Hi-tech:1
My dad is techno-phobic. Even a small device like a TV remote is too technical for him. So, when we gifted him a mobile, I was sure it was going to be very difficult for him to use it. So, we gifted him one of the (seemingly) simplest phones with as less features as possible. He has been using the phone for a few months now, and even though he loves to flaunt it, he isn’t very good when it comes to using it. Okay, he can make and receive calls but unfortunately, cell phones are much more than that. What about keypad locks, changing your profiles, keeping the vibrator on, viewing SMS (if not sending)? These are some of the must-know features when it comes to cell phones and he simply refuses to acknowledge their presence, much less their importance!
Recently, he received a missed call on his cell and he wanted to send a sms to the caller. He handed his cell to me to do the needful. I have a cell from the same manufacturer (albeit a different model) and I am reasonably gadget-savvy but I had a hell of a time sending the sms from his cell. That made me think about how really user-friendly cell phones are!
I have tried (to limited success) to make both my parents ‘cell phone literate’ and it has been an educating experience(more to me than to them!). To me, a ‘menu’ is an index of features; to them it is an index of dishes in a restaurant. To me, a ‘message’ means an SMS, to them it can be anything from a short letter to an email. To me, ‘signal’ means network strength; to them it is the traffic lights. I can’t do without a cell phone, they hate having to carry one all the time. I can forget to pay my bills but I can never forget to charge my cell daily. They seem to think the cell is such a magical gadget that it will still work if they don’t charge it regularly.
Cell phones to me are nothing more than phones you can carry. They mean the same to my parents and I am sure they mean the same to a lot of elderly people who love to carry a hand-phone but struggle while using one. Most cell phones are designed in a manner that they require at least little understanding of some of the computing concepts. One needs to know concepts like menu, scrolling, search etc to be able to use the cell phone effectively. For people who were grown up with typewriters, typing a message on a cell phone isn’t very easy! I think there is a strong case for cell phone manufacturers to come out with a radical design of a ‘no-frills’ cell phone meant only for elderly people. So far, cell phones have been designed keeping only the youth in mind (and that trend should continue since cell phone is more of a gadget than a utility for most!) but at least there should be one model that the elderly can use easily.
Currently, the situation is that whenever my parents go out, I worry if they aren’t carrying their cell phones. They worry if they are carrying one! I would so much love if someone put us in the same side of the coin!
PS: There are some more thoughts when it comes to using gadgets and I may publish them in subsequent posts. Hence the numbering in the title!
Recently, he received a missed call on his cell and he wanted to send a sms to the caller. He handed his cell to me to do the needful. I have a cell from the same manufacturer (albeit a different model) and I am reasonably gadget-savvy but I had a hell of a time sending the sms from his cell. That made me think about how really user-friendly cell phones are!
I have tried (to limited success) to make both my parents ‘cell phone literate’ and it has been an educating experience(more to me than to them!). To me, a ‘menu’ is an index of features; to them it is an index of dishes in a restaurant. To me, a ‘message’ means an SMS, to them it can be anything from a short letter to an email. To me, ‘signal’ means network strength; to them it is the traffic lights. I can’t do without a cell phone, they hate having to carry one all the time. I can forget to pay my bills but I can never forget to charge my cell daily. They seem to think the cell is such a magical gadget that it will still work if they don’t charge it regularly.
Cell phones to me are nothing more than phones you can carry. They mean the same to my parents and I am sure they mean the same to a lot of elderly people who love to carry a hand-phone but struggle while using one. Most cell phones are designed in a manner that they require at least little understanding of some of the computing concepts. One needs to know concepts like menu, scrolling, search etc to be able to use the cell phone effectively. For people who were grown up with typewriters, typing a message on a cell phone isn’t very easy! I think there is a strong case for cell phone manufacturers to come out with a radical design of a ‘no-frills’ cell phone meant only for elderly people. So far, cell phones have been designed keeping only the youth in mind (and that trend should continue since cell phone is more of a gadget than a utility for most!) but at least there should be one model that the elderly can use easily.
Currently, the situation is that whenever my parents go out, I worry if they aren’t carrying their cell phones. They worry if they are carrying one! I would so much love if someone put us in the same side of the coin!
PS: There are some more thoughts when it comes to using gadgets and I may publish them in subsequent posts. Hence the numbering in the title!
posted by Leziblogger at 2:44 AM
2 Comments:
so cuckoo, sigma/shalini, bluespirit, mukta.... all came to your blogs late. and haven;t travelled down the lane.
Anyways, I am liking it and can relate to/agree with your thoughts in all your posts I have read so far.
Keep at it.
: )
Loner: Well, they were the ones who kept me going!I was not sure of continuing when I started the blog but because of their comments, I knew someone in cyberspace is reading this blog and that gave me a reason to continue! I am still very irregular in keeping my blog updated though!
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