Mobile Magnifier for Seniors with Weak Vision

Several posts ago, I blogged about an AT&T service that is aimed towards seniors and persons who have disabilities. These services are offered on mobile phone for seniors and they aim to make handsets more user friendly towards the elderly. I blogged about Mobile Speak a few months ago and I felt that its time to talk about AT&T's Mobile Magnifier.

But before that let me give a quick recap on Mobile Speak. AT&T's Mobile Speak service for seniors is a a powerful full-fledged screen reader with an easy-to-learn command structure, intuitive speech feedback in several languages. This service automatically detects information that the blind user should know, just as a user with sight would easily find highlighted items or key areas of the screen at a glance. You can click here to see my full post on Mobile Speak.

Now let's move on to Mobile Magnifier. Like mobile Speak, this application is designed to help make good mobile phones for seniors. It is is a flexible, full-screen magnification application that supports low and high resolution screens. Mobile Magnifier can be used with or without speech feedback.

As it's name indicates, mobile Magnifier acts like a magnifying glass and enlarges the information a a mobile phone's screen. This magnification software is compatible with a wide range of mobile devices. A mobile phone equipped with this application would be a suitable mobile phone for seniors.

Here are the main features of this cell phone service for seniors:

• Magnification levels from 1.25x to 16x
• Font-smoothing for easier readability
• Three different layouts: full-screen, split and distributed view
• Different color schemes, including inverted color
• Automatic panning and cursor-tracking
• Automatic zoom function that detects areas of interest on the screen

Here are the devices that currently support this service (Additional compatible devices will be available soon):

• Nokia N75
• Nokia E62
• Cingular 3125
• Samsung BlackJack (Windows Mobile version 5)
• Pantech Duo (Windows Mobile version 6)

I hope that many similar programs and applications will be developed by mobile phone makers and developers. Paul Schroeder, vice president of Programs and Policy, American Foundation for the Blind says that, "There is a real need for more wireless options for Individuals who have vision loss.We value AT&T for its leadership in addressing the needs of this community." Other companies should follow AT&T's lead.

Tune in to to this blog for more mobile phone for seniors news and info.

Mobile Magnifier for Seniors with Weak Vision

Several posts ago, I blogged about an AT&T service that is aimed towards seniors and persons who have disabilities. These services are offered on mobile phone for seniors and they aim to make handsets more user friendly towards the elderly. I blogged about Mobile Speak a few months ago and I felt that its time to talk about AT&T's Mobile Magnifier.

But before that let me give a quick recap on Mobile Speak. AT&T's Mobile Speak service for seniors is a a powerful full-fledged screen reader with an easy-to-learn command structure, intuitive speech feedback in several languages. This service automatically detects information that the blind user should know, just as a user with sight would easily find highlighted items or key areas of the screen at a glance. You can click here to see my full post on Mobile Speak.

Now let's move on to Mobile Magnifier. Like mobile Speak, this application is designed to help make good mobile phones for seniors. It is is a flexible, full-screen magnification application that supports low and high resolution screens. Mobile Magnifier can be used with or without speech feedback.

As it's name indicates, mobile Magnifier acts like a magnifying glass and enlarges the information a a mobile phone's screen. This magnification software is compatible with a wide range of mobile devices. A mobile phone equipped with this application would be a suitable mobile phone for seniors.

Here are the main features of this cell phone service for seniors:

• Magnification levels from 1.25x to 16x
• Font-smoothing for easier readability
• Three different layouts: full-screen, split and distributed view
• Different color schemes, including inverted color
• Automatic panning and cursor-tracking
• Automatic zoom function that detects areas of interest on the screen

Here are the devices that currently support this service (Additional compatible devices will be available soon):

• Nokia N75
• Nokia E62
• Cingular 3125
• Samsung BlackJack (Windows Mobile version 5)
• Pantech Duo (Windows Mobile version 6)

I hope that many similar programs and applications will be developed by mobile phone makers and developers. Paul Schroeder, vice president of Programs and Policy, American Foundation for the Blind says that, "There is a real need for more wireless options for Individuals who have vision loss.We value AT&T for its leadership in addressing the needs of this community." Other companies should follow AT&T's lead.

Tune in to to this blog for more mobile phone for seniors news and info.

