Ten phones for seniors
Mobiles for mature intercourse
Product Round-up Whatever Philip Larkin may have said about your mum and dad, you probably want them to have a mobile phone they can use. If you think an iPhone is easy you need to reset your sights. There are plenty of people who find switching a phone on a challenge and entering phone numbers daunting.
We all suffer reduced eyesight from about 40, hearing from about 50 and dexterity at different ages. Concepts such as pinching, swiping and double clicking are both alien and physically challenging. Apple’s use of a triple click to get into the accessibility menu is just ironic.
Of course there are a good number of people in their seventies, eighties and older who do get on with smart phones but they are not the majority. We look at ten phones designed for people who still think the phone number for the Police is “Whitehall 1212”.
Beafon S700
While the Panasonic that appears in this round-up looks like a cordless phone, the Beafon is a cordless phone. It is both a DECT and GSM phone using both lines and having two numbers. It won’t hand off between the two as you leave or enter the house but is the perfect phone for the person who doesn’t understand why they want a mobile. So get the folks used to using it has a house phone and then brave taking it out.
The keys have good feel and travel. For more advanced users it means you have all your contacts in one phone. Even if you use it with a spare Sim, having a charged phone with a torch is great for emergencies and power cuts.
Reg Rating 55%
Price £100 sim-free
More info Beafon or Fuss Free Phones
Binatone Speakeasy BB500
A nice simple clamshell phone, with a well-recessed emergency button. The travel on the keypad is reasonable and it has hearing aid support. A good cheap way to buy a clamshell but nothing like as user friendly as the Doro below.
Binatone announced some interesting medical add-ons such as heart rate monitors for the USB connection to this phone but it has not yet shipped. This is quite an old model now and as a result can be found at good prices.
Reg Rating 35%
Price £60
More info Binatone or SilverCare UK
Next page: Cycell Easyphone
COMMENTS
Re: Ageism much? @Chris Miller
'What's your next review: "Ten... phones for black folks"?'
Bit of an overstatement don't you think? Or was it said to add a bit of drama.
It's a legitimate article as there are older people who are not able to cope with technology especially smartphones, and speaking as someone who has cared for partially sighted people, the big numbers and screens are a godsend for some.
This isn't about ageism at all, its about access. Plonker.
Re: Ageism much?
The article took pains to point out that there are some physical conditions that many people develop as they age, which can hinder the use of a phone. Some people are lucky enough to retain a great deal of use in their hands, eyes and ears as they age, some people are less so. I don't know why catering to the needs of some people has been compared to racial stereotyping by the first poster. If anything, the designers have actively attempted to consider the requirements of people who are not like themselves- if that is not down the road of understanding and concern for their fellow human, I don't know what is.
My old man has large hands, and though I suspect that he would be able to use an Android phone, he is very drawn to a Motorola clamshell phone which has large buttons, to match his fingers. Having a clear way of turning the phone off would be a bonus for him (and for those of us he might ring up and then not hang up on). Having the screen and keypad protected from scratches and dust would be good as well.
Another old boy in the pub, a sharp and witty retired teacher, keeps enquiring as to how easy the keyboard on my Android phone is to use- he claims to have useless fingers, too. He often uses a laptop to keep in touch with his children and grandchildren, via skype or what not, but fancies an alternative device for when his home internet is playing silly buggers. I'm tempted to recommend him a 7" tablet rather than a smart phone- if needs be he can easily take it down the pub for the use of an alternate hotspot and free tech support.
Re: Ageism much?
"Senior" as far as I'm concerned is 75+, chances are folks of that age aren't going to be reading El Reg, whilst younger folks like me who have to decide what phones to buy for 95 year old great aunts find this kind of article useful.
Re: Ageism much? @Chris Miller
Enjoy making mountains out of mole hills do ya?
This was a sensible review of phones suitable for those 'senior' or 'elderly' people (or phone with impairments) who would not be comfortable with a current gen Smartphone. As specified in the article. Or was it TL;DR;?
What's your problem with that? Stereotypes? WTF? This article couldn't more more clear about it intentions. There was no stereotyping. There are old people, many have problems with Smartphones. That is a fact. Not all of them, of course, but that was specifically pointed out. So how about we title the article "Ten Phones for Seniors/Elderly. Except for those who like Smartphones, Oh, and also those who don't like smartphones and want something simple".
JFC.
Re: Ageism much?
Did you read this article or just the title? It clearly states that there are elderly people who are comfortable with smartphones, just not the majority.
My own father just got a smartphone for his 76th birthday and he is quite happy with it.
I am in my mid 50s and always found "feature phones" totally confusing to use, the menu structure was always different on differing makes and I never got the hang of texting. At least I can pick up any android phone and have a good idea where to find all the settings, apps etc. and can text on a full keyboard.
Sent from my Sony Tablet S, one of the best android tablets (of it's time)
Sherlock, because he looked before commenting.
