How To Set Up a Mobile For Older People

They could be better regarding technology, but they are also a part of their consumers and can use it like everyone else. It is well known that there are older people who find it challenging to use their cell phones, especially when we talk about older people.

Some don’t know how to open the camera, send a message or even make a call. What can we do to help our elders with their cell phones? There are many ways to facilitate the use of these devices. All that is needed is a little patience to configure the mobile for the elderly so that they can use the functions of the terminal easily without loss.

Recently, a telephony sector dedicated expressly to the older public has been forming. However, these terminals are usually very basic, with poor performance. If you want higher performance, things can be complicated regarding its use. Therefore, it is important to make a proper configuration.

Activate the “simple” mode of the mobile (if it has it)

Some devices can be saved from doing a setup that can take a lot of time for some people to do. And there are terminals that, in their own customization layer, have an easy mode, a simple mode that simplifies the entire device.

Several manufacturers integrate this type of configuration into their devices. Among these manufacturers, you can find Samsung, LG, HTC and others, although they are a minority. How do I activate easy mode? To enable this feature on the device, you just have to go to Settings, and there find a personal section. In it, you can find Easy Mode, as long as it is available. In the configuration menu, you can choose which applications will appear on the device’s main screen, being able to limit the use of the device to something as simple as unlocking the phone and using the apps that are essential for the user.

Accessibility and visual improvements

Vision problems are a daily occurrence for many older people. Whether due to wear and tear due to age or other causes, eyesight can suffer a lot on a normal mobile phone, and this will make its use difficult, primarily due to the minimal size of the letters. And not just the letters but all the elements of the device.

Increasing the font (or letter) size is an essential step for most of these configurations. To be able to do this, all you have to do is access the device settings and modify the accessibility options on the device. All you have to do is go to Settings > Accessibility > Font Size. In this section, you can modify the size of the font. You have to choose one that is easy to read. In order to configure it correctly, help yourself with who will use the device so that you can choose the ideal size to read the text on the device.

Set sounds and vibrations.

Both acoustic and tactile signals are essential for older people, and there are times when we do not know if something is happening on the device. Setting up sounds and vibrations correctly is a must.

Access the device settings and go to the Sound section. Depending on the brand of the device, these settings may have one name or another, but they can generally be easily recognized. Once inside the section, raise the sound levels to practically the maximum, both for multimedia content and for notifications and alarms.

Also, in the Sound section, you must enable vibration. This will have to be activated both for the touch functions of the device (by pressing the keys) and for calls and alarms. This way, it is much easier for people to recognize that something is happening at the terminal so they can attend to it when necessary.

Useful applications to adapt a mobile phone for older people

Personalizing the device does not only involve configuring certain parameters of the operating system. There are many useful applications to complete this terminal configuration for older people that will make it easier to see elements and eliminate less valuable elements from the screen.

wiser

If the device you are trying to configure does not have an integrated, simple mode, you can always use an application launcher that aims to simplify the terminal. Wiser is a launcher that has precisely that objective.

This application launcher replaces the one the device currently has to offer the user large icons and a straightforward screen. Thanks to it, the use of the terminal can be much easier. All you have to do is install the app, enable it, and choose which apps will appear on your home screen. After that, you have to enjoy the device.

Big Buttons Keyboard Standard

It is not only useful for people who have little use for touch keyboards (and find it difficult to hit the keys they want to press) but also for people who have large fingers.

Big Buttons is an application that replaces the traditional Android keyboard with one with much larger buttons. This makes it much easier to write on the device. Of course, to place all the keys on the screen, part of it is sacrificed, so the remaining space will be much less than what users who use the traditional keyboard are used to.

Ultimate Volume Booster

There are times when the volume of the mobile speakers may need to be increased for some users. When there are hearing problems involved, this detail can be accentuated even more, and it is essential to find a solution to said problem.

With Ultimate Volume Booster, you can exceed the limits that Android places on your device’s speaker. Once the application is downloaded, you can choose how far to increase the device’s volume.

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