You probably know an elderly person around you who doesn’t want to face the challenge of having to use a smartphone for fear that it might be too complicated for them and/or that they won’t be able to make the most of its features. That’s why today we bring you a series of little-known actions on these devices that most of us don’t know about, which, far from complicating their use, will actually make them easier to use and help with daily routines.
Write WhatsApps without using your hands, with voice dictation
We’ve all had times when we needed to write a long text message in just a few seconds. This, which is already a challenge for any advanced phone user, can be a barrier for our elders, who may find it much harder to write a message. For these situations, there is voice dictation to convert what we say into text.
WhatsApp now allows text input by voice. The keyboard includes a microphone icon on the top bar, and by tapping it, you can dictate what you want to write while seeing the words appear on the screen. This way, you can send a written message without typing, in just a few seconds, without using your hands and without needing to send a voice note. This will greatly help our elders to message more with friends and family—no more WhatsApps from the grandchildren that they can’t handle!
Teach them to use the Voice Assistant as a hands-free tool to call contacts or read messages
If we want to go further, Android phones include a built-in virtual assistant that you can interact with by speaking. Just help your elderly relative with the initial setup, which is quick and easy, and activate the assistant by saying “Hey Google.” From then on, the senior user can start talking to the assistant to manage many device functions or apps without even touching the phone screen. For example, they can ask the assistant to read incoming messages simply by saying ‘read my text messages,’ and the assistant will automatically read them aloud so they only have to listen.
The same applies to calling someone from the contacts list. If your elderly relative finds it difficult to open the contacts or call history to find a phone number to call, they can activate their voice assistant and give the command “call Antonio,” for example.
In an emergency, press the smartphone’s power button 5 times for SOS calls
Senior phones may include a physical SOS button, but they are usually phones without internet access or apps. Some elderly people prefer to use a smartphone because they handle it well and know its features, but they may also need that “emergency alert” function, so they give up on a smartphone believing they don’t have that option.
From today, they can rest easy because we confirm that Android phones include an SOS function, something few people know about but that can be a lifesaver. This easy-to-activate feature allows you to send a quick and discreet distress signal in risky situations.
By simply pressing the power button on your phone five times in a row, you can automatically make a call to 112. This action activates a silent alert that communicates your situation and location to emergency services without alerting potential attackers. It’s important to set up this function beforehand on your mobile device by going to the “Emergency” section under “Security” in “Settings.” Once configured, this tool can be the solution in a critical situation.
Play the song or station you want to listen to at any moment with a simple “Hey, Google”
Many elderly people have a lovely habit of always having background sound at home—music, the radio, etc. This also means they have to stop what they’re doing to turn on the radio, find the station, play a song, change it to another… something that can be inconvenient during their daily tasks.
For those who like to always have music or their favorite radio program playing at home, they no longer need to tune the radio or search for songs by their favorite artist. The Google Assistant can play the music or station you want to listen to at any moment. Just say “Hey, Google” followed by the command you want to give (“Play Radio…”) and your smartphone will start playing what you asked for without interrupting what you were doing.
With these easy tips that all family members can follow, our parents or grandparents will gradually lose their fear of using technology devices while taking full advantage of all the benefits these can offer to make their daily lives easier and simpler.
