June 21, 2010 at 18:03Phones for seniors
Probably, many were faced with the need to purchase mobile phones for elderly relatives. The usual solution is to purchase cheap models of one or another well-known (or not so) vendor. A few years ago, and I gave my parents first a budget Nokia 1101 and then a more modern, but the same budget Nokia 1112 . Now the situation has changed a bit - specialized phones specifically designed for older people have appeared on the market, and before buying another budget device, I decided to take a closer look at a couple of similar models.
Both phones that fell into my hands belong to the Just5 line of the Russian-American company Orbita Telecom.
A feature of both devices are large keys with bright orange contrasting backlight. The large size of the keys (14 mm x 13 mm) allows, on the one hand, people with impaired motor skills to use the phone without problems and, on the other hand, to distinguish large lettering on the keys for visually impaired people. With all the external similarities of the keys of the devices, the keyboard on the younger CP09 model (in the photo on the left) is more convenient to use due to the relief graphic passing through each button. On the older CP10 model (in the photo on the right) there is no such tactile difference between the buttons; therefore, false clicks are possible if you miss a finger past the center of the button. The backlighting of the keys and the screen are equally good on both phones.
Both devices have four on-off keys located on the sides of the case, which allow you to quickly use one or another function. Among them are locking / unlocking the phone, turning on / off the built-in LED flashlight (you do not need to say how useful this feature is when moving along our unlit streets and entrances in the dark), turning on / off the built-in FM radio and adjusting the speaker volume. An interesting feature of the radio is its ability to work without connecting the included headset. In this case, the radio is broadcast through the speakerphone. This method of listening to the radio is more simple and familiar for older people. However, for some unknown reason, the radio button on the CP10 is made not sliding, but push. Interestingly,
Another difference between the devices is a contrasting bright orange display with a large font in the menu. In CP09, the screen is smaller (39 mm x 15 mm) and usually contains one line of text, in CP10 it is larger (37 mm x 23 mm) and it can contain two lines of text. Orange is something like a business card for Just5 phones: even chargers are made of orange plastic. In addition to the aesthetic, this solution also has purely practical meaning - orange charging is easier to find, it is more noticeable indoors (and not only indoors) in the absence of good lighting. I add that Just5 chargers are fully compatible with similar devices from Nokia (type AC-8 with a thin pin).
The menu in the devices is called up the same way - by pressing “up” on the central rocker key (pressing “down” calls up the address book). The menu structure of the phones differs - in CP10 it is more logical and resembles the menu of Nokia devices, which is more familiar. In CP09, the root menu contains only four items (“Cms”, “Calls”, “Contacts”, “Settings”). This leads to confusion: for example, the calculator and the alarm clock are hidden in the "Settings" menu. Despite the fact that the menu is not so big (you can reach any submenu in 2-3 clicks), it is quite difficult to figure it out right away, especially when only one menu item is visible on the CP09 screen. Unfortunately, the user manual does not contain a map of menu items or anything similar for future users of the devices (or, at least,
The address book in the devices, as you might guess, is quite simple. Supported operations are standard: add contact, delete, copy, search. Only one phone number can be set for one subscriber. You can save contacts both in the phone memory and on a SIM card. Very useful is the ability to quickly dial a number by long pressing one of the phone keys (there may be 10 such “quick” numbers). In addition to the numeric keypad on the front side and the switches on the side on the rear side of the devices, there is a SOS key. And if the presence of speed dialing, a flashlight and a radio is not something special - all this was to some extent implemented earlier in phones of other manufacturers (even budget ones), then the functionality of the SOS button is a distinctive feature of Just5 devices.
The task of the SOS button is to notify that something happened to the owner of the phone. When you press this key, a consecutive attempt is made to connect to one of the numbers indicated for this (these can be phones of relatives, alarm services, etc.). In parallel with this, a predefined SMS text is sent to these numbers. By default, this is “Emergency Call me!” In addition, from the moment you press the SOS key, the phone starts to make loud beeps to attract the attention of others.
Another positive feature of the devices is a good supply of sound level. It can be enhanced for a very comfortable conversation even with a high level of external noise. The same applies to SMS signals. Unfortunately, there is a vibrating alert only in the CP10 model. In the previous CP09 model, in the cold season, when the device is somewhere deep in your pocket, you can skip incoming calls.
