevue. In fact, Seattle.internet.com had the opportunity to sit in on a focus group that was being lead by a leading L.A.-based User Interface design group. “We are constantly looking for ways to adopt today’s latest internet products to the senior market,” says Deutsch. “We are only interested, however, in products that are practical.”