Mobile Speak: a Software Designed for Cell Phones for Seniors

In my last post I described AT&T efforts to reach senior cell phone users through mobile phones and services. One of the ways the company reached out to elderly companies was through the adaptation of the Universal Design. This led to the creation of good cell phones for seniors as well as other products and applications that can be beneficial to senior citizens.

One of these products senior-friendly products is called Mobile Speak. I hope to tackle this feature and see how it can help the elderly to use cellphones for seniors and other mobile phone related products.

Mobile Speak is a software designed to enhance the functionality of some of AT&T's most popular wireless devices for users with who are blind or have low vision. This type of softwares will obviously benefit seniors because elderly people have poor vision and some have unfortunately lost them due to sickness or old age.

AT&T's Mobile Speak is a powerful full-fledged screen reader that offers an easy-to-learn command structure. This software also offers intuitive speech feedback in several languages, and Braille support that can be used with or without speech.

This special screen reader for mobile phones for seniors automatically detects information that the blind user should know in a similar way a user with full sight would easily find highlighted items or key areas of the screen at a glance.


Mobile Speak supports these applications and functions:

• Speed dial, call lists and contacts
• Text messaging
• Calendar, tasks, notes, and calculator
• Internet browser
• Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Voice Recorder, Media Player, voice speed dial and voice command
• Phone/device settings, profiles, alarms, and ringtones

These are the curently supported devices which can be good mobile phones for seniors:

• Cingular 3125
• Nokia N75
• Nokia E62
• Samsung Blackjack (with Windows Mobile version 5)
• Pantech Duo

There is no doubt that this software can enhance any mobile device that is designed for senior citizens. The ability to make it easier for seniors to read information is a key attribute for any cell phone for seniors. I will feature more softwares and services that are meant for seniors in my next posts.

Mobile Speak: a Software Designed for Cell Phones for Seniors

In my last post I described AT&T efforts to reach senior cell phone users through mobile phones and services. One of the ways the company reached out to elderly companies was through the adaptation of the Universal Design. This led to the creation of good cell phones for seniors as well as other products and applications that can be beneficial to senior citizens.

One of these products senior-friendly products is called Mobile Speak. I hope to tackle this feature and see how it can help the elderly to use cellphones for seniors and other mobile phone related products.

Mobile Speak is a software designed to enhance the functionality of some of AT&T's most popular wireless devices for users with who are blind or have low vision. This type of softwares will obviously benefit seniors because elderly people have poor vision and some have unfortunately lost them due to sickness or old age.

AT&T's Mobile Speak is a powerful full-fledged screen reader that offers an easy-to-learn command structure. This software also offers intuitive speech feedback in several languages, and Braille support that can be used with or without speech.

This special screen reader for mobile phones for seniors automatically detects information that the blind user should know in a similar way a user with full sight would easily find highlighted items or key areas of the screen at a glance.


Mobile Speak supports these applications and functions:

• Speed dial, call lists and contacts
• Text messaging
• Calendar, tasks, notes, and calculator
• Internet browser
• Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Voice Recorder, Media Player, voice speed dial and voice command
• Phone/device settings, profiles, alarms, and ringtones

These are the curently supported devices which can be good mobile phones for seniors:

• Cingular 3125
• Nokia N75
• Nokia E62
• Samsung Blackjack (with Windows Mobile version 5)
• Pantech Duo

There is no doubt that this software can enhance any mobile device that is designed for senior citizens. The ability to make it easier for seniors to read information is a key attribute for any cell phone for seniors. I will feature more softwares and services that are meant for seniors in my next posts.

The Expanding Cell Phone Services for Seniors

The potential of senior citizens as a niche for mobile phone services became evident with the release of the Jitterbug cell phone that marketed as a simple device for the elderly. Mobile phone carriers have now launch programs directed towards seniors. These programs have also proven to be valuable not only to the elderly but also to those who have some sort of disability. Let us take a general look at the mobile phone services that are devoted to seniors.

Verizon Wireless is one of the carriers who have expanded on the concept of a cell phone for seniors. The carrier marketed it's own handset for older folks known as the Verizon Coupe or the UTStarcom Coupe 8630. This phone turned out to be popular even though it's a simple handset. It turned out that some consumers were not very interested in modern services like V CAST videos.

The carrier supplemented the Coupe with a wireless plan that is designed explicitly for seniors. Called the Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus offers 200 anytime minutes and 500 nights and weekends minutes for a monthly fee of only thirty dollars. Only seniors with the appropriate a proof of age can get this plan.