Separately, it must be said about the battery life. Both models are equipped with a 1000mAh lithium-ion battery. With several calls a day, using a flashlight, navigating through the menus and address book, both devices worked until the batteries were completely discharged for a little over one week.
To the negative features of the devices, I would attribute weak customization capabilities. For example, for incoming calls, only six melodies are available, for SMS - eight (at the same time, the numbering of melodies for some reason is three-digit). There is no possibility to upload your melodies and sounds to the devices due to the lack of bluetooth, a data cable for communication with a PC or something like that. There is no wap internet access either. For the same reason, there is no way to download and run Java midlets. In principle, this is not so bad, because the target audience of the owners of devices for the most part is not inclined to such settings for devices for themselves, and the devices themselves are initially phones, not smartphones. However, all this does not allow, for example, updating the phone firmware. Strange, but in phones only two interface languages are available - these are English and Russian. Probably, the manufacturer plans to distribute the devices only in Russia (in any case, these phones are not sold in Ukraine), therefore, there are no other languages, for example, CIS countries. The standard application of the calculator also raises a gripe - is it really impossible in the 21st century to make the sign of the operation being performed normally placed between the first and second operands? Here's what a standard calculator looks like on an Android OS
Nevertheless, the progress in the Just5 line is on the face: in addition to the two-line screen, the phone profiles appeared in the CP10 model (the following predefined “Normal”, “Meeting”, “Outdoor”, “Indoor”, “Headphones” are available). Which, combined with the presence of vibration, allows you to flexibly adjust the phone to different situations of use.
So what can be said as a result? Both Just5 models do a good job of their main function - to provide people with disabilities with mobile communications. And even despite some shortcomings (inconvenient side keys in the CP09 model, lack of a slot on the CP10 numeric keys, inconvenient calculator), the development of a number of such niche devices is pleasing (currently the third model in the Just5 line has already appeared under the CP11 index) Unfortunately, the main drawback of such devices is the price. So, the cost of CP09 according to price.ru is almost $ 100, while the CP10 model is even more expensive - $ 130. And this despite the fact that the price of budget models Nokia and Samsung starts now at $ 30. So it turns out that an elderly person can get a Just5 device only as a gift ...
Both phones that fell into my hands belong to the Just5 line of the Russian-American company Orbita Telecom.
A feature of both devices are large keys with bright orange contrasting backlight. The large size of the keys (14 mm x 13 mm) allows, on the one hand, people with impaired motor skills to use the phone without problems and, on the other hand, to distinguish large lettering on the keys for visually impaired people. With all the external similarities of the keys of the devices, the keyboard on the younger CP09 model (in the photo on the left) is more convenient to use due to the relief graphic passing through each button. On the older CP10 model (in the photo on the right) there is no such tactile difference between the buttons; therefore, false clicks are possible if you miss a finger past the center of the button. The backlighting of the keys and the screen are equally good on both phones.
Both devices have four on-off keys located on the sides of the case, which allow you to quickly use one or another function. Among them are locking / unlocking the phone, turning on / off the built-in LED flashlight (you do not need to say how useful this feature is when moving along our unlit streets and entrances in the dark), turning on / off the built-in FM radio and adjusting the speaker volume. An interesting feature of the radio is its ability to work without connecting the included headset. In this case, the radio is broadcast through the speakerphone. This method of listening to the radio is more simple and familiar for older people. However, for some unknown reason, the radio button on the CP10 is made not sliding, but push. Interestingly,
Another difference between the devices is a contrasting bright orange display with a large font in the menu. In CP09, the screen is smaller (39 mm x 15 mm) and usually contains one line of text, in CP10 it is larger (37 mm x 23 mm) and it can contain two lines of text. Orange is something like a business card for Just5 phones: even chargers are made of orange plastic. In addition to the aesthetic, this solution also has purely practical meaning - orange charging is easier to find, it is more noticeable indoors (and not only indoors) in the absence of good lighting. I add that Just5 chargers are fully compatible with similar devices from Nokia (type AC-8 with a thin pin).
