Old People Phones

Cell phones operate in a consistent fashion regardless of who holds them, but senior citizens (a much more politically correct moniker than "old people") often require features than may not be available on popular phone models.

Young people often warm to technology much easier than their grandparents. A high school kid typically selects a new cell phone based on:

• Color,
• Accessories,
  
• Peer Pressure, and
  
• Cost subsidy provided by parental units.

Senior citizens (sometimes referred to as 'old people' or 'older people') may be slightly more financially stable than teenagers, but they still want to save a buck while at the same time obtaining all the functionality and ease of use that makes a wireless telephone such a wonderful convenience item.

Ergonomics, or ease of use, matters less to young people than to old people. A teenager is hardly likely to read the paper manual tucked into the phone packaging, but she will tinker with the device until she masters the features that she knows she needs. She may never quite figure out how to download contact information from the SIM card to an Excel worksheet, but she will master the contacts list and the 3-way calling technology in very short order.

On the other hand, another segment of our population might need a phone that presents as less complicated. A senior citizen might understand the need to place and receive voice calls, but might care very little about sending text messages or changing the background on the main menu. To that end, some phone vendors have developed senior citizen-specific devices. These gizmos actually offer fewer services than cutting-edge products that appeal to other age groups.

Modern cell phones trends toward smaller packaging. As the package shrinks, the screen gets smaller and the buttons virtually vanish. Phone keypads cram more buttons into a smaller 2 dimensional space in order to increase functionality. A minimal configuration is 12 buttons: that's sufficient to provide basic voice-dialing functionality. Texting can also be executed with only 12 buttons, but throughput slows drastically. Cell phone texting addicts prefer a full keyboard or some semblance thereof in order to create more imaginative and efficient messages.

A smaller button is more difficult to accurately select with uncertain fingers. As the keyboard area shrinks and the number of buttons increases, the frustration level of senior citizen users may tend to increase. To that end, a slightly larger keyboard with fewer keys decreases potential confusion in the mind of the user and also reduces the chances for a misaddressed key.

Tiny screens can be problematic for older people with older sets of eyes. Larger characters on larger screens increase cell phone ease of use for the elderly segment of the population. Unfortunately, a larger screen demands larger packaging, which is not the trend of modern cell phone design.

Cell phone packaging engineers develop their products with an eye toward eagle-eyed consumers in high school and college. Older people with less visual acuity may feel marginalized on their next trip to the phone store at the mall.

This unit provides minimal cell phone functionality built for uncertain fingers and less than perfect eyesight. It's not cutting-edge technology. You won't win any texting contests unless you're competing against folks saddled with the same big buttons. On the other hand, visibility is drastically enhanced for both the buttons and the screen. Older people tend to prefer a simpler and larger display. Compared to popular cell phone models, this screen makes visual verification of the currently dialed number much easier. No one wants to dial the dreaded 'wrong number', especially knowing that our number will appear on the called ID of the mistaken recipient. Digital embarrassment can be avoided.

"Save Our Ship" may not be semantically correct these days, given that cell phones typically don't work on the high seas, but an SOS button may be a lifesaver for a cell phone owner. An SOS button can be programmed to automatically dial an emergency number with a single press. The button may be on the back of the unit for quick and easy identification and differentiation from all the other buttons.

All phones have something to say, else phone calls would be decidedly one-sided. Another very useful talking feature available on some senior citizen phones is audio confirmation of button pushes. Instead of an unidentifiable 'beep', each key announces its' corresponding digit. Uncertain seniors can literally listen to the number they are attempting to dial. They have the opportunity abort the transaction should they mistakenly punch the wrong number. Such a feature might be eminently useful for any citizen wishing to dial while driving.

This extremely useful phone provides an easy to identify SOS button on the back, away from all the other buttons. Finding the SOS button in the dark or under duress should be relatively easy for most seniors.

Old people phones offer convenience of use and accessibility for folks who might be somewhat limited in vision or confidence. Senior citizens need not be hesitant to jump into the modern age of technology. Phoning up the grandchildren is easy and safe.