Sprint Nextel also made some steps to take advantage of the senior citizen market. However, the carrier opted to take a different approach and do not market to the elderly directly. Instead the carrier targets "basic communicators" and "voice dependents." These consumers are interested in no-frills handsets that are devoted to making calls.

Music downloads, web surfing and other high-end features are not the priority of these users. Sprint's Nextel Direct Connect phones like the Motorola ic502 have proven to be popular to seniors because they need to push one button to connect to family and friends.

Other Sprint phones that are not part of the Nextel Direct Connect like the Samsung M300 and Sanyo Katana II are considered good mobile phones for seniors. These handsets are no frills basic phones with big buttons that are ideal for frail persons.

Unlike Sprint, AT&T has been more aggressive in their campaign to attract senior cell phone users. For instance, the carrier launched the Senior Nation 200 plan which rivals Verizon's Nationwide 65 Plus as the best plan for the elderly. This plan offers similar features and pricing as Verizon's senior plan.

AT&T effort to reach senior cell phone users are not limited to wireless plans. The carrier has also embraced Universal Design. This is the practice of designing products and applications that are usable by the broadest possible range of consumers including the elderly.

This approach produced two senior-friendly products called the Mobile Magnifier and Mobile Speak. These are dessign to be beneficial for both customers with disabilities and senior citizens. Mobile Magnifier is a full-screen magnification application that helps users with poor eyesight while Mobile Speak is a screen reader that helps blind users detect useful information.

These are just some of the programs that have been created to cater to the needs of seniors. I'm sure that carriers will continue to develop devices and programs that will help senior citizens. I will feature this services in my future posts.

The Expanding Cell Phone Services for Seniors

The potential of senior citizens as a niche for mobile phone services became evident with the release of the Jitterbug cell phone that marketed as a simple device for the elderly. Mobile phone carriers have now launch programs directed towards seniors. These programs have also proven to be valuable not only to the elderly but also to those who have some sort of disability. Let us take a general look at the mobile phone services that are devoted to seniors.

Verizon Wireless is one of the carriers who have expanded on the concept of a cell phone for seniors. The carrier marketed it's own handset for older folks known as the Verizon Coupe or the UTStarcom Coupe 8630. This phone turned out to be popular even though it's a simple handset. It turned out that some consumers were not very interested in modern services like V CAST videos.

The carrier supplemented the Coupe with a wireless plan that is designed explicitly for seniors. Called the Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus offers 200 anytime minutes and 500 nights and weekends minutes for a monthly fee of only thirty dollars. Only seniors with the appropriate a proof of age can get this plan.

Sprint Nextel also made some steps to take advantage of the senior citizen market. However, the carrier opted to take a different approach and do not market to the elderly directly. Instead the carrier targets "basic communicators" and "voice dependents." These consumers are interested in no-frills handsets that are devoted to making calls.

Music downloads, web surfing and other high-end features are not the priority of these users. Sprint's Nextel Direct Connect phones like the Motorola ic502 have proven to be popular to seniors because they need to push one button to connect to family and friends.

Other Sprint phones that are not part of the Nextel Direct Connect like the Samsung M300 and Sanyo Katana II are considered good mobile phones for seniors. These handsets are no frills basic phones with big buttons that are ideal for frail persons.

Unlike Sprint, AT&T has been more aggressive in their campaign to attract senior cell phone users. For instance, the carrier launched the Senior Nation 200 plan which rivals Verizon's Nationwide 65 Plus as the best plan for the elderly. This plan offers similar features and pricing as Verizon's senior plan.

AT&T effort to reach senior cell phone users are not limited to wireless plans. The carrier has also embraced Universal Design. This is the practice of designing products and applications that are usable by the broadest possible range of consumers including the elderly.

This approach produced two senior-friendly products called the Mobile Magnifier and Mobile Speak. These are dessign to be beneficial for both customers with disabilities and senior citizens. Mobile Magnifier is a full-screen magnification application that helps users with poor eyesight while Mobile Speak is a screen reader that helps blind users detect useful information.

These are just some of the programs that have been created to cater to the needs of seniors. I'm sure that carriers will continue to develop devices and programs that will help senior citizens. I will feature this services in my future posts.