The menu in the devices is called up the same way - by pressing “up” on the central rocker key (pressing “down” calls up the address book). The menu structure of the phones differs - in CP10 it is more logical and resembles the menu of Nokia devices, which is more familiar. In CP09, the root menu contains only four items (“Cms”, “Calls”, “Contacts”, “Settings”). This leads to confusion: for example, the calculator and the alarm clock are hidden in the "Settings" menu. Despite the fact that the menu is not so big (you can reach any submenu in 2-3 clicks), it is quite difficult to figure it out right away, especially when only one menu item is visible on the CP09 screen. Unfortunately, the user manual does not contain a map of menu items or anything similar for future users of the devices (or, at least,
The address book in the devices, as you might guess, is quite simple. Supported operations are standard: add contact, delete, copy, search. Only one phone number can be set for one subscriber. You can save contacts both in the phone memory and on a SIM card. Very useful is the ability to quickly dial a number by long pressing one of the phone keys (there may be 10 such “quick” numbers). In addition to the numeric keypad on the front side and the switches on the side on the rear side of the devices, there is a SOS key. And if the presence of speed dialing, a flashlight and a radio is not something special - all this was to some extent implemented earlier in phones of other manufacturers (even budget ones), then the functionality of the SOS button is a distinctive feature of Just5 devices.
The task of the SOS button is to notify that something happened to the owner of the phone. When you press this key, a consecutive attempt is made to connect to one of the numbers indicated for this (these can be phones of relatives, alarm services, etc.). In parallel with this, a predefined SMS text is sent to these numbers. By default, this is “Emergency Call me!” In addition, from the moment you press the SOS key, the phone starts to make loud beeps to attract the attention of others.
Another positive feature of the devices is a good supply of sound level. It can be enhanced for a very comfortable conversation even with a high level of external noise. The same applies to SMS signals. Unfortunately, there is a vibrating alert only in the CP10 model. In the previous CP09 model, in the cold season, when the device is somewhere deep in your pocket, you can skip incoming calls.
Separately, it must be said about the battery life. Both models are equipped with a 1000mAh lithium-ion battery. With several calls a day, using a flashlight, navigating through the menus and address book, both devices worked until the batteries were completely discharged for a little over one week.
To the negative features of the devices, I would attribute weak customization capabilities. For example, for incoming calls, only six melodies are available, for SMS - eight (at the same time, the numbering of melodies for some reason is three-digit). There is no possibility to upload your melodies and sounds to the devices due to the lack of bluetooth, a data cable for communication with a PC or something like that. There is no wap internet access either. For the same reason, there is no way to download and run Java midlets. In principle, this is not so bad, because the target audience of the owners of devices for the most part is not inclined to such settings for devices for themselves, and the devices themselves are initially phones, not smartphones. However, all this does not allow, for example, updating the phone firmware. Strange, but in phones only two interface languages are available - these are English and Russian. Probably, the manufacturer plans to distribute the devices only in Russia (in any case, these phones are not sold in Ukraine), therefore, there are no other languages, for example, CIS countries. The standard application of the calculator also raises a gripe - is it really impossible in the 21st century to make the sign of the operation being performed normally placed between the first and second operands? Here's what a standard calculator looks like on an Android OS
Nevertheless, the progress in the Just5 line is on the face: in addition to the two-line screen, the phone profiles appeared in the CP10 model (the following predefined “Normal”, “Meeting”, “Outdoor”, “Indoor”, “Headphones” are available). Which, combined with the presence of vibration, allows you to flexibly adjust the phone to different situations of use.
So what can be said as a result? Both Just5 models do a good job of their main function - to provide people with disabilities with mobile communications. And even despite some shortcomings (inconvenient side keys in the CP09 model, lack of a slot on the CP10 numeric keys, inconvenient calculator), the development of a number of such niche devices is pleasing (currently the third model in the Just5 line has already appeared under the CP11 index) Unfortunately, the main drawback of such devices is the price. So, the cost of CP09 according to price.ru is almost $ 100, while the CP10 model is even more expensive - $ 130. And this despite the fact that the price of budget models Nokia and Samsung starts now at $ 30. So it turns out that an elderly person can get a Just5 device only as a gift ...
