The iPhone – very cool but not quite “senior-friendly”
Kay and her Iphone
The iPhone is a radical advance in computing largely because of how elegantly it brings a fully functional and highly intuitive GUI to a small handheld device. However, despite its cleverness, some aspects of the interface are far from “senior-friendly.”
Let’s assume the capability of having different global settings, perhaps with “senior mode” as a choice. Here are several suggested “senior settings” which would improve the iPhone’s accessibility features and actually enhance its usability for others as well.
Icons
- Allow a setting for bigger images on main screen. Instead of a standard 4×4 group of images, allow a 3×3 setting. This would mean there would be 9 icons instead of 16 on the screen. Other settings (3×2 or 2×2) might even work for people with significant visual impairment.
- Allow a setting for more room at bottom of the screen for choices within an app.
- Allow more general customization regarding placement of apps. Dragging shaking apps is cute, but not known by all and difficult to do between screens. Perhaps allow the main screen to include folders – where you can place groups of apps, documents or other objects. This would allow people to be able to more easily organize/personalize their desktop…err “pocket assistant.”
Fonts
- Allow for a choice of larger global fonts for all apps such as text, e-mail, notes, etc.
- Allow setting for larger fonts in interface - descriptors of apps on the main screen and for choices within the apps on bottom of the screens.
Input/Output
- Enable all typing functions in landscape mode (when the phone is turned to its side) as this offers a bigger type pad. Currently this is only available while browsing the net.
- Improve speech recognition features. Basic functionality could include opening applications and changing control settings (volume louder, softer, screen brighter, bigger font, etc.) Speech to text for e-mail and sms would be an important addition.
- Improve audio - both speakerphone & output to ear and improve availability of mic in features.
Reduced set of apps
- Add an application activation status feature in General Settings, with an initial reduced # of apps in the default senior setting.
Note about reducing apps - The iPhone comes with more than a dozen applications out of the box and in fact, one of its selling points is the app store where thousands more can be purchased or downloaded for free. However, for someone new to this level of technology, less is more. Having a clear easy to use phone, contact book and texting feature might be all someone would want for the first few days as long as there was a built in ability to add other features as one gains familiarity with the device.
Help
- Enable setting that includes words under symbols for all app functions & choices
- Enable bubble help mode for all apps and screens with explanations of all screen features. Have it available to be turned on/off and a clear ”help mode” status when using it.
- Include short video clips loaded on the phone that demonstrate how to do various functions.
Note about Help - While this may be a shock to total devotees, not every aspect of the iPhone is intuitive. For example, the Recent Calls feature: how would one know that if you click on the name directly, the iPhone will make a call, but if you click on the small arrow on the right side of the screen it will bring you to the contact information screen (actually to a screen that looks almost exactly like the contact info screen but which is really, for lack of a better term a “make communication screen”). A help system can be useful, for what is obvious to one, may not be obvious to all, particularly those with less technology related experience.
Do you have any thoughts about these iPhone suggestions? Post a comment.
October 3rd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
This is an extremely interesting post. The suggestions made here are all excellent, and would probably be useful to a wide range of people, beyond seniors. Maybe that would provide Apple (and other phone makers) more of an incentive to make such changes.
BY the way, despite all the hype, not every young person finds the iPhone to be the ideal device. So, if you decide that the “typing” is not comfortable, it’s good to realize that it’s not because you are “too old.”
November 10th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I happen to know Kay personally, she’s my Mom, and I can say that she may be the quickest convert ever! Even at the tender age of 72 she was able to get the hang of the touch screen, tapping and scrolling in a matter of minutes, and the icons work well for her as she has quite poor eyesight. One of her new favorite things is looking up old clips and snippets on YouTube - my septuagenarian mother is a YouTubbie!
So I guess my response is that the iPhone is remarkably senior-friendly, at least in our lives. Take for example the new launch of the Apps Store. As soon as my mother learned about it she was out there tapping and testing and buying and organizing on separate pages, all unprompted. She is even telling me about new cool Apps.
My advice would be - don’t be scared of something small and new. Go to the store and try it, borrow a friend’s, give technology a place in your life even if you may not quite understand how it works, the bottom line is that it DOES work and work well, even for seniors.
November 17th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
There are certainly a lot of things to like about the iPhone. They don’t negate the problems, although for many people the over-weigh them. One thing is for sure - if it works for you enjoy it and don’t worry about it being senior friendly or not.
I do agree with Katherin that being afraid of something new is not a good idea. There is lots of technology that does work well for seniors. You have to figure out what works for you. And, trying stuff before you buy is an EXCELLENT idea - it keeps you from making (expensive) mistakes, but it also opens youup to the possibilityof getting stuff you might have been reluctant to get.
March 12th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
I happen to know a phone that my old aunt uses. It’s the just5 phone (www.just5.com). Truly wonderful with great senior-friendly features.
April 8th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
I agree with a lot of what you’re saying here but it could do with more detail. - If you would know the value of money try to borrow some. - Benjamin Franklin 1706 - 1790
June 10th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
This post was very nicely written, and it also carries a lot of useful facts. I appreciated
June 17th, 2010 at 9:08 am
Hi, I also like the Shrek movies, very good animation!
June 22nd, 2010 at 1:32 pm
hi! thats excellent! - just one question, do you know if it is possible to play iphone 3g apps on the new iphone?
July 19th, 2010 at 9:51 am
just passing through from stumbleupon, nice info.
July 27th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Let’s face the truth. It is not a question whether the iphone is “senior-friendly” or not, the question is do we need all these features.
btw, I have younger friends that fibd it also quite difficult to use.
July 28th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Worthwhile material and wonderful insight. Thx for your article.
July 31st, 2010 at 4:11 am
I have a great idea. A medical alert application for seniors. The iphone already has a built in GPS so it doesn’t seem to far-fetched that someone could create a program that would dial a central monitoring station if the alert was activated on the phone. This would give seniors more security outside of their homes while traveling.
August 4th, 2010 at 1:25 am
my dad still cant use my iphone, he hates it LOL
August 10th, 2010 at 9:19 am
why don’t you invest in stock in my didick..
.. it happens to be to the rise
August 10th, 2010 at 11:38 pm
“Let’s face the truth. It is not a question whether the iphone is “senior-friendly” or not, the question is do we need all these features.
btw, I have younger friends that fibd it also quite difficult to use.”
I agree with it though, some features of iPhone is not needed by senior but there are features as well that can be needed by younger ones. So, the real issue here is, why not made an iPhone exclusive for seniors only? I guess, that sounds interesting. You think so?
August 22nd, 2010 at 11:11 am
With frequent use of iPhone, it does get easier. You are right about the “Less is MORE” approached. Thanks for the great article.
August 24th, 2010 at 12:46 am
It would also be nice if someone could develop a bluetooth transmitter that could be worn around the neck. One touch of a button could summon medical help.