We look at this older person friendly phone recently launched by Emporia. You can see more about the product here.
TALKactive, Emporia Clamshell Phone with voice assist reviewed
This phone is smart, in a robust, practical way, and would work very well with blind people for sure. For some older people there might be some resistance if you describe it as something specifically for them. To explain in more detail what we mean is that we suggested it for the mother in law, who is closer to 80 than 70, but when she heard why we were offering it to her, they pushed back.
Saying that made them feel properly old, and so they would rather hold off until they were ‘actually old’ if that was okay. This does not mean that the phone doesn’t have some really good features, but rather that it might need to offered in a more nuanced way, even with it’s optimal target group.
We also gave it to the opposite end of the age spectrum and it went down very well with them also. This therefore does suggest that the ease of use, robust design, and smart features are all to the good for this phone. They picked it up quickly and were able to use it fast, and again, for blind people it has a lot of great features too.
Product details ->
Key Design Features
Technical data
Easy to use design and menu
Clamshell design protects the screen when the handset is closed
Large screen with optimized text size
Large illuminated keys with a defined pressure point
Extra Loud Handset Volume – suitable for people with hearing impairment (and HAC to standard T4/M4 – the highest rating)
2 quick dial keys and camera key
2G, 3G and 4G connectivity (VoLTE compatible)
Over-the-air software updates
Voice Assist: Talking functions for all the key elements including inbound and outbound messages, menus, incoming caller numbers or names from the phone book contacts, battery status and time and talking keys.
Keyboard: Spoken button functions, large, illuminated keys with excellent pressure point
Emergency Call Function (optional): extra battery cover, with and without emergency call function
emporiaTALKactive
Working together with the RNIB’s Technology For Life Team (rnib.org.uk) , this new clamshell feature phone is the result of a collaboration with leading industry experts and provides a much needed “Talking” solution to staying in touch with phone calls and messages .
The Emporia TALKactive T221 4G is an elegant clamshell mobile phone specially adapted with Voice Assist to vocalize your messages and all the key functions, from menus and incoming calls announcing numbers or names from the phone book contacts to reading out SMS messages received and supporting with talking keys to create messages and even read them out before you send. Designed with simplicity in mind, this phone is ideally suited to any blind or partially sighted person who wants an easy to use handset with “Talking” functionality.
About emporia Telecom
emporia Telecom is an Austrian company that develops, manufactures and markets mobile phones, smartphones, apps, accessories and landline phones specially designed for the older generation, and it is the technology leader in this segment. Founded in 1991, it now operates in 30+ countries including Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Milan, Paris and Shenzhen.
The company is wholly owned by Eveline Pupeter who runs the business, together with her experienced management team. emporia employs over 100 people and its head office is located in the city of Linz on the banks of the Danube. www.emporiatelecom.co.uk
Chris Millington, managing director of emporia UK & Ireland, says: “Although smartphones have accessibility functions, the majority of blind or partially sighted users are older and unaccustomed to touchscreen technology prior to losing sight. Designed with much care and consideration, and tested by older users with sight loss during the development phase, the TALKactive offers simplicity and affordability and is vastly easier to handle for a majority of retirees who haven’t grown up with mobiletechnology at their fingertips.”
Kyran O’Mahoney, chief technology officer at NCBI, says: “Technology is a key enabler for people with sight loss and this talking feature will be a great help to many service users. It is so important to help people stay connected. NCBI is proud to be a supplier.”
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