How To: Make an Android Phone or Tablet Grandma-Friendly
By now, a mobile phone that isn't "smart" is about as hard to come by as a TV that isn't high definition. As a result, members of older generations who were previously reluctant to purchase a newfangled smartphone have no other choice but to cave into the more recent trends when their old device finally breaks down.When someone who is entirely unfamiliar with smartphones crosses that threshold, all of the capabilities that their new gadget offers can be overwhelming. So if you have an elder family member who is currently going through this rough transition, I'll go over six tips you can use to help get them started with their new Android smartphone.Don't Miss: Our Android Basics Series for Smartphone Beginners
Tip #1: Install an "Easy Mode" LauncherOne of the easiest ways to make a smartphone more approachable is to replace the stock home screen app with an "Easy Mode" launcher. Some devices will have one of these built in that you can choose during initial setup, but if yours doesn't, there are a pair of great third-party options.Wiser and Necta both operate by the same principle—a clutter-free home screen with large and simple icons should make smartphones easier to use for seniors. Once you've installed either of these free apps, simply press the device's home button, then choose the new launcher and press "Always" to set it as the default home screen app. (1) Setting Wiser as the default home screen app. (2) The finished look. Install Wiser for free from the Google Play Store Install Necta for free from the Google Play Store
Tip #2: Minimize Apps on the Home ScreenIf you'd prefer not to replace the default home screen app on your elderly relative's phone, you can still apply one the main principles used in an "Easy Mode" launcher. To greatly simplify the user experience, remove all but the most commonly-used apps from the home screen.Leave the phone app, the SMS app, the camera app, and a web browser. Beyond that, perhaps the gallery app and an email client would be useful. But the goal here is to not overwhelm your technologically-challenged relative with too many options, and instead, allow them to explore their phone and discover apps at their own pace. (1) This is a bit confusing, but... (2) A home screen with only the basic apps is more approachable.
Tip #3: Disable Auto-Correct & Other Keyboard SettingsOne of the biggest hurdles your elderly relative will have to overcome is the use of a virtual keyboard. As these are not tactile and the buttons themselves are rather small, it can be difficult for your relative to type things out on their device.To minimize confusion here, disable auto-correct and other advanced keyboard options like gesture-based typing. Generally, this can be done by opening the keyboard app entry in the app drawer. From here, read through the various settings and disable options like "Show suggestions," "Auto-correct," and "Voice input," as these will only serve to distract and confuse a novice user.
Tip #4: Increase Font SizesOne of the biggest complaints you'll hear from seniors regarding any smartphone is that the text is too small. From Android's main settings menu, head to the "Display" category, then tap "Font size" to change this. By default, this should be set to "Normal," but changing it to "Large" or "Huge" can really help if your relative has eyesight problems.
Tip #5: Install AppLock to Prevent Accidental Settings ChangesNow that you've got the phone set up in a manner that your elderly relative should find easy to use, you want to make sure it all stays that way. The only trouble here is that your relative might get lost in the interface and inadvertently change some settings, or the device's screen may be left on at an inopportune time, leading to settings being altered with accidental pocket touches.To prevent such issues, I'd suggest installing an app called AppLock, which does what its name suggests and blocks access to certain apps. After installing the app, you'll be prompted to set up device administrator access. Once you've done that, set a PIN, then tap the lock icon next to options like "WiFi," "Bluetooth," and "Auto sync," as well as any apps with dangerous options, then you won't have to worry about having to come back and fix problems that the user accidentally created. Install AppLock for free from the Google Play Store
Tip #6: Don't Over-ExplainThere's an inherent temptation when teaching someone the ropes to press further and continue teaching—even well beyond the point where the learner has had his fill. When giving your elderly relative the grand tour of their new device, do your best to stick to the basics, because at a certain point, you'll only undo any learning that has already taken place.Show them how to wake their device and put it back to sleep, how to make phone calls or send text messages, and how to take a picture. Depending on the person, it might be good to point out the web browser app, but that's about where you should draw the line. Before getting into topics like where to download apps or how to use "OK Google" voice commands, give your relative some time to get a grasp on the basics. Then, let their curiosity dictate how much further you want to expand their knowledge.Are there any other tips that you would recommend for setting up an elderly family member's smartphone? If so, let us know about them in the comment section below, or drop us a line on Android Hacks' Facebook or Twitter, or Gadget Hacks' Facebook, Google+, or Twitter.
Cover image via Shutterstock
In this episode XDA Developer TV Producer TK shows you how to root your Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with Odin and a PC. TK just recently reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and it is the latest in
How To Install Odin Flash Tool On Windows 7/8/10 - Root My Galaxy
If you don't want someone to see your profile, add you as a friend or send you a message, you can block them. If the person you want to unfriend has deactivated their Facebook account, go to your profile and click Friends , then search for the person's name.
Removing Friends | Facebook Help Center | Facebook
And if you ask Assistant for directions to "Mom's house," the AI will be smart enough to parse your address book and contacts to get you there. Google's next-generation Assistant is coming to new
Get info about your photos & surroundings - Android - Google
Red phase beam live wallpaper how to add floating live animations any custom wallpaper on a samsung galaxy note 4 custom beam lwp 1 ics phase beam live wallpaper.
How To: Create Transparent Floating Windows on Your Galaxy Note 9
Learn how to fix The Sims Mobile not loading for both Android and iOS (iPhone) phones. We'll walk you through some steps to ensure the problem isn't on your end.
Sims Mobile Cheats ( Updated for 2018 ) - Unlimited Simcash
Installing TWRP Recovery on OnePlus One. Installing of TWRP recovery is very easy if you've already spent time flashing recoveries, in case you haven't you'll learn it, because it is easy to
How To Install TWRP Custom Recovery On Any Android - YouTube
How to Prototype Without Using Printed Circuit Boards: When I learned how to build 'one-off' projects thirty years ago, I used the "wire wrapping" technique. Back then, I had access to an electronics shop with a $100 wire wrapping gun, kynar wire and a supply of wire wrap IC sockets.
Soldering 101 | Let's Put LEDs in Things! | Adafruit Learning
How To: Crochet Siobhan Magnus American Idol headband CES 2015: These Headbands Are Really Comfortable Headphones for Sleeping or Running How To: Create Jennifer Aniston's French braided headband How To: Make a pink 2 strand bohemian goddess headband with a bow
Amazon.com: Headphones with Mic, Control Button,Lightweight
Mapplets are small web applications that run within Google Maps. They are a. type of Google Gadget—the framework that allows developers to create small. web applications that can run within iGoogle, Google Maps, Orkut, or any web. page outside Google.Mapplets use the basic concepts and APIs of Google
Sea Level Rise Google Mapplet - freegeographytools.com
Portable Document Format, or PDF, is a file format that was created by Adobe for the ease of sharing files and sharing across computer system platforms. PDF files are essentially a representation of an original document that can be accessed by individuals with different program packages, as long as they have a PDF
5 Ways to Email Large Files - wikiHow
How To "Tether" Your iPhone For Free Without Jailbreaking (or paying AT&T's absurdly high monthly fee for tethering). PCWorld helps you navigate the PC ecosystem to find the products you
Gadget How To: iPhone Tethering Without Jailbreaking
News: Nexus 6P Bootloop Nightmare Turns Your Phone into a Fancy Paperweight How To: Hide the Home Button on Your Galaxy S8's 'Always On Display' Screen How To: Wake Up to Spoken Calendar Events & Weather Forecasts for the Day on Your Nexus 7
Magic Leap's Biggest Problem May Not Be Legal Fights but a
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar