We also consulted maintenance and repair-cost predictions from Intellichoice.com to ensure that any of the cars and trucks among our recommendations would not become unduly costly to keep running.
But it said a chronic shortage of cancer doctors and the rising cost of treatments meant its predictions might have to be reviewed unless current levels of government financial support are maintained.
Lindsay Scott, of Help the Aged in Scotland, said predictions of a colder winter and recent increases in the cost of fuel could mean pensioners would face a particularly difficult winter.
"With nearly 10 billion devices connected to the internet and predictions for exponential growth, we've reached a point where the space, power and cost demands of traditional technology are no longer sustainable, " said Meg Whitman, president and chief executive officer, HP.