Smartphones make life easier for the elderly
With the rapid development of technology, smartphones have been deeply integrated into our daily lives. For the elderly, operating a smartphone has become a challenge. They face difficulties such as vision and hearing loss, fear of new technologies, poor learning ability, and complex software interfaces.
Older people often lack the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of smartphones, which affects their acceptance and willingness to use smartphones. The study found that for older adults, the higher the perceived usefulness of their phones, the more positive their attitudes towards smartphone use became. Perceived ease of use plays a mediating role in the above pathways.
Along with the decline of physiological functions, the psychological functions of the elderly have also changed in different aspects. Their mentality, memory, and intelligence all declined to some extent. In addition, human-computer interaction, as a significant feature of technological development in the Internet era, is somewhat inadequate for the elderly, which makes it more difficult for the elderly to adapt to the use of smartphones.
The importance of age-appropriate transformation of smartphones
Despite the barriers that older people face when it comes to using smartphones, we can't ignore the role of smartphones in improving their quality of life. Proper use of smartphones can not only meet the daily needs of the elderly, but also bridge the digital divide between them and the younger generation, increasing their sense of gain and well-being.
In recent years, the aging of the mainland has deepened, and the scale of the elderly population has continued to rise. It is predicted that by 2025, the elderly population aged 65 and above in the mainland will exceed 200 million; By 2050, that number will be close to 400 million. In the face of such a large group of elderly people, it is particularly important to help them smoothly integrate into the intelligent society, and learn to use smartphones and network services.
The transformation of smart phones for the elderly is a major project that will benefit the present and the future. Only by allowing the elderly to fully enjoy the dividends brought by intelligent technology can they truly integrate into the intelligent era and keep up with the pace of development of the times.
Smartphone aging transformation initiatives
In order to help the elderly better use smartphones, the relevant departments have taken a number of actions, such as optimizing the interface design, developing voice control and artificial intelligence assistants, and formulating age-appropriate standards.
In terms of interface design, many mobile phone manufacturers have launched "Elder Mode", which includes functions such as large fonts, large volume, large battery capacity, and "remote assistance", aiming to provide a better user experience for the elderly. Some apps have also developed a dedicated area for seniors, allowing older users to quickly find the features they need.
Voice control and artificial intelligence assistants are important means to help the elderly overcome operational obstacles. The elderly only need to simply say the instructions, and they can complete a variety of operations such as dialing, sending messages, and checking the weather, which greatly reduces the threshold for use.
In addition to product-level transformation, the formulation of relevant standards is also the top priority of age-appropriate transformation. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has organized the formulation of a series of standards for the aging of mobile terminals, smart TVs and other products, providing clear guidelines and requirements for the transformation of enterprises for the elderly.
Practical tips for smartphones are tailored for seniors
In addition to adapting the product itself to the age, teaching the elderly some practical skills is also an important part of helping them integrate into digital life.
For example, teaching seniors to use the one-touch dialing feature can make it easier for them to stay in touch with friends and family. The call recording feature helps them record important content and avoid the inconvenience of forgetfulness. Setting up emergency contacts and harassment blocking can also add a sense of security to the lives of seniors.
It is not enough to rely on products and features alone, and the active learning attitude of the older people themselves is also crucial. Family members and society should give enough encouragement and support to the elderly, patiently teach them how to use them, build their confidence, and let them truly integrate into digital life.
Appropriate support should be provided by family members and society
The use of smartphones is by no means achieved overnight, and requires the joint efforts of the elderly, their families, and society. Family members should take the lead in getting rid of the negative image of the elderly, give them enough confidence and support, and encourage and help them to use the Internet, both materially and spiritually.
Communities and volunteers also have an important role to play. For example, the community can set up a small classroom for learning smartphones to guide the elderly to use them correctly; Volunteer groups can visit the elderly regularly and provide appropriate assistance in their daily lives. In this way, it is not only possible to improve the digital skills of the elderly, but also to bring warmth to them.
Governments and enterprises should also create a good environment for the digital transformation of the elderly. The government should step up publicity efforts to eliminate the resistance of the elderly to the Internet; Enterprises need to speed up the research and development and promotion of age-appropriate products to provide more choices for the elderly. Only with the participation of the whole society can the elderly truly cross the "digital divide".