One problem I’ve observed with some of the cell phones targeted to seniors
is that they seem to be long on marketing and short on real-world usability.
Sure, there are definite advantages to simplicity, especially if
practicality is not compromised. Unfortunately, though, some of these cell
phones for seniors seem limited to the point of pointlessness. Once you
make a cell phone truly accessible, why take away all of the great features?
It’s really cute how some of the manufactures have lasered directly into the
boomers bracket by associating the phone with be-bop and simpler times gone
by, but I find the marketing somewhat repellant. How about a cell phone for
grown-ups? Yes, I’ve heard the expression, “once a man, twice a child’ as
it pertains to aging, but really, is it necessary to be so blatantly
condescending? If you want to buy your loved ones a gift of cell phone
freedom this year, here are some options that range in function and
flexibility, without
hijacking the 1950’s as though older people are somehow all stuck in a time
warp.
Your choices are between a mainstream cell phone to which you can add
accessible functionality, or a cell phone that is purposefully natively
limited. In the first category, I like the combination of Mobile Speak
software and
the Motorola Q phone. It is what I use. I am not a senior citizen but I do
require speech functionality. Mobile Speak is a software download that
can be installed into a variety of cell phones that use the Smartphone
platform. Simply put, it makes every aspect of the Motorola phone
accessible by making the phone speak each feature and function aloud. It
has a full QWERTY keyboard that is tactile and the buttons are not
miniscule. I can text with the best of them.
There is another text-to-speech option, by Nuance, which is based on a chip
that is
installed into a phone. It is called Talx (for my screen reader friends,
that is spelled with an “x” instead of ‘k s”), and it works in the Nokia
6600 series phones. I’ve used this, too, and while it is also very
functional, the phone itself is not current technology, the software
interface that allows you to sync the phone with your PC is not accessible,
and the cable required to do this is proprietary. that means you cannot use
standard USB connectivity. Finding this cable, called the ‘Pop Port,” is
practically impossible, if you wanted it. Not that it would do you any
good, due to the aforementioned inaccessibility of the sync software
interface.
If you do not require speech, an excellent option for seniors is the Doro
326i cell phone. Nothing to add, install or that requires
sighted assistance. It has large tactile buttons and a large font high
contrast screen. You cannot download software into the phone, but it has
enough features to make the phone appealing without being so feature-rich as
to be overwhelming. Best of all, you don’t have to be on one of those
pre-paid minute plans, or be on some sort of closed network that lacks
coverage in your area. It works with several service providers, and is
reasonably priced.
If sheer simplicity is what you’re after, and all you want is one step above
two cans and a string, there are plenty of those from which to choose, too.
In my opinion, though, if you’re going to go that route, you may as well get
that alert button from the ‘Help I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!” people.
It only calls one number, but if that’s all you need…
LL
Interesting read. There is currently quite a lot of information around this subject around and about on the net and some are most defintely better than others. You have caught the detail here just right which makes for a refreshing change – thanks.