What Commonly Dissuades Elders From Using Modern Day Smart Phones?

Elderly people look for comfortableness and convenience in a mobile phone rather than larger features and latest application programs that are more complex to understand. They are not against the advanced technology, but they require more senior-friendly, functional mobile phones that are devoid of complications. Compromised eyesight and hearing problem prevents them to use latest phones with sophisticated operations. Higher resolution phones with brighter colors will help the elders to see clearly even in dim light conditions.

While designing Cell Phones for Seniors, Mobile phone manufacturers must understand the practical problems faced by the older people in using the complicated gadgets produced with latest technologies. Instead, they should make an analysis of the major factors that fails to attract the seniors to use highly advanced smart phones. Unlike the younger generations, the older people do not constantly change their mobiles frequently. They give more importance for the sturdiness of the model instead of its aesthetic design, which is in contrast to the young mobile users. To capture significant market share of senior mobile market segment, companies should introduce sturdy, durable, and highly functional simpler mobile phones that possess bigger key pads, long battery life within the affordable price range.
Many factors dissuade senior citizens to use latest mobile phones, which includes

  • Non availability of senior-friendly mobiles
  • Smaller keypads can cause eye strains to elders while pressing alphabets and numbers.
  • Operating touch screen mobiles are difficult for the older generations due its complex nature
  • Navigating through numerous menus poses great challenge for older individuals. The seniors take a longer time to learn simplest of functions as compared to youngsters. Considering the wide range of services offered by latest phones, elderly finds it very complex to understand and remember its operations
  • New generation mobiles are fragile in nature and are not as sturdy as simple mobile phones. Senior-citizen fears that they may drop the expensive phones leading to its damage and nun-functioning
  • Smaller font sizes make them less user-friendly for the seniors
  • Smart phones are less durable as compared to the older simpler versions of cell phones
  • The prohibitive cost of latest mobile phones is another factor that dissuades elders from purchasing newer gadgets as many of them are no longer earning money or may have high family commitments.

    Thus, Phones for seniors must be available in numerous models that are manufactured by taking account of old age people’s age and ability to handle sophisticated models.

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