USING TELEPHONE MEDIA TO PLAN FOR RETIREMENT

THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVE THE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITYAND MERIT OF USING VOICE-MESSAGING TECHNOLOGY, I.E., AUDIOTEX, TO DEVELOP AN AUDIO INFORMATION LIBRARY PROTOTYPE TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT AND FINANCIAL SECURITY TO ENSURE A HEALTHY STANDARD OF LIVING FOR OLDER AMERICANS. THE OPERATING HYPOTHESIS IS: A SIGNIFICANT NEED AND GROWING DEMAND FOR RETIREMENT AND FINANCIAL SECURITY PLANNING EXISTSAMONG RETIREES AND PEOPLE PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT. CONSEQUENTLY, A SUBSTANTIAL BODY OF RESEARCH AND INFORMATION AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIESCURRENTLY EXIST TO MEET THAT NEED AND DEMAND. VOICE-MESSAGING TECHNOLOGY CAN BE APPLIED TO EFFECTIVELY AND INNOVATIVELY MATCH THIS NEED FOR RETIREMENT AND FINANCIAL SECURITY PLANNING WITH THE EXISTING BODY OF INFORMATION. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES ARE TO: IDENTIFY ISSUES IN RETIREMENT AND INCOME SECURITY PLANNING; DEVELOP A PROTOTYPE AUDIOTEX LIBRARY OF RESEARCHED ISSUES IN RETIREMENT PLANNING; RESEARCH, WRITE, AND RECORD ALL AUDIOTEX MESSAGES FOR THE MARKET PROTOTYPE; CONDUCT A 6- TO 8-WEEK TEST OF THE PROTOTYPE; INITIALLY IDENTIFY POTENTIAL INVESTORS AND SOLICIT THEIR EVALUATIONS OF THE PROTOTYPE; AND EVALUATE PROTOTYPE AND TEST IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY AND POPULAR APPEAL.