Mobile phones available in the market today are crammed with features and apps. Some of the features are necessary and extremely useful whereas some are not very useful. Some specific features and apps are useful only to people of a particular category while others may not find them useful.
Excessive features tend to confuse users
It has become a difficult task to maneuver through a phone’s screen and apps to select the particular option or feature that one is looking for. This is more so in the case of the aged. The elderly generally use mobile phones to make or receive, and on rare occasions to send and receive SMS.
The countless apps in the phones are generally not used by the aged, and the tendency to play games is also limited. Hence, the elderly would not find the phones useful, rather it would be very confusing and time consuming for them to make a call or receive one.
Large displays and buttons
As the aged will generally have problems with vision due to advancing age, the fonts on the buttons of elderly phone needs to be large, prominent and in a style that is not confusing. Similarly, the display should have clear large fonts and simple colour combination. The backlight of the screens should not be in a colour that is too bright or harsh on the eyes.
Unfriendly user menus
When the aged want to make calls that are urgent in nature, the confusing and complicated menu may make it difficult for them to make calls immediately. Such emergencies could be medical in nature and may require the urgent attention of the family members who are called.
Keeping in mind all the above, it is essential that a mobile phone designed as an elderly phone should incorporate the following features:
• Single key dialing of select numbers during an emergency
• A bright and easy to use flashlight
• Large and easy to press buttons
• Simple and clear fonts with colours that are not harsh on the eyes
• Simple menus for easy navigation
• Easy to retrieve messages
• Support for braille to help those with severe vision impairment
• Ring tones that are effective but not loud and shocking
Panic button
At times, when the elderly are alone at home, there is a possibility of them being attacked by criminals who consider them as easy victims. Hence, phones for the aged should ideally have a panic button to alert pre-designated numbers in times of emergency.
Excessive features tend to confuse users
It has become a difficult task to maneuver through a phone’s screen and apps to select the particular option or feature that one is looking for. This is more so in the case of the aged. The elderly generally use mobile phones to make or receive, and on rare occasions to send and receive SMS.
The countless apps in the phones are generally not used by the aged, and the tendency to play games is also limited. Hence, the elderly would not find the phones useful, rather it would be very confusing and time consuming for them to make a call or receive one.
Large displays and buttons
As the aged will generally have problems with vision due to advancing age, the fonts on the buttons of elderly phone needs to be large, prominent and in a style that is not confusing. Similarly, the display should have clear large fonts and simple colour combination. The backlight of the screens should not be in a colour that is too bright or harsh on the eyes.
Unfriendly user menus
When the aged want to make calls that are urgent in nature, the confusing and complicated menu may make it difficult for them to make calls immediately. Such emergencies could be medical in nature and may require the urgent attention of the family members who are called.
Keeping in mind all the above, it is essential that a mobile phone designed as an elderly phone should incorporate the following features:
• Single key dialing of select numbers during an emergency
• A bright and easy to use flashlight
• Large and easy to press buttons
• Simple and clear fonts with colours that are not harsh on the eyes
• Simple menus for easy navigation
• Easy to retrieve messages
• Support for braille to help those with severe vision impairment
• Ring tones that are effective but not loud and shocking
Panic button
At times, when the elderly are alone at home, there is a possibility of them being attacked by criminals who consider them as easy victims. Hence, phones for the aged should ideally have a panic button to alert pre-designated numbers in times of emergency.