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Smartphones are awesome, but they’re not for everyone. We forget sometimes that not some people aren’t good with technology. That doesn’t mean they should have to live without it. Doro is a company that makes devices for a demographic that often gets overlooked. We’re talking about smartphones for your parents, grandparents, and any other senior citizen in your life.
We had the chance to check out a new phone from Doro today. This is the one phone at MWC where the specs truly don’t matter. At first glance, it looks like a generic phone with an “easy mode” launcher, but there is much more to this device. Everything from the Settings menu, to the way you share a photo, to the physical buttons has been redesigned with senior citizens in mind.
The home screen is made up of three main buttons: Call, View, and Send. With these three buttons, the user can perform most of the things they’ll want to do. For example, if you wanted to send a photo you might jump into one of a dozen photography apps. An older person doesn’t care about apps. They just want to send a photo. Tapping the “Send” button will guide them through the process of picking a photo (or something else) and a recipient.
Doro uses that same philosophy throughout the OS. In the Settings menu, the use wording that sounds much more human. If the user wants to adjust the screen brightness they’ll tap “A display option” and then “The screen brightness.” After they adjust the big brightness slider they can press the “Confirm” button. The “Confirm” button is another thing found throughout the OS. This prevents the “oops I don’t know what happened” situation.
One of the most important features of this phone is the Doro Connect & Care app. This app is a hub for everything the user might need in terms of communication with loved ones. For example, if the user needs some help around the house, they can ask for assistance in the app. The message will be sent to the companion app of trusted loved ones and helpers. Helpers are then able to “Take charge” of the situation, which alerts others that help is on the way.
Another key feature of the Connect & Care app is a very important button on the back of the phone. Underneath the camera is an “Assistance button” that works like the devices you’ve seen in the “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” commercials. When pressed, an alert will be instantly sent to the trusted helpers. Once again, they can choose to “Take charge” of the situation.
Doro says this phone will be coming to the US later this year. We don’t know anything about pricing yet, but the Connect & Care service will cost $3 per month after the first year. For the senior citizens in your life, this phone could be a life changer. This is what technology is supposed to do. Make our lives better and safer. Check out Doro’s website for more information about this device.
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