Mobile phones for the elderly: a necessary technological evolution
One of the missions that technological advances have been set lately has been to adapt to the needs of all its users. From there they have created devices and electronic devices that favor not only entertainment but communication and interpersonal relationships .
Next we will make a tour of The main characteristics of mobile phones for the elderly , electronic devices specially adapted to the experiences of this age group.
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Technology and generational distance: mobile phones for the elderly
Among other things, people living in Western societies are characterized by a need to move constantly. Given this, a further need is generated: keep us communicated and communicated with our peers and family .
Fortunately, these needs have been compensated in large part by the development of technology. However, this same development usually occurs at a speed that we have not all been able to adapt to under the same conditions. The latter is notorious especially when it comes to people who are in some 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 who can control mobile phones or tablets; but there are also some who have the interest or the need to communicate through these devices, however, it does not seem so easy to handle them. Again, technological development has responded to this need, creating devices that can adapt 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 approach and connection between people and the issues that arise and are modified at great speed and over great distances.
That is, although technology often seems to enslave us, it has also been fundamental in strengthening social inclusion for 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.
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5 useful mobile features for the elderly
There are many mobile phones that have been quite efficient so they can communicate in a simple way people who have already entered into old age and that they have grown in generations where technology did not have the same development that it has now.
Beyond being mobile specifically designed for the elderly, it is about recovering the first mobile designs 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 much like the landline
This is useful because it can compensate 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, when they see a touch screen, feel an immediate rejection, assume that it is something very complicated, or simply do not have the interest to know how it works.
A) Yes, find a phone whose design is very similar to what they are used to , is undoubtedly one of the issues that favors its manipulation. Of course, it is not about designs that have a rotating dial with numbers, but it is enough that it is a telephone with buttons or large illuminated keys that are easy to press, and whose numbers are also large and easy to recognize.
Just a screen that does not necessarily have colors , since 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 connect buttons
Another feature of mobile phones that are useful for older people is that the keys can be programmed to make direct calls to emergency contacts . These contacts can be the family members themselves or a doctor or nurse.
This makes the person can call their important contacts very easily and quickly.
3.Volume and tone of higher calls
It is also useful to look for phones that may have a high ring tone and a sufficient volume for the person to hear as best as possible, especially if it is someone who has reduced hearing.
Also this is useful for people who are not necessarily older people but who have some hearing condition that makes it difficult for them to use ordinary phones.
4. Durable batteries
Many of these phones have an advantage that several new phones do not: 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 to receive external supports ; You can ensure that you are constantly informed or that you do not have to remember to charge your mobile phone every day.
5. Extra advantages
These devices usually also have the lamp option, or there are even some that have a camera, which can be attractive.
On the other hand, the interface of these mobile phones adapted to the elderly is usually quite intuitive , with which they will not need very extensive explanations to understand its use. 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 the photos of the most important contacts, which makes more Agile make or receive calls.
