Mobiles for the elderly: a necessary technological evolution
Senior citizens can also benefit from the latest technologies.
One of the missions that technological advances have set themselves lately has been to adapt to the needs of all their users. From there, electronic devices and appliances have been created that favor not only entertainment but also communication and interpersonal relationships. communication and interpersonal relationships..
We will now take a look at the main features of mobile telephones for the elderlyThe following is an overview of the main features of mobile phones for the elderly, electronic devices specially adapted to the experiences of this age group.
Technology and generational distance: cell phones for seniors.
Among other things, people living in Western societies are characterized by a need to move constantly. This gives rise to yet another need: to keep in touch with our peers and family members..
Fortunately, these needs have been largely compensated for by the development of technology. However, this same development tends to occur at a speed to which we have not all been able to adapt under the same conditions. The latter is especially noticeable when it comes to people who are in a situation of disability, or who do not have access to technology because of the socioeconomic conditions in which they live, or because of generational differences.
For example, there are older adults who have managed to adapt very easily to new technologies and can control cell phones or tablets; but there are also those who have the interest or the need to communicate through these devices, however, they do not find it so easy to handle them. Again, technological development has responded to this need, creating devices that can be adapted to those who have greater difficulties to understand or manipulate them.
Thanks to this, technology has positioned itself as a fundamental element to avoid generational distancing, as well as to favor the rapprochement between generations.It has also helped to bring people closer together and connect them to issues that arise and change at great speed and over great distances.
In other words, although technology often seems to enslave us, it has also been fundamental in strengthening social inclusion in some contexts. There are even those who have begun to develop the concept of technological literacy as one of the key challenges for the 21st century.
5 useful cell phone features for older people
There are many cell phones that have proven to be quite efficient to communicate in a simple way for people who have already entered old age and who have grown up in the generations where and who have grown up in generations where technology did not have the same development as it has now.
Beyond being mobiles specifically designed for the elderly, it is about recovering the first designs of mobiles that came onto the market, which are also the simplest, and whose functions are the most basic.
Among the general characteristics of these devices are the following:
1. Designs very similar to the landline telephone 2.
This is useful because it can compensate for much of the confusion and lack of interest shown by some older adults in the face of generational changes marked by technology.
There are people who, as soon as they see a touch screen, feel an immediate rejection, assume that it is something very complicated, or simply have no interest in knowing how it works.
Thus, encountering a phone whose design is very similar to the one they are accustomed tois undoubtedly one of the issues that favors their manipulation. It is certainly not about designs that have a rotary dial with numbers, but it is enough if it is a phone with large, illuminated buttons or keys that are easy to press, and whose numbers are also large and easy to recognize.
A display, which does not necessarily have to be colored, is sufficient.It would include the most basic functions such as the list of numbers and the most important names, or for example the date and time.
2. Direct connectivity buttons
Another feature of mobiles that are useful for the elderly is that the keys can be programmed to make direct calls to emergency contacts. make direct calls to emergency contacts. These contacts can be the person's own family members or a doctor or nurse.
This makes it much easier and faster for the person to call important contacts.
3. Louder call volume and tone
It is also useful to look for phones that can have a loud ring tone and sufficient volume for the person to hear as well as possible, especially if it is someone who has reduced hearing.
This is also useful for people who are not necessarily elderly but who have a hearing condition. elderly but who have a hearing condition that makes it difficult for them to condition that makes it difficult for them to use ordinary cell phones.
4. Long-lasting batteries
Many of these phones have an advantage that many of the new phones do not: the batteries last for a long time, even for several days.
This is very important when it comes to an older adult who has a great need for external support, as it can ensure that he or she is communicating with the elderly.This is very important when dealing with a senior who has a great need for external support, as it can ensure that he or she is in constant communication or does not have to remember to charge his or her phone every day.
5. Extra advantages
These devices usually also have a lamp option, or there are even some that have a camera, which can be attractive.
On the other hand, the interface of these cell phones adapted to the elderly is usually quite intuitive, so they will not need extensive explanations to understand how to use them.They will not need extensive explanations to understand how to use them. Even if it is a phone that has a touch screen instead of buttons, but its interface is equally intuitive, it can be very useful because you can configure, for example, large icons with pictures of the most important contacts, which makes it easier to make or receive calls.
(Updated at Apr 13 / 